Our horse’s droppings can tell us a lot about their digestive health. By understanding the differences, you can better monitor your horse’s well-being and address any potential issues promptly.
What does a healthy poo look like?
A healthy horse poo should pass in rounded soft, glossy balls that break upon impact if the ground is hard. Healthy droppings contain digested fibrous plant material when opened. The colour should be fairly uniform, a dark green/brown, darker towards the outside. Your horse's diet will impact the colour significantly, with more lush grass causing the poo to be greener, when there is more hay in the diet it causes a browner poo.
How many poos per day?
The average horse should produce between 8-12 poos per day. Some horses will pass fewer larger manures, and some will pass more frequent smaller ones. You should be aware of your horse’s normal so that you can monitor for any changes.
What does a sloppy poo mean?
Sloppy poo can indicate digestive issues, a sudden change in diet or stress. If your horse’s poo is consistently sloppy then you need to check that they are getting enough fibre in the diet and not too much lush grass.
What can a very hard poo mean?
If you horse is passing very hard small poos, it can indicate that they need more fibre and hydration in their diet. Ensure they are getting plenty of clean, fresh water and if needed feed a sloppy feed to increase water intake.
Free Faecal Water Syndrome (FFWS)
There are many causes of faecal water, but it is usually caused by an imbalanced gut microbiome, lack of fibre in the diet or more serious digestive issues such as ulcers. Faecal water should be investigated promptly as it can be a symptom of more serious underlying issues.
What about THE PANIC/PARTY POO?
Horses are flight animals. They have evolved to vacate their bowels when they have a surge of adrenaline. This can cause sloppy or small poos during loading, events or stressful situations. These poos are not an issue alone, but if your horse is having a panic/party poo regularly it is worth looking into ways to lower their stress levels.
Your horse's droppings are an indicator of their digestive health. If you want to learn more, please see our other blogs on how to improve your horse's gut/digestive health.
If you are concerned about your pony/horse in any way we always recommend contacting your vet. We are also happy to chat if you have any questions, you can call, email or message us on social.
