Soluble fiber – the secret behind your horse's health, energy and well-being

Soluble fiber – the key to energy, stomach/intestinal balance and calmness in your horse

This article is divided into two parts:

• 👉 Part 1 : For horse owners – an easy and practical review of soluble fiber.

• 👉 Part 2 : For veterinarians and professionals – a technical review with tables, mechanisms and immunological effects.

💡 Are you a professional? Scroll down directly to Part 2 – technical review .

Part 1
For horse owners – an easy and practical review of soluble fibers.

Mash, beet pellets, flaxseed, bran... Many horse owners use them, but few know how important soluble fiber really is. They are not just a supplement - they are an active part of the horse's health. Here's the explanation.

What is soluble fiber?

Soluble fiber is plant fiber that dissolves and ferments in the horse's large intestine. You can find it in:

• Beetroot pills

• Citrus pulp

• Soybean husks

• Flaxseed

• Wheat bran

When the bacteria in the hindgut break down the fibers, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are formed, which provide the horse with stable energy and support healthy digestion.

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Therefore, they are important

1. Energy without sugar and starch

Soluble fiber releases energy slowly – ideal for horses with:

• Overweight

• EMS or PPID

• Muscle tension or sensitive metabolism

💡 Sport horses also benefit from up to 70% of their energy coming from fiber.

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2. Good digestion and stable stomach

Pectin and beta-glucan:

• Protects the mucous membrane

• Keeps the stomach moving

• Strengthens the intestinal flora

It can reduce the risk of:

• Loose stomach

• Gas accumulation

• Colic and restlessness

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3. A calm and content horse

High-fiber food requires more chewing time and provides a natural food box.
➡ Less stress, fewer stereotypes (e.g. manger biting) and greater well-being.

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4. Balanced immune system

• Pectin and arabinoxylans (from citrus and bran) promote good Treg cells and reduce inflammation.

• Beta-glucans from yeast can overstimulate the immune system – that is why Regulator Complete products do not contain yeast .

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What contains the most soluble fiber?

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When does mash make sense?

If your horse is fed a lot of straw, late hay or low-sugar roughage, extra soluble fiber is important to:

• Keep digestion stable

• Secure energy without sugar

💡 1 kg mash = approx. 3 kg hay (dry matter)

Both +Fiber Mash (low calorie) and Energy Fiber Mash (higher energy) have a balanced composition of pectin and beta-glucan and can be used for all horses – even those that need to lose weight or have sensitive digestion.

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Briefly summarized

• Mash and beetroot pills are not just “delicious” – they are important.

• Soluble fiber provides energy without sugar and starch.

• They strengthen digestion, immune system and mental calm.

• High levels are found especially in citrus, beet pulp, mash and flaxseed.

• Mash is particularly useful when fed on straw-rich or low-energy diets.

👉 See +Fiber Mash [here] and +Energy Fiber Mash [here].

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Part 2:
For veterinarians and professionals – a technical review with tables, mechanisms and immunological effects.

Soluble fiber in horse nutrition – physiology, microbiota and immunological effects
Pectin, β-glucan, mucin and arabinoxylans have well-documented effects on energy supply, fermentation, microbial balance and immune regulation.
Their role is central in low-starch strategies for metabolically vulnerable horses (EMS, PPID, EPSM), but also relevant in maintenance and performance feeds.

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Fermentation and SCFA production

• Pectin : Fast fermentation → acetate & propionate, high pH stability

• β-glucan (flaxseed, bran): Slower fermentation, mucosal support, steady energy release

• SCFA : Central to energy, epithelial healing, immune regulation (butyrate)

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Microbiological effects

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Immunological effects

• Pectin & arabinoxylans → Treg activation, attenuated Th17

• High dose β-glucans from yeast → Th1 activation, undesirable for dieting or overreactive immune system

• Mash-based fibers with pectin + moderate β-glucan → balanced immune support without overstimulation

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Mash as functional roughage

💡 Mash functionally covers approximately 3× hay in terms of volume (dry matter) – relevant for straw-based or low-fermentable feeding strategies.

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Beta-glucan levels in selected feed ingredients

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Clinical implications

• Safe and beneficial in terms of fermentation and microbial stability

• Yeast supplements may overstimulate immune response*

• Gradual adaptation → reduces the risk of loose manure/gas accumulation

• Suitable for: metabolically stressed horses, intestinal dysbiosis, stress, low energy strategies

* Regulator Complete's products do not contain yeast – a conscious choice.

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Conclusion

Soluble fibers are clinically relevant in modern nutrition.
Correct composition:

• Stable energy supply

• Mucosa support

• Improved microbiome diversity

• Reduced systemic inflammation

Mash products with natural pectin and controlled β-glucan should be included in both preventive and therapeutic feeding strategies.

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References:
Volman JJ et al., 2008. Nutrition Reviews, 66(1): 25–39.
Larsen N et al., 2019. Mol Nutr Food Res, 63(1): e1801035.
Williams BA et al., 2017. Anim Feed Sci Technol, 233: 1–13.
Respondek F et al., 2010. J Anim Sci, 88: 4006–4014.
Julliand et al., 2001.

Ofte stillede spørgsmål om opløselige fibre til heste

Er opløselige fibre det samme som kraftfoder?

Nej. Kraftfoder giver typisk energi fra stivelse og sukker, som optages i tyndtarmen. Opløselige fibre fermenteres i bagtarmen og frigiver energien langsomt.

Kan en overvægtig hest få mash?

Ja. +Fiber Mash er et lavenergiprodukt, og formålet er fibre og ædetid, ikke kalorier. Skal hesten tage på, er +Energy Fiber Mash den rigtige.

Hvorfor er der ikke gær i produkterne?

Beta-glucaner fra gær kan aktivere immunforsvaret kraftigt. Til daglig fodring ønsker vi ikke at overstimulere immunforsvaret, og vi bruger i stedet pektin og arabinoxylaner.

Hvor hurtigt trapper man op med opløselige fibre?

Gradvist. Alle fiberskift skal indfases over dage, ikke timer, ellers risikerer du løsere gødning og gasophobning.