We all know that horses can be stressed at shows, and many equestrians keep their calming paste on hand for big days. But stress in horses is a far more complex topic than this, and stress can have a lasting impact on your horse's health!

Research has shown that even the stress caused by events we consider ‘normal’ in a modern horse’s life, like transport, have the ability to alter a horse’s hindgut microbiome, which can result in large disturbances to their overall health.

Stress events may be travel, exercise in heat, separation from their herd, moving properties, pain, illness and more. And any stress event can affect a horse's performance, behaviour - and even their physical health. Stress is a hidden contributor to horse behaviour, performance and health issues.

Join our expert panel to learn about:

• how even purely psychological stresses like feed restriction and social isolation can lead to leaky gut syndrome how stress damage to the horses' gut affects their wellbeing and impacts their immune system.
• how stress can significantly impact a horse's digestive system as increased gastric acid production in the stomach can damage the mucous membranes, which can lead to gastric ulcers. Gut inflammation can create abdominal pain, colic and compromised performance.
• how the impact of stress on the gut microbiome can directly affect horses' appetite, hydration, muscle fatigue, performance - and their behaviour, leading to safety issues
• and most importantly, how we can effectively support our horses to deal with stress events well - limiting the impact on their wellbeing, behaviour and quality of life.

Your hosts will be Dr Nerida McGilchrist, B Rur. Sc (Hon1) PhD RAnNutr, and Poseidon Animal Health Founder, Linda Goldspink Lord.