The Sporthorses and ponies in this decenia are subjected to many challenges and stresses, including training and competition, travel, moving yards, often involving unavoidable changes in forage and companions, meal feeding rather than ad-lib forage, and limited grazing.

All of these factors can upset the horse’s complex digestive system, resulting in gastric discomfort and disruption to the delicate balance of the horse’s microbiota - the population of vital, beneficial microorganisms in the horse’s hindgut which play such an important role in the horse’s health, from fibre digestion to vitamin synthesis and also a key role in the correct functioning of the immune system.

Digestive disturbances can cause a drop in condition, behavioural changes and loss of performance.