As the temperature drops and winter sets in, many off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) owners start to notice a familiar challenge: despite being fed more hay and extra feeds, their horse begins to lose condition.
If your OTTB struggles to maintain weight over winter, the root cause might not be diet alone, but it could be gut health.
Gut health plays a critical role in how well your horse digests and absorbs nutrients. During winter, stressors like cold weather, reduced turnout, changes in forage, and even reduced water intake can compromise digestive function. When the gut isn’t functioning optimally, your horse simply can’t absorb nutrients efficiently—no matter how high-quality the diet is.
That’s why supporting the gut should be a top priority when addressing winter weight loss.
Why Gut Health Matters in Winter
One of the main roles of your horse’s gut is to digest nutrients. After investing considerable time (and money) into creating the best nutritional program for your OTTB, if their gut isn’t functioning properly, the body can’t absorb these nutrients, and your horse will start losing its condition as a result.
Although not exclusive to OTTBs, gut health issues can be expected in OTTBs as they transition into their new work and lifestyle. Throughout this period OTTBs can be susceptible to stomach ulcers, hindgut acidosis and Free Fecal Water Syndrome and more. All of these gut issues can negatively impact the weight, hoof condition, coat quality, energy levels, ability to develop muscle and the state of mind of your OTTB.
Fresh Off The Track?
We know that racehorses in training can have up to 100% chance of Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and 65% of Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) so there is a high chance that a recently retired OTTB may be experiencing some symptoms of gut issues or coming to the end of ulcer medication treatments. For these horses, providing targeted support for stomach health into their new routine can make all the difference. And that’s exactly where Kelato’s GastroAID Recovery and GastroAID Everyday come in.
GastroAID Recovery is designed for horses with equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), horses recovering from EGUS, or those under a significant amount of stress. The chance of OTTBs having stomach ulcers is high. GastroAID Recovery helps with:
- Protecting the stomach lining with a soothing, alkaline barrier that shields against acid burn and supports a stronger mucosal lining.
- Soothing stomach discomfort by buffering gastric acid, easing irritation, and creating a more stable stomach environment.
- Supporting digestion and weight maintenance by moderating gut transit time for better nutrient absorption, which is important for maintaining condition in stressed or ulcer-prone horses.
- Promoting a healthy hindgut microbiome by encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria that reduce lactic acid, balance pH levels, and improve overall digestion.
The result? A horse that can use its feed more effectively, has an improved appetite, has better body condition, and a happier gut, which are all essential in the colder months when weight loss can quickly become a problem.
Ongoing Gut Support
If you have successfully navigated your way through the common OTTB gut issues and now your horse is at a low risk of getting them again, GastroAID Everyday is a great choice in winter and all year round. Not sure how at risk your OTTB is? Read our handy risk factor guide HERE
For hard keepers, senior horses, or those that tend to drop weight as soon as the chill sets in, GastroAID Everyday helps keep digestion running smoothly. GastroAID Everyday helps with:
- Maintaining a healthy stomach environment by buffering acidity to reduce discomfort and prevent acid build-up.
- Keeping the stomach lining strong to support comfort and resilience, even during mild stress.
- Improving manure consistency and digestion by encouraging beneficial gut microbes and reducing gut permeability.
- Strengthening natural defences by supporting immune function, which can help your horse cope with winter, travel, and exercise challenges.
Is yours a picky eater? Highly palatable and easy to feed, GastroAID Everyday can help picky OTTBs maintain weight, stay comfortable, optimise everyday gut health, and get more out of their feed.
Feed Smarter This Winter
You have covered all the bases for your OTTB to create a new career but without a healthy gut, those nutrients may not be fully absorbed. Nutrition and gut health are the foundations of weight maintenance, condition, and comfort. Be ahead of seasonal weight loss with the digestive support of GastroAID Recovery and GastroAID Everyday—because a healthy gut means a healthy, happy horse.
What’s next?
If you want to find out more about our supplements, visit our product page, or get in touch on 1800 KELATO or email [email protected]
