Why does your horse have intolerances?

People are known to suffer from food intolerances and sensitivities from time to time, and the same can also occur to animals like horses. An intolerance happens as the result of the body’s reaction to foreign objects like food and other items like dust and pollen. These allergens are often present in the immediate environment of your horse, which affects the animal’s health and overall quality of life.

This is not an allergy test but a sensitivity and nutritional balance screening using non-invasive hair sample analysis.

What’s included in the Horse Intolerance Test

Our Horse Food Sensitivity Test is a complete testing solution that helps you identify your horse’s dietary and environmental intolerances with accuracy and ease. Your horse will be tested against 300 potential sensitivity triggers spanning five key categories to give you a holistic view of their health and wellbeing:

• Food Items: This includes common ingredients found in horse feed, such as cereals, grains, dairy, meat, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Identifying food sensitivities can help you adjust your horse’s diet and reduce symptoms like digestive discomfort or skin issues.
• Environmental Items: Horses are often exposed to environmental allergens like dust, plants, pollen, and animal dander. This part of the test checks for sensitivities to these everyday elements, which may be contributing to chronic irritation or behavioural changes.
• Nutrition Items: The test screens for imbalances or adverse responses to various nutritional compounds that could be impacting your horse’s energy levels, coat condition, or overall health.
• Vitamins: Horses, like humans, can sometimes react to certain vitamins if consumed in excess or deficiency. This category helps you identify possible vitamin sensitivities that may interfere with nutrient absorption or cause mild toxicity symptoms.
• Metal Toxicity: Exposure to heavy metals through feed, water, or the environment can lead to health problems over time. This test identifies sensitivities to metals such as aluminium, mercury, and lead, allowing you to take preventative action.

With this comprehensive analysis, you’ll receive detailed insights to help you optimise your horse’s diet, environment, and care routine based on their unique sensitivities.

Why should you test your horse for intolerances and sensitivity?

Suffering from sensitivities and intolerances can trigger more serious health problems. It is important to be able to spot the early signs of intolerances, such as digestive problems like diarrhoea and skin issues like rashes.

However, not all reactions to environmental allergens and substances are easy to detect. There are different factors, such as your horse’s current mood, that could affect the way symptoms appear, making the animal even more vulnerable to the health issues brought by the intolerances.

You can find out for sure the food and non-food substances that trigger your horse’s reactions. Our horse intolerance test analyses 300  food and non-food items like bananas and buckwheat. Through the test, you will know which food ingredients and other substances need to be avoided.

Your Horse’s Intolerance Test results: sample report

After our laboratory receives your sample, you can expect the test results to be ready in 3-5 business days. The report will provide you all the information you need to understand your horse’s intolerances. It will also include a comprehensive guide for eliminating more possible intolerances from the animal’s diet.

Each item is classified as Sensitive, Mild, or No Reaction, allowing you to prioritise eliminations and reintroductions through a structured diet plan

How is the sample collection process in the Horse Intolerance Test?

To conduct this test, all the laboratory needs is your horse’s hair sample. We recommend you take the hair sample from the mane for safety reasons. Alternatively you can take the sample from a brush that you have groomed the horse with, so long as there is no cross contamination. Please note that we will NOT be sending out a test kit to you but you will be given a detailed guide on how to collect the sample. The process required for sample collection is easy but it is important to collect the hair as specified in the guide for the laboratory to be able to analyse the samples.

Download the forms below after placing your order

Important: After placing your order of the Horse Intolerance Test, please download the forms below, fill them in, and send them back along with your horse’s hair sample. The address where you need to send your completed form and sample is clearly indicated on the submission form. These forms are essential for processing your test accurately, so please ensure they are completed and included when mailing your sample.

Download here the Sample Collection Submission Form

Treating your Horse’s Intolerances

Your sample report determines the type of allergens and substances your horse is intolerant to. To treat your horse’s intolerances, most of the time, you simply need to change the animal’s diet and remove the trigger substances from its nutrition plan. However, some intolerances may also require treatment. The report includes an extensive guide, and we recommend visiting your veterinarian for a more thorough discussion of the best treatment for your horse.

Other animal testing options

We offer a range of different Animal DNA Testing if you are interested in testing other types of pets. We offer a We offer a range of advanced Animal DNA Testing services, including our Horse Hereditary Disease Test, Horse Parentage Testing, and Equine DNA Profiling (Genotyping), to help you better understand your horse’s genetic background and health. Additionally, if you’re interested in testing other types of pets, we have a comprehensive Dog DNA Test section with options like our Dog Allergy Tests. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to explore any of these testing services for your animals.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an allergy and intolerance in horses?

Allergic reactions are often more severe than intolerances and are usually felt immediately. You will know if your horse suffers from an allergy because the symptoms appear as soon as it gets in contact with the offending substance. However, intolerances are usually less severe and can change over time. The symptoms are also not immediate and can appear anywhere from 10 minutes to 48 hours after exposure to the trigger.

What is food allergy in horses?

Food allergy is an adverse reaction of the immune system to an allergen, which is usually a specific food protein. On the contrary, intolerances do not affect the animal’s immune system. Also, food allergies are less common than food intolerances.

What is food intolerance in horses?

Unlike food allergies, food intolerances are a non-immunologic adverse reaction to any food digested by the body. If your horse shows signs of illness after eating, it is likely that the animal is suffering from food intolerance. However, we recommend that you seek professional advice as the difference between food allergies and food intolerances may not always be distinct.

What are the items tested in the Horse Intolerance Test?

Our Horse Intolerance Test screens for sensitivities across five key categories: Food Items, Environmental Items, Nutrition Items, Vitamins, and Metal Toxicity. This broad analysis covers common allergens such as grains, dairy, meats, fruits, plants, and metals, providing you with a comprehensive view of what may be affecting your horse’s health.
Below is a table with some of the items tested:

Food Items

Non-food items