Frequently Asked Questions

EPIC G1 PRODUCT QUESTIONS:

What is Epic G1?

Epic G1 is all-natural food for horses. It’s made of specially-treated oats that ferment and activate a curated blend of beneficial bacterial. This is then fed directly to your horse to support its natural gut health and microbiota.

What are the ingredients in Epic G1?

Epic G1 is a wholesome and natural food made of specially-treated oats, a curated blend of cultures, beneficial bacterial, malt, and water.

How does Epic G1 work?

The ingredients are natural and simple, but our fermentation process is complex. For efficacy, it’s important that the good bacteria remain alive and active so they immediately get to work in your horse’s GI tract. With our G1 pre-fermentation process, the beneficial bacteria already contain active, anti- inflammatory molecules when ingested. Compared to, say, a probiotic powder which doesn’t get activated until it reaches the small intestine – likely missing important opportunities in the esophagus and stomach.

What is the difference between probiotics, prebiotics, and Epic G1?

In Latin, probiotic means ‘pro-life’ – they are living bacteria with proven clinical health benefits. Prebiotics are non-digestible food (fibers) that feed the beneficial bacteria, helping them grow and produce healthy molecules for the GI tract and its immune system. G1 uses these beneficial bacteria in its fermentation process, producing a live and active medium with extremely high bacterial quantity and other byproducts. This kick-starts a process the bacteria would normally start once it passed the sour passage of the stomach. So, this pre-fermentation allows G1 to take action the minute it makes contact with the horse’s your cell walls and does not need to wait for the bacteria to ‘wake up’ after passage of the stomach.

What does G1 stand for?

G1 is the curated blend of lactic acid bacterial + metabolites produced through fermentation. G1 creates the perfect blend of microbiome support for your horse's gut.

How do I feed Epic G1 to my horses?

Epic G1 is a fermented liquid that can easily be added as a top-dress to any feed program. There is no need to change your current feed program. However, you may notice your horse better utilizes and absorbs the nutrients in the feed you currently provide and may reduce the amount of additional supplements needed to maintain health.

How much do I feed?

Feed 1-2 doses daily depending on your horse's condition and exposure to environmental toxins. One dose is equal to ⅔ cups (6 oz).

What are the storage requirements for Epic G1?

To maintain freshness and optimal bacterial activity, we recommend Epic G1 be stored in a cool place, preferably refrigerated. If the product freezes, the bacterial will not survive. Although it won’t harm your horse if you feed it after it’s frozen, the product will not be effective in providing beneficial bacterial.

What stress factors might influence the health of my horse?

Just like humans, horses encounter environments and situations that create susceptibility to picking up viruses or bad bacteria that promote illness. This can be everything from stress of travel and competition, the uncertainty of new environments, weather changes, feed changes, encounters with other ill horses, or bacteria left behind from sick horses (stalling at public facilities), etc.

Is it ever recommended to increase dosage of G1?

Horses will benefit from 2 doses per day (preferably 1 dose morning and night) when traveling, competing, combating gut dysbiosis (ulcers, leaky gut, etc.), recent or ongoing antibiotic usage, recent or ongoing NSAID usage (Butte, Banamine, Previcox, etc.), loose stool, cough or respiratory condition, skin irritations, or any other condition where immunity boost is needed.

Can I feed Epic G1 to my horse while it's on antibiotics?

YES! We know it’s sometimes necessary to administer antibiotics for various infection concerns. Unfortunately, antibiotics not only kill bad bacteria, but also the beneficial bacteria. During an antibiotic regimen, as it’s already recommended for humans, it’s important to supplement your horse’s gastrointestinal system. G1’s beneficial bacterial can help balance the microbiome while the horse fights off bad bacteria through the use of antibiotics.

Can I feed Epic G1 while my horse is on Omeprazole?

YES! Omepezol (or a proton pump inhibitor) is used when your horse’s upper GI tract starts to get inflamed due to external stress factors (pathogens, medication, pesticides, traveling, performance stress, etc.). Inflammation happens when the GI mucus is weak or non-existent. This gives food toxins and pathogens free access to the epithelia cells which cause the inflammatory immune response.

Additionally, the natural acidity of the stomach can further irritate the inflammation. Omeprazole is not reducing the amount of natural acidity which is needed for digestion and protection against pathogens, it is reducing the intensity of the acid. Unfortunately, it’s scientifically proven that proton pumps negatively alter the gut flora, producing less butyrate. Butyrate is essential for the adaptive immune system to keep and repair epithelia
(gut) cell walls.

Recent scientific studies show fermented food, like G1, work differently. The anti-inflammatory ingredients produced during the fermentation process are helping to reduce the inflammation
and rebuild the mucus. Additionally, the high number of beneficial bacteria in G1 reduces bad bacteria growth, which is often part of the inflammation.

Can I feed Epic G1 with my current feed program?

You bet! Epic G1 strengthens your current feed program by creating a natural healthy gut environment that allows your horse to properly absorb all the administered nutrients.

Is Epic G1 safe for horses of all games?

As an all-natural product with a curated blend of natural bacteria, Epic G1 is safe to feed to all ages and types of horses; from newborns to broodmares to performance and/or aging horses. The G1 blend of beneficial bacteria are all Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). G1 bacteria do not stay in the gut forever. As they pass through the gastrointestinal tract over 3-7 days, they help eliminate bad bacteria, increase and support the growth of good, existing bacteria, and leave behind a better balanced microbiota.

EQUINE GUT HEALTH QUESTIONS:

What are beneficial bacteria?

Beneficial bacteria are “the good bacteria” which naturally live in the gut of a healthy horse. If the good bacteria are reduced due to external stress factors, then bad bacteria increase and partly destroy the mucus layer. This is the beginning of chronic inflammation in the gut. Beneficial bacteria contribute directly and indirectly to the wellness of the epithelial cell liner, which is the most important filter in a horse’s body. It protects horses from pathogens (bacteria, viruses, toxins) and directly supports its natural immune system - strengthening or rebuilding the cell lining. G1 contains a cocktail of beneficial bacteria that supports the naturally existing microbiota, leading to a healthy gut balance.

What do bad bacteria do to my horse?

Bad bacteria produce toxins which cause inflammation on epithelial cells (gut lining) and can lead to a leaky gut. The combination of bad bacteria and toxins can also advance the leaky gut into sepsis. Additionally, the inflamed epithelia can’t absorb the essential food even if you increase vitamins, peptides or similar ingredients. Bad bacteria disrupt a good fermentation process in the hindgut, hindering the production of vitamins or butyrate – both critical for your horse’s energy and gut health.

 Do antibiotics destroy a horse's gut?

Antibiotics are antimicrobial pharmaceuticals. Depending on the spectrum of the antibiotics, they are designed to kill bad bacteria, but may also kill good bacteria in the process. Antibiotics are not very discriminatory. This can significantly reduce the gut’s bacteria load and create an imbalanced microbiota (dysbiosis). After an antibiotic treatment, horses depend on external sources to restore their bacteria diversity and recover a stable, healthy fermentation. If you don’t proactively support this process, there’s a risk the gut will be overgrown with bad bacteria, making it difficult or impossible to regenerate a balanced microbiota. Because of this, horses are extremely susceptible to reinfection. This essential repopulation needs to be supported by a natural army of beneficial bacteria which will kill only the bad bacteria and let the good ones grow. G1 contains a cocktail of these beneficial bacteria which are scientifically proven to reduce bad inflammatory bacteria on their way through the GI tract. Nevertheless, the horse’s gut is in constant fight to create and keep a good balance. That’s why it’s beneficial to feed a regular regimen of G1.

Can feeding NSAID's harm my horse's gut? How do I better protect it?

Yes! NSAIDs such as Bute and Banamine block COX-1 enzymes and can negatively impact your horse’s gut health by damaging the intestinal lining. Although NSAIDs can improve your horse’s comfort level and exercise tolerance when dealing with injuries or other problems, it’s important that they’re used correctly to minimize the risk of adverse effects. NSAIDs have shown to cause side effects and adverse reactions that can significantly affect gut health, nutrient absorption, immune function, and your horse’s overall well-being. There are times when it’s necessary to manage pain for our horses. But we can also ensure they maintain a strong and healthy intestinal lining that includes a balanced microbiota to combat the threat of damage when NSAIDS are required to manage pain. Feeding Epic G1 can help protect and repair your horse’s gut health and immunity during times of pain and pain management.

What is a leaky gut?

Due to external stress factors (pathogens, parasites, toxins, high performance) the horse risks losing the mucus’s essential physical barrier on the epithelia cells. Once the epithelia unprotected bacteria and virus toxins can cause an immune reaction and create cell inflammation. As a result, ulcers and leaky gut can appear. Leaky gut is when the epithelia cells literally have holes in them. Through these holes, anything in your horse’s gut can migrate into the blood stream and cause further chronic inflammation in other organs, causing sepsis and intoxication of organs. In this situation it’s important to support the horse’s beneficial gut bacteria and re-creation of the mucus layer. Once the mucus layer is re-established the horse’s immune system will close the holes and leave behind a healthy cell lining. G1 includes beneficial fermented byproducts such as lactic acid that are scientifically proven to support the reproduction of mucus layer.

 What is the connection between gut health and brain function?

A healthy horse produces a healthy amount of serotonin (happy hormone). If the levels are too high or too low, they can lead to metabolic diseases and behavior issues. Since 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut; inflammatory gut flora (dysbiosis) is correlated with a decrease of serotonin. Restoring the gut flora not only reduces or eliminates inflammation but increases serotonin production. Changes in serotonin levels are associated with gastrointestinal pathologies such as ileus, colic or endotoxemia, vascular dysfunctions such as digital hypoperfusion causing laminitis, recurrent airway obstruction and endocrine disruption such as intermediate equine pituitary dysfunction (PPID) or Cushing syndrome, and behavioral alterations such as stereotypes [26, 27]. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/61898

Can poor gut health increase the risk of Laminitis?

Equine laminitis is the painful and debilitating condition resulting from cellular damage and inflammation of the tissues comprising the bonds supporting the pedal bone within the hoof capsule. One of the reasons why this condition is so complicated and enigmatic is its association with gastrointestinal disturbances (Dysbiosis) https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/136/7/2103S/4664908 The horse gut microbiota facilitates digestion and nutrient absorption for host energy production, short chain fatty acid production, and immune health such as protecting against pathogens and diseases. Thus, in horses keeping the gut microbial community and metabolites at a normal and stable condition is crucial for defending a large array of both intestinal and non-intestinal diseases [7,8,9]. Previous studies suggested that development of equine laminitis is associated with disturbance of the hindgut https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-020-02686-9

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ON G1?

Where do I find more information on Epic G1?

To learn more about Epic G1 and Epic Equine Health- visit the following: Web:  www.epicequinehealth.com IG: @epicequinehealth  FB: @epicequinehealth 

How do I contact Epic Equine?

We would love to hear from you and help you answer any questions. Send us a DM at any of our social channels or send us an email at howdy@epicequinehealth.com

How do I order Epic G1?

Ordering is easy! Visit our website and hit the “Buy Now” button. We will ship direct to your door or schedule delivery or pickup by appointment if you are located in Southern Idaho or near one of our Epic HUBs (more locations coming soon).

Does Epic Equine have any other horse health products other than Epic G1?

Our Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer is currently researching and developing products with the G1 at the core of all our products. Coming soon will be additional products for your horse- as well as products for YOU and your other little furry friends.

What if I have a question about Epic G1?

Send us an email to howdy@epicequinehealth.com or DM on our social media channels and we will personally answer your questions. Also, watch out for our soon to be released blog posts and videos that will tackle the complicated science behind Epic G1 and horse health.