Microplastics are no longer just an ocean problem. It's in the soil, in the water – and with it, it has reached the world of our horses.
What many don't know:
The danger doesn't end with the air we breathe or on the skin. It continues in the body – precisely where health is created: in the gut.
And this is exactly where a problem begins that we in the stable have barely noticed so far.
How does microplastic even get into a horse?
The answer is simpler – and more uncomfortable – than many think.
Microplastics are created wherever plastic is used. And that's almost everywhere in equestrian sports.
Typical sources in everyday life:
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Hay and silage (contact with plastic films)
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Concentrated feed (processing and packaging)
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Stable dust and soil particles
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Riding surfaces with rubber or plastic components
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Riding equipment made from synthetic fibers
The last point in particular is often underestimated.
Polyester, nylon and similar materials are standard in the stable – from blankets to saddle pads to halters. Through movement and friction, the finest fibers are continuously released.
These particles end up:
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in the air
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in the dust
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on the feed
And ultimately in the horse.
That synthetic textiles release microfibers is well-established scientifically. (Chevaux Nature)
What happens in your horse's gut?
This is where it gets interesting – and critical.
Microplastics are not digested. They remain in the digestive system and interact there with one of the most sensitive systems in the body: the gut environment.
Studies from animal research show three central effects:
1. The microbiome becomes imbalanced
The horse's gut lives from billions of microorganisms.
Microplastics can shift this balance:
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beneficial bacteria are displaced
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unwanted microorganisms gain space
The result:
Feed utilization no longer works optimally.
Especially in the horse, whose energy production depends heavily on the gut flora, this is a crucial point.
2. The gut barrier is weakened
The gut is not just a digestive organ – it's also a protective barrier.
Studies show that microplastics:
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can promote inflammatory processes
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change the permeability of the intestinal wall
This means concretely:
The body decides less effectively what gets absorbed – and what doesn't.
3. Nutrients no longer arrive properly
Here lies the real core of the problem.
Research shows that microplastics can influence processes that are directly related to the absorption of:
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vitamins
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minerals
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trace elements
together.
The result is subtle – but serious:
You feed high-quality food. But your horse can no longer utilize the nutrients optimally.
Why we often don't recognize this in the stable
The symptoms are non-specific – and that's exactly why they're so insidious:
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dull coat
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poor hoof quality
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muscle loss
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performance decline
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increased susceptibility to infection
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digestive problems
In practice, the feeding is usually "adjusted."
More mineral feed.
More supplements.
More complexity.
But the problem often runs deeper:
not in the feed – but in the absorption.
The underestimated factor: riding equipment
A point that has barely been discussed in the equestrian world so far:
Your equipment is part of the problem.
Horse blankets, saddle pads and stable textiles are often made from synthetic fibers such as polyester or nylon. These materials continuously release microplastics through use – especially in enclosed stable environments.
This means:
With every movement of your horse
→ particles are created
→ that spread throughout the stable
→ and ultimately get absorbed
A cycle that works continuously – without us seeing it.
What does science say – and where do we stand?
The honest answer:
We're at the beginning.
What we know:
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Microplastics are detectable in agricultural systems
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they influence gut, microbiome and metabolism in animal studies
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synthetic materials are a relevant source
What we don't yet know exactly:
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the exact effect in the horse
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critical threshold values
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long-term consequences
But:
The direction is clear.
And it shows that we shouldn't ignore this topic.
Conclusion
Microplastics are not a distant environmental problem.
It has become part of our stable routine.
Invisible.
Silent.
Continuous.
And that's exactly why it's so relevant.
Because health is created not only through good feed –
but through the ability to actually utilize that feed.
