Microbiome Alignment Panel

Laboratory Specifications & Turnaround

• Sequencing Standard: ISO 1725 university laboratory facilities using Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing technology.

• Timeframe: Please allow 4–6 weeks from the date your sample arrives at the lab for your digital PDF report to be delivered via email.

• Horses with Unexplained Gas Colic or Recurring Discomfort: Pinpoints hidden starch spillover from cereal mueslis, flaked maize, barley or cereal by-products that bypasses small intestinal digestion and fuels gas-producing Clostridium clusters.

• "Grass-Affected" & Highly Sensitive Horses: Identifies hyper-fermentative bacterial profiles (Fibrobacter, Clostridia) that trigger sudden changes in temperament, girthiness, and stress-related loose manure when grass sugar surges.

• Poor Doers & Weight Loss Cases: Uncovers whether crucial short-chain fatty acid pathways (Paludibacter, Propionate) or cellulose-degrading populations have collapsed, preventing efficient fiber conversion.

• Horses on Complex Feed & Supplement Stacks: Audits your full bucket feed list to eliminate starch/sugar friction, sub-acute fermentative acidosis, and redundant supplement overlap.

• Performance & Competition Horses: Optimizes stamina, recovery, and gut barrier resilience by aligning feed tags directly with microbial capacity.

• Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) & Insulin Dysregulation: Evaluates structural fiber handling vs. propionate production to help manage NSC thresholds and prevent sub-acute fermentative dysfunction.

• Pasture-Associated Laminitis Risk: Tracks microbial diversity and NSC tolerance to identify fermentative shifts before high-sugar pasture triggers systemic inflammation.

• Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) & Biofilm Risk: Measures protective "policing" bacteria against biofilm-forming strains (Treponema levels above 9%) that compromise gut wall integrity and aggravate mucosal ulceration.

• Skin Allergies, Pruritus & Chronic Itching: Evaluates loss of alpha diversity and imbalances along the Skin-Gut Axis, where gut dysbiosis directly triggers skin inflammation.

• Post-Antibiotic & NSAID Dysbiosis: Quantifies the destruction of healthy Firmicutes and beneficial Clostridia following treatments (such as Bute) to guide targeted post-medication recovery.

• Spring Grass Surge (March – May): Test as pasture growth accelerates to evaluate your horse's fermentative capacity against rising fructans and simple sugars, preventing spring laminitis flare-ups.

• Autumn Turnout & Forage Shift (September – November): Run an audit before moving from summer grazing to stabling and winter hay/haylage, ensuring smooth adaptation to structural fiber changes.

• Pre-Competition / Pre-Season Base Building: Establish your horse's baseline microbial chassis and feed alignment 8–12 weeks before heavy competition travel begins.

• Following an Acute Colic or Dysbiosis Episode: Test 3–4 weeks after an episode to pinpoint dietary triggers (such as high-NSC feed spillover) and map out a safe restoration plan.

• Annual System Check-Up: Run once per year to track long-term gut diversity, monitor environmental soil microbial transfer, and fine-tune your horse's ration as they age.

Returns and Refund Policy

Due to the nature of our products, all microbiome testing kits and associated consumable materials are subject to the following returns policy.

Returns

• Return requests must be made in writing within 14 days of delivery.

• Items must be unused, unopened, and in their original condition to be eligible for return.

• Returns sent without prior written authorisation may not be accepted.

Non-Refundable Items

We are unable to offer refunds for:

• Opened or used testing kits

• Kits where sample materials, packaging, or consumables have been opened, damaged, or tampered with

• Orders returned outside the approved returns window

• Digital services, consultations, report generation, or analysis services once work has commenced or been delivered

Refunds

• Approved refunds will be processed once returned items have been received and inspected.

• Original shipping charges are non-refundable unless the item was supplied incorrectly or is faulty.

• Customers are responsible for return shipping costs unless the return is due to our error.

Faulty or Incorrect Orders

If you receive a faulty, damaged, or incorrect item, please contact us within 7 days of delivery with your order details and photographs where applicable. We will review the issue and arrange an appropriate resolution.

International Orders

For international orders, customers are responsible for any import duties, customs charges, VAT, or local taxes applied by the destination country.

We are not responsible for delays, additional charges, or non-delivery resulting from customs processes or unpaid import fees.