10 Best Probiotics for Horses: Reviews, Buying Guide, FAQ

Is your horse having loose stools, constipation, or digestion problems? Or are you stressing over the fact that your majestic pet is struggling with weight issues? If you are nodding your head in a yes, then it’s about time you start looking for the best horse probiotic supplement! Probiotics make a huge difference to help maintain a healthy gut flora, improve the digestive system, and are essential for the overall health of the horse. Moreover, adding the best probiotic for your horse’s diet will lead to a healthier immune system. Keep reading to discover the 10 best probiotics for horses.

Quick Picks

In a hurry, here are our top recommendations:

Best Overall: The ideal and top probiotic for horses is Probios Dispersible Powder.  It not only stimulates appetite but also improves feed conversion and increases growth. This supplement provides powerful strains that help naturally to support digestive function.

Runner Up: Uckele Gut Horse Supplement is best for the one with the most sensitive stomach. It helps maintain PH balance in the stomach, protects the GI tract, aids the gastric tissue, and is best for bowel function.

Budget Option: Manna Pro Opti-Zyme would be the most pocket-friendly option to opt for. It supports the digestion of starch, sugars, protein, and fiber for optimal digestion.

Best Probiotics for Horses

Horses are just like humans when it comes to health and nutrition. If you want your horse to perform adequately and not slow down with time, you need to take extra care of him with proper vitamins, medicine, and horse probiotic supplements. Think of it that way, if your stomach doesn’t feel alright your rest of the body becomes restless, the same is the case with horses.

Probiotics are not new in the market; for the past few decades’ health experts have been prescribing them for horses with serious gut illnesses. Probiotics are not only a natural supplement for horses with diarrhea but are also great for horses on antibiotics. It’s crucial to know how to choose the best horse probiotic to treat chronic digestive issues. We have listed below the top probiotics for horses, so you can determine which probiotic is beneficial and effective in your case.

1. Horse Guard Equine Gut Guard Probiotic and Prebiotic Horse Supplement

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Horse guard equine comes immediately to mind when we talk about the best horse probiotics. This product is a combination of three supplements in one dose that will make a huge impact on your horse’s overall well-being. It consists of full energy and full-fat soybeans that enhance coat conditions and weight gain.

Nonetheless, there are so many benefits of probiotics for horses if added in an adequate amount in the equine diet. Horse guard offers a complete balance which enhances the immune system and it also helps the horse to retain its ideal weight. Soy oils are an excellent source of energy and help to build muscles. It also acts as a natural probiotic for horses which is crucial for relief and helps to overcome the stress element.

So, if you are planning to take your horse to important events that may induce stress, this product would be the best horse probiotic you need to have. It will build an immense resistance against gut diseases and increase intestinal efficiency. And the best part is, this horse probiotic provides cool energy that will help your horse to get going in hot weather conditions or during long trips. Lastly, you don’t have to worry about the quality of the supplements as Horse Guard uses the finest key ingredients no matter what. There’s no compromise on the quality!

2. Probios® Equine One Oral Gel 30cc

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Is your horse suffering from GI distress as a result of environmental distress, injury, illness, or dietary changes? Then this Probios Equine One Oral Gel is the solution to all your problems!  Giving this gel to your horse is a bit like eating yogurt while you’re on antibiotics. It has seemed to make a valuable increase in the horse’s appetite, an increase in fecal pellets production, and apparently a major improvement in the outlook and quality of life.

This supplement is among the best probiotics for horses you are searching for. Probios is one of the most used and renowned brands for equine probiotics. It features live microbiotic gel which helps to build and maintain beneficial gut bacteria. It boosts appetite and helps to quickly digest the food. So, undoubtedly it’s a highly effective and efficient probiotic with proven track performance.

Furthermore, this gel helps in maintaining normal fecal consistency that is important for foals at the time of birth. The most interesting part is it doesn’t taste bad and your colicky horses won’t feel colic pains if given at an early stage. That sounds amazing, right? Then what are you waiting for? Go grab it, if these characteristics best suit your horse’s needs!

3. Silver Lining Herbs Probiotic Powder for Horses

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Is your horse being moody and uncomfortable due to his digestive issues recently? The Silver Lining Herbs Probiotic Powder would help build natural stability in your horse’s stomach health. A poor digestive system will have a great impact on your horse’s mood, comfort, and performance. Unusual gut sounds, colic pains, poor appetite, and behavior tell a lot about your horse’s digestive health. Choosing the best horse probiotic would be a wise thing you can do for the poor guy. The healthier the horse, the better it will perform.

This probiotic powder assists a proper bowel pH and a balanced gastrointestinal system, thus, resulting in better overall horse health. Herbs like rose hips, goldenseal, slippery elm, licorice, and marshmallows act like natural probiotics for horses’ health.

Burping problems, bloating, loss of appetite, and tiredness will be all gone once you add this exceptional supplement to your horse routine diet. What more would you want from a product?

4. Uckele G.U.T. Supplement

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Known as one of the market leaders, the best probiotics for horses are available at Uckele G.U.T Supplement. From calming supplements, joint, bone, digestive support supplements, tendon to ligament support supplements and what not- they have got it all! If you are looking for the best dietary and nutritional supplements in the market, you’re at the right place.

If your horse is a picky eater or has a sensitive stomach, start using this horse probiotic supplement as it tastes so good, your horse can’t resist having it. These supplements are specially designed aluminum-free to maintain healthy gut flora and PH balance in the tummy. It also comforts and protects the digestive system with its pre and probiotic function.  Moreover, this product is made keeping in mind all the GI tract issues to support the intestinal tissue and bowel function.

5. Manna Pro Opti-Zyme

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Whether your horse is actively performing or is a retired one, intestinal health is vital to keep them a happy and active performer. Manna Pro Opti-Zyme horse probiotic supplements play an imperative role in maintaining a healthy immune and digestive system. These supplements are prepared with special yeast and enzymes so that they consume less feed but their digestive function remains perfectly balanced. It’s the most innovative feature in Kentucky equine research probiotics that really helps to save them from excessive grain feeding. So isn’t it a win-win for both horse and the owner? It’s the best horse probiotic you can ask for – cost-effective and efficient and the same time.

Manna Pro Opti-Zyme supplement is recommended by a large number of veterinarians and is easy to feed. It is fortified to balance the digestion of hay and grain that really supports horses to exude nutrients and protects them from stomach issues.

6. Probios probiotic dispersible powder bonus pack

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Being the world leader in the probiotics market automatically makes you the top probiotics for horses. Probios probiotic supplements have set a remarkable benchmark that is not easy to compete with. These supplements help to restore the natural bacteria in the gut to get the horses in a steady form.

If your furry pal is going through stressors like birthing, traveling, change in environment, training, or change in diet or feed – Probios probiotic supplements is the answer to your concerns. Also, the probiotic dispersible powder can easily be mixed with rations or you can just top-dress it in their feed. Less hassle with more benefits!

7. Tribute Equine Nutrition Kalm Ultra High Fat Horse Feed

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Nurture your equine pal with high-quality probiotics by feeding him Tribute Kalm Ultra High Fat Horse Feed – the top choice of equine health experts. It is an excellent formula, suitable for all groups of adult horses. If you really want your horse to gain some weight or you want to take heavy work from the poor guy then this one is the best horse probiotic for you.

It contains high-fat content, enriched with amino acids, fatty acids, omega-3 and -6, organic minerals, and antioxidants to support all the essential nutrition that might be lacking in their normal diet.

8. Equa Holistics LLC HealthyGut Maintenance Probiotics for Horses

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If you are in search of Probiotics for horses with diarrhea, ulcers, or side effects of stress then you have to blend Equa Holistics LLC HealthyGut Maintenance Probiotics into their daily diet. The interesting part is that if your horse is a bit choosy about his food, this horse probiotic supplement totally has a natural taste, without any fillers, sugars, or any other unknown ingredients.

Are you in need of probiotics for horses on antibiotics? Fret no more! This probiotic supplement is ideal for resolving any sort of gut issues, general stress or antibiotics use. It contains 20 different varieties of probiotic strains and 24 billion CFUs per dose. So what are you still thinking about?

9. UltraCruz Livestock Probiotic Supplement

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Who doesn’t want to get the top probiotics for horses? This UltraCruz supplement is perfect for pets strained out from feed changes. It is a perfect blend of probiotics and probiotic organisms in a paste form, and is ideal for horses as well as cattle, goats, and sheep.

So, to help your barnyard friends to build and maintain healthy digestive health and fit gut beneficial bacteria. Sounds amazing right?

10. Probios Equine Soft Chews Probiotics For Horse

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Probios Equine Soft Chews is another best horse probiotic with so many fascinating features. It is made for all classes of horses to help them digest food quickly and sustain proper gut flora.

These probiotics help support the horses during stomach disorders, training, showing, traveling, deworming, and after antibiotic therapy sessions.

How to Choose the Best Probiotic for Horses

The usage of probiotics has evolved over the decades in the way we take care of the intestinal and immune health of our horses. Health experts have found an efficient and effective way out for different types of stomach disorders that are common in horses such as diarrhea, constipation, colic problems, etc.

There are so many health benefits of probiotics for horses but choosing the best horse probiotic that works for your furry pal can be an exhausting task. When you go to a local shop, there are a huge variety of pastes, powders, pellets, liquids with appealing names, each promising to solve your horse’s gut disorders and making him feel perfectly fine.

For a supplement to be effective, you need to measure a few factors and select wisely before just starting it. Here are some of it:

Price

We all need a product that is easy on our pockets yet is fine in quality. Affordability is one of the main factors while choosing the right horse probiotic supplement. You really need to do a cost-value analysis before making the purchase decision that best suits your budget.

It is vital that you spend according to your price limits. Today, we have a wide range of affordable options that promise the same level of features as expensive ones.

Ingredients

Before judging the horse probiotic supplement’s quality, take a look at the ingredients list. Following are the most common ones:

  • Vitamin C: it is a great antioxidant which helps to protect muscle inflammation, joint pain, and damage.
  • Hyaluronic Acid: The regular use of Hyaluronic acid as a supplement, helps moisten the joints, offers relief from pain and joint disorders.
  • Methylsulfonylmethane: it comes with anti inflammatory properties, often integrated with joint supplements.

Recommended Dosage

Even the best quality horse probiotic supplement may not be effective unless you follow the recommended dosage. An over or under-dose, both can be harmful. Hence, it is important to discuss the issue with a veterinarian prior to administering probiotics in your steed’s routine. This will rule out the possibilities of an impending risk, health-wise.

Consistency

Genetics and health conditions tend to influence a horse’s microbiome and how they react to foods of different textures. You need to know the specific needs and nature of your horse before getting a supplement for him. If the animal is a picky eater, then a powder form supplement will best suit him as you can easily mix it into its usual diet. Therefore, you need to choose wisely.

Specific Gut Issue

In order to get the optimal benefit of probiotics of horses, you need to figure out the specific digestive function failure that your horse is suffering from. Whether it is diarrhea, colic pain, gastric issue, or constipation, every probiotic has its own strains to deal with the particular issue a horse is suffering from.

Horse Age and Activity Level

Horse age and activity level will have a major impact on your purchase decision. An adult horse’s supplement needs vary from what a foal need. It totally depends on how active a performer your horse is and what age group he lies in. You really need to consider both factors before deciding on the horse probiotic supplement. Many probiotics have various formulas that include essential support and a more inclusive supplement with a high dosage to help support the hard workers (active performers).

FAQs Regarding Probiotics for Horses 

Here are some top frequently asked questions about probiotics for horses.

Why do horses need probiotics?

Probiotics, commonly referred to as direct-fed microbials, are chemicals that provide your horse’s digestive system with living bacteria. Preferably, the bacteria infiltrate the gastrointestinal tract and aid in your horse’s general health and digestion. Probiotics maintain a good balance in a horse’s stomach. It decreases digestive tract irritation and boosts the immune system. Improved digestion also aids in weight control and nutrition absorption, resulting in greater overall health.

Can you give a horse too many probiotics?

Probiotics are organically occurring lactic-acid generating bacteria that promote the growth of helpful bacteria that are already prevalent in the horse’s intestinal tract. They are harmless, with no known negative impacts and overdose levels, and may be used alongside other supplements. Bloating, gas, as well as nausea, are common adverse effects of taking too many probiotics. Those with a weaker immune system or a major disease are more likely to experience harmful side effects.

Do probiotics help with ulcers in horses?

It is a subject of much interest in the equine community, as increasing number of horses are suffering from ulcers and digestive abnormalities. Probiotics can aid in the control and diagnosis of gastric ulcers. Some vets also recommend probiotics as a means to aid digestion. If your horse does have a history of digestive issues, probiotics and horse vitamins may be useful.
Prebiotics assists the horse’s existing bacterial equilibrium in the stomach by promoting the development and function of the pre-existing microorganisms, ensuring that the beneficial bacteria stay active and healthy and the harmful bacteria do not thrive.

What is the most effective horse probiotic?

Probios Dispersible Powder is the leading company in probiotic assistance for horses. We prefer this formula since it can be used on various animals, such as horses and cattle, as well as home pets, including sheep and goats. This supplement will have to be mixed with feed or sprinkled on top of meals. Probios also produces pellet and crumble compositions. Each dose contains at least 1 million CFU. Probios complies with strict food and supplement safety regulations and has earned SQF Level 3 approval.

How to choose the best horse probiotic?

Look for a COOLING probiotic if you have any of the following symptoms:
– Your horse has received antibiotic treatment
– Has ulcers in his stomach or hindgut
– Is stressed, especially during the hot months
– Suffering from diarrhea
Give your horse a WARMING probiotic, if:
– Your horse is under-eight
– It is a difficult keeper
– Is an elderly horse who requires digestive aid
– The feces of your horse are hard and dry
NEUTRAL probiotic is necessary, when:
– Your horse is afflicted with IBS
– It hasn’t got much experience with fresh grass
– Requires general probiotic support

How long should a horse be on probiotics?

According to Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD, of Equine Nutritional Solutions, a beneficial reaction to probiotics can frequently be observed quickly—especially if they are taken to cure horses with particular conditions. People who want to use probiotics should be urged to choose one company and take it at the suggested dosage for a minimum of four weeks while observing the effect, according to NICE recommendations. Although, there is inadequate data to prescribe specific bacteria and probiotic products.

Conclusion

To sum up, it won’t be wrong to say that adding probiotics to your equine’s regular diet is strongly advisable as it helps in building a stronger digestive system. Regardless of the animals’ gender or breed, whichever supplement you pick from the 10 best horse probiotics mentioned above will certainly not disappoint you. Moreover, not only does the consumption of horse probiotics enhance digestive efficiency, but it also helps in reducing the development of gut ulcers and inflammation.

Remember, when your steed feels better, it will behave better in terms of temperament and performance. Hence, finding the best probiotic to keep it fit and healthy is highly advisable. We find Probios Dispersible Powder to be a great option if you wish to stimulate your pet’s appetite while ensuring support for natural digestion. However, if you are on a budget, then Manna Pro Opti-Zyme could be the right choice for you!