Equine Probiotics-What Are They, Where Are We and Where Do We Need To Go?

This research article provides a critical review of equine probiotics—that is, microorganisms claimed to benefit horse health—identifying consistent discrepancies between product contents and label claims over 19 years of study. It underlines the lack of basic information on product labels and suggests criteria for consumers to consider when selecting horse probiotics.

Understanding Equine Probiotics

• Probiotics are live microorganisms, which when consumed in sufficient quantities, can provide health benefits to the host. In this case, the host being horses.
• The aim of this review is to provide a critical analysis of probiotics and their use as supplements in horses. This involves a rigorous evaluation of the definition of probiotics, especially in relation to their application in equine health.

Quality Control in Probiotic Products

• The researchers have scrutinized multiple studies conducted over a span of nearly two decades. The outcome of this investigation demonstrates regular discrepancies between the contents of the probiotics as stated on the labels and their actual components.
• Such inconsistencies mean that horses may not be receiving the promised health benefits from these products. Additionally, this raises questions about quality control in the manufacturing and marketing of equine probiotics.

Lack of Essential Information

• Essential information such as expiry dates and storage conditions are often not included on the probiotic product labels. This means that horse owners or caretakers might unknowingly use expired or improperly stored and therefore, ineffective or potentially harmful probiotics.
• This gap in information contributes to the larger issues regarding regulation and quality control in relation to equine probiotics.

Guidance for Consumers

• The authors suggest a set of criteria that consumers should take into account when choosing probiotics for horses. While the exact criteria are not mentioned in the abstract, this is an indication that the meat of the paper could propose measures to help consumers make informed decisions about probiotic supplements for horses.

Future Directions

• The authors propose areas for further research in the sphere of equine probiotics. Such future work could lead to improved product quality and better-informed consumers. In turn, these developments could improve the health and wellbeing of the horse population.