University laboratory microbiome analysis with practical, vet-safe interpretation
Please read the information below carefully before ordering.
One test. Interpreted for your horse.
Every EquiBiome Gut Health Test uses the same high-quality laboratory analysis, processed through university laboratory facilities (ISO 1725) using Illumina sequencing technology.
You do not need to select different tests for different conditions.
Your results are interpreted in the most relevant context based on the information you provide about your horse, which may include consideration of:
general gut health and resilience
performance, recovery, and training demands (including racehorses)
metabolic sensitivity and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) context
starch sensitivity and hindgut stability (acidosis risk)
headshaking or unexplained sensitivity (contextual analysis only).
Where relevant, multiple contexts may be discussed within the same report.
What does the test analyse?
The EquiBiome test examines the hindgut microbiome — the complex community of bacteria involved in:
fibre fermentation
energy availability
gut lining integrity
metabolic and immune signalling
Between 500 and 1,200 bacterial groups are identified and organised into a structured, easy-to-read report designed to support informed dietary and management decisions.
This test does not diagnose disease and does not replace veterinary assessment.
Results should always be considered alongside veterinary advice.
Why hindgut analysis matters
While foregut conditions such as gastric ulcers can be assessed using endoscopy, there is currently no direct diagnostic test for hindgut function.
Microbiome analysis provides additional insight that may be useful when managing horses with:
recurrent or unexplained digestive disturbance
sensitivity to diet or starch
inconsistent performance or recovery
metabolic risk factors (including EMS and laminitis history)
recovery following illness, stress, medication, or box rest
Results timeframe
Microbial DNA extraction and analysis is complex.
Please allow 4–6 weeks from the time we receive your sample for your results to be delivered by email.
Important postage information
Please ensure correct postage is attached when returning your kit.
Due to UN legislation, we are unable to include prepaid return envelopes.
Incorrect postage may cause significant delays.
Multiple test kits
If purchasing multiple kits, please keep a record linking:
the horse’s name
to the number on the sample tube
Samples are logged by tube number and owner; individual horse details must be provided by you.
Required information
When ordering, please include brief details about your horse (for example: age, diet, workload, known issues, recent medication).
This information allows results to be interpreted in the most accurate and relevant context.
EquiBiome Gut Health Test
University laboratory analysis | Illumina sequencing
www.equibiome.org
Equibiome reserves the right to alter and update the report as new scientific information becomes available. When purchasing this product you are buying the test kit and a report, help and support are provided by email.
Equine Faecal Test Kit For Gut Imbalances (UK)
Gut Health, EMS and Laminitis Risk
Equine Metabolic Syndrome and laminitis are long-term, threshold-based conditions influenced by diet, season, and management.
Research — supported by our own population-level microbiome data — shows that horses with EMS or laminitis history often display distinct gut microbiome patterns, including shifts in bacterial groups linked to metabolic and inflammatory signalling.
In these horses, microbiome analysis can provide useful context when making decisions around:
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grazing management
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dietary restriction or adjustment
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recovery following box rest or illness
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timing of repeat testing
Monitoring gut health does not replace veterinary care, but it can support earlier, calmer decision-making in horses at known risk.
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A microbiome test provides a baseline — a snapshot of your horse’s hindgut at a point in time.
However, the relevance of that data can change with:
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season (for example, spring grass or winter box rest)
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dietary adjustments
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workload, competition, or recovery periods
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metabolic pressure (such as EMS or laminitis risk)
Our optional Gut Health Insights service uses your original test results to provide ongoing interpretation support as conditions change.
This may include:
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seasonal gut health considerations
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management reminders for higher-risk periods
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diet-change guidance based on gut ecology
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prompts for when repeat testing may be appropriate
We do not re-test bacteria without a new sample.
This service supports preventative care and informed decision-making, not diagnosis.Available after your test results are delivered.
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