Horses fed high-carbohydrate diets are prone to starch overload, where undigested starch enters the hindgut and disrupts the gut microbiome. Fermentation produces D-lactate, causing acidification, increased gut permeability, and systemic inflammation — processes linked to hyperinsulinaemia and laminitis. Metabolomic analysis of faecal volatile organic compounds offers a powerful means of tracking microbiome changes in response to diet, including the effects of spring grazing. Studies in both Thoroughbred racehorses and non-Thoroughbred horses at Redwings Horse Sanctuary demonstrate that enzyme-rich malt-based dietary supplements can positively alter the gut microbiome, shifting it towards the profile associated with forage-only diets. These findings suggest that malt-based enzyme supplementation holds considerable promise for improving equine digestive health, reducing pathogenic bacterial populations, and potentially lowering the risk of chronic conditions such as laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome.
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