Q&A: Free Faecal Water Syndrome, Fibre Diversity & Putting Weight on Thin Broodmares

Podcast # 20

Join professional equine nutritionist Dr Nerida and friend and horse industry colleague Orla for another engaging Q&A session. In this episode, we dive deep into free faecal water syndrome in horses—exploring fecal transplants, microbiome programming from dam to foal, and the crucial role of fibre diversity in gut health.

Discover why paint horses are more prone to free fecal water, how stress impacts the condition, and whether gut supplements really help. We also tackle the sometimes controversial topic of feeding palominos to prevent smutting (and the possible health compromises involved).

Plus, get expert advice on safely putting weight back on thin broodmares after weaning, including the best feeds, forage strategies, and how to avoid hindgut problems during the weight gain process.

Key topics covered:

• Free fecal water syndrome causes and treatments

• Faecal transplants for horses and their effectiveness

• Microbiome diversity and fibre variety in equine diets

• Post-biotics vs probiotics for horse gut health

• Feeding broodmares for healthy weight gain

• Palomino smutting and copper/zinc nutrition

• Pasture-based feeding strategies