Moor2Sea Equine Therapy

06/11/2025

21/09/2025

Inflammation or Just Fat?

🚦🚦🚦Some holistic practitioners even talk about KPU (Kryptopyrroluria) a condition linked to nutrient depletion and chronic inflammation 🚦🚦🚦
This is an interesting read if you want to learn more about KPU

https://www.equinatural.co.uk/advice/kpu-horses

Did you know your horse can look completely different within just a day or two?

The below picture is within the space of just two days. Going from lean to bloated.

One day they look leaner & the next they appear bloated, swollen, or “fatter.” But this isn’t just fat , it’s often systemic inflammation. Fluid retention, tissue swelling, and gut distension can change a horses appearance within hours to days.

Systemic inflammation leads to toxin build up and impaired detoxification

Signs you might be seeing inflammation rather than true weight gain:

Swollen sheath
Puffy eyes or eyelids
Sudden bloated belly / “hay belly” look
Skin issues
Fluid retention or puffiness around joints

This happens because the body is reacting to stressors and holding onto fluid and toxins. When the main detox pathways ( liver, kidneys) are overloaded, inflammatory by products can leak into the circulation and tissues.

Causes of inflammation in horses can include:

High sugar/starch diets or sudden dietary changes
Gut imbalance or leaky gut
Toxins (mouldy forage, chemicals, environment)
Chronic pain like ulcers
Stress (physical or emotional)

Consequences of ongoing inflammation:

Reduced performance and energy
Depressed
Stiffness or reluctance to move forward.
Sore feet
Increased risk of laminitis
A body that struggles to detox and heal

Most importantly how your horse feels:

Tired, sore, uncomfortable, sluggish, respiratory issues, sometimes even depressed.

So next time your horse suddenly looks ‘fatter’ overnight, don’t just put it down to weight gain. Look deeper it could be your horse telling you something is very wrong inside.

As always do your own research.
And consult your vet if your concerned

17/08/2025

14/08/2025

17/07/2025

05/06/2025

24/07/2023

Restrictive nosebands are common in equestrian sport. This is concerning, as recent evidence suggests that very tight nosebands can cause a physiological stress response, and may compromise welfare. The objective of the current study was to investigate relationships that noseband tightness has with....

24/07/2023

If you ever get the opportunity to meet Sharon May-Davis and the team, do a dissection

This study examined the anomalous variations of the ventral process of C6 in modern E. ferus caballus. The aim was to provide an incremental grading protocol measuring the absence of the caudal ventral tubercle (CVT) in this ventral process. The findings revealed the most prevalent absent CVT (aCVT)...