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What can the guttell us abouthorse health?

EquiBIOME is a Canadian study looking at how gut microbes relate to colic, laminitis, and other health problems in horses.

Our partners

The research

Clues to colic and laminitis.

Colic, laminitis, and other gut problems are some of the biggest health worries for horse owners. They rarely have one simple cause. Diet, care, environment, and the horse itself all play a part.

Your horse’s gut is home to trillions of microbes that help digest food and support health. In this study, we analyze manure samples to find out which microbes are there.

We then compare those results with what you tell us about each horse, like its diet, routine, and health history. Looking at both together helps us spot patterns we couldn’t see otherwise.

Why study the microbiome?

Your horse’s gut is full of life.

Your horse’s gut is home to trillions of tiny living things, mostly bacteria. Most of them live in the back part of the gut, where fibre is broken down.

Horses can’t digest hay and grass on their own. These microbes do it for them, turning fibre into energy the horse can use.

Every horse has its own mix of microbes. Diet, age, surroundings, daily care, and medicines like antibiotics can all change it.

Because every mix is different, we want to know which differences are linked to good health and which are linked to problems.

The technical details

Health relevance

What could the gut teach us?

Our research focuses on gastrointestinal and metabolic health. Here is what researchers know, and what they are still working out.

Colic and gastrointestinal health

Colic is a general term for abdominal pain, not a single disease. It has many possible causes, from impactions and gas to displacements of the intestine. Researchers are investigating how gut microbial communities relate to certain digestive disturbances.

Laminitis and metabolic health

Laminitis involves damage to the tissues that support the bone inside the hoof. Many cases are associated with endocrine disorders, such as insulin dysregulation or PPID. Carbohydrate overload can contribute to other forms through disturbances in the hindgut and the wider body. The microbiome may be relevant to some of these pathways, and its role is still being studied.

Microbial community changes

Dysbiosis describes a change in the composition or function of a microbial community compared with a relevant reference, such as healthy horses on similar diets. It is not a single, defined diagnosis. Researchers are studying whether particular patterns are associated with digestive disturbances and other health characteristics.

Scientific domains

What we're investigating.

Six research domains — not separate programmes running in isolation, but interconnected biological questions being explored through the same national cohort.

01
Chronic illness & GI dysfunction
Horses with recurrent colic, persistent gut issues, or GI problems that standard investigations haven't resolved. We're looking for the biology behind what's been missed.
02
Aging & longevity
Why do some horses stay sharp and healthy well into their twenties while others decline early? We're mapping the biology of how horses age — and what influences it.
03
Microbiome architecture
The gut, reproductive, and oral microbiomes have a profound effect on whole-body health. We're building the first national picture of what equine microbial communities look like — and what shifts them.
04
Exposure & contaminant burden
Pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and environmental chemicals accumulate quietly over time. We're measuring what's actually present in Canadian horses — in their tissues, feed, and forage.
05
Performance & recovery biology
What separates a horse that recovers quickly and trains well from one that perpetually underperforms? We're investigating the biological factors — not just the training ones.
06
Breeding success & reproductive biology
Reproductive failure is often chalked up to bad luck. We're investigating the microbial, hormonal, and systemic factors that may actually be driving poor breeding outcomes.

What you receive

Our thanks for taking part.

Free collection kit

We’ll send you everything you need, so collecting a sample is easy and costs you nothing.

Prepaid return shipping

Just pack it up and drop it off. We’ve taken care of the shipping for you.

Microbiome report

A friendly, plain-language look at the tiny community living in your horse’s gut.

Research updates

We’ll keep you in the loop and share what we’re learning, thanks in part to you.

Participant recognition

Your horse becomes part of Canadian equine health research, and we’re proud to recognize that.

Founders Circle

Our founding partners

These barns, farms, and organizations signed on early and are helping lay the groundwork for this research. Thank you for contributing your horses, your time, and your trust.