Spring is one of my favourite times of year, but from a nutritional point of view it brings some challenges that horse owners need to be aware of.

One of those is mycotoxins

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by certain moulds and fungi. They can occur in hay, grains, forage and other feedstuffs, and contamination can occur both while a crop is growing and later during harvesting and storage. The problem is that warmer temperatures combined with moisture and humidity create ideal conditions for mould growth. This means our transition into the warmer, damper spring and summer months can increase the risk of mould and mycotoxin contamination.

But I Can't See Any Mould?

Obviously, you should never feed mouldy, musty, or damp hay and feed. But the absence of visible mould doesn't necessarily guarantee that a feed is free from mycotoxins.

Different mould species produce different toxins, and contamination isn't necessarily evenly distributed throughout a bale or batch of feed.

This is why prevention starts with good feed management.

Keep hay and feed as dry as possible, protect it from moisture, maintain good airflow around stored forage, regularly inspect feed for changes in smell or appearance, and don't feed anything that looks or smells a bit off.

What Can Mycotoxins Do to Horses?

The effects depend enormously on the particular toxin and the amount consumed.
Mycotoxin exposure has been associated with problems including:

•  reduced appetite
• digestive disturbance and diarrhoea
• colic
• reduced performance
• immune suppression
• weight loss or poor growth

Certain mycotoxins can have much more serious effects. Fumonisins, for example, can cause severe neurological disease in horses, while aflatoxins can damage the liver.

Can We Reduce the Risk?

The first line of defence is always good quality feed and correct storage. A toxin binder should never be used as an excuse to feed mouldy hay or grain.

However, because accidental exposure can occur, targeted nutritional ingredients may provide an additional layer of support.

This is one of the reasons I included Mycosorb A+ and Bio-Mos in Missy's Bucket Gut-Plus.

Mycosorb A+

Mycosorb A+ is an Alltech mycotoxin-binding technology designed to reduce the absorption of certain mycotoxins from contaminated feed.

Rather than allowing those compounds to be absorbed through the digestive tract, the aim is to bind them within the gut so they can pass through the horse.

This doesn't make mouldy feed safe. Think of it instead as an additional layer of protection against unavoidable or unnoticed exposure.

Bio-Mos

Bio-Mos has a slightly different job.

It's derived from a selected strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and is used to support the gastrointestinal environment, gut integrity and the horse's natural defences.

So within Gut-Plus, we're approaching the problem from two directions: supporting the gut itself while also providing targeted support against dietary mycotoxin exposure.

Why it's worth thinking about this now

As we head into spring, we're entering exactly the sort of weather where feed management becomes particularly important.

Warmth + moisture + feed = conditions mould loves.

So this is a good time to:

• check your hay carefully
• keep feed bins and storage areas clean and dry
• protect hay from rain and ground moisture
• discard anything obviously mouldy or musty
• be particularly careful with damp or poorly stored grain and forage
• consider additional digestive and mycotoxin support where appropriate

The Bottom Line

Mycotoxins aren't a reason to panic, and horses don't need constant detoxing. But they are a genuine nutritional risk.

Good quality forage and careful storage remain your first line of defence. Nutritional support can then provide another layer of protection against the exposures we can't always see or completely avoid.

That's exactly why Missy's Bucket Gut-Plus contains both Mycosorb A+ for mycotoxin support and Bio-Mos for gastrointestinal support, alongside its complete vitamin, mineral, amino acid and digestive-support formula.

As always, good nutrition isn't about one magic ingredient. It's about reducing risk, filling nutritional gaps and supporting the horse's own systems to do their job.