One of the main functions of your horse’s large intestines is to absorb fluid from the ingesta and therefore form faecal balls. Numerous factors can affect the absorption of fluid from the intestines and sloppy manure results. Some examples of conditions that can affect absorption are: Parasites – intestinal worms cause irritation and inflammation in the intestinal wall as they emerge from their cysts and feed. This inflammation reduces the intestines ability to absorb fluid. Sand – Horses kept on pastures with a sandy soil can ingest variable amounts of sand. Sand is heavy and remains in the intestines causing irritation and inflammation. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) & Intestinal Neoplasia – These conditions can occur in older horses and must be considered if other causes are ruled out. Sloppy manure can also occur if the normal bacteria within the intestine are disrupted. This can happen for example if your horse’s diet is suddenly changed. In this case the bacteria need time to adjust and this is why new feeds should be introduced slowly. Horses that are particularly prone to stress can at times pass a sloppy manure when faced with a stressful situation. However in these cases it should only be a one-off and then they should pass normal manure. If your horse is passing watery diarrhoea or is consistently passing loose manure please contact your veterinarian immediately as this can be a life threatening situation. If your horse is passing the occasional sloppy manure please contact your veterinarian to discuss potential causes, preventatives, and treatments.