Horse Manure as Fine Wine: Notes from the Stable Sommelier

Flavors and scents you might recognize in red wine.

Horse Manure as Fine Wine: Notes from the Stable Sommelier

By Désirée Braganza (Everyday Ethology), Dan Manolăchescu, Mirela Tripon & Kate Thornton

The other day, I noticed manure in an unusual place. That caught my attention, but what kept it was the texture: cow-patty flat. The smell was sharp, almost acrid, in a way that suggested the horse’s gut might not be entirely at ease. Sure enough, the barn manager confirmed the horse wasn’t feeling well and had been kept in.

That moment reminded me of a lively conversation recently had with two equine veterinarians, an equine massage therapist and myself (Everyday Ethology). We were talking about manure and how we often only notice it when something is wrong. But how do we recognize what’s normal for each individual horse?

A Little Context

Across cultures and centuries, stool has always been a diagnostic tool. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and even ancient Egyptian writings, dung was central to understanding wellbeing. Hippocrates thought so too.

Today, both human and veterinary medicine rely on stool samples to check for pathogens, parasites, microbiome disruptions and more. But what about something simpler like just looking, smelling and noting texture? Could ordinary observation give us clues about equine health before things escalate?

That’s what our small group set out to explore from practical tips to philosophical tangents, with a healthy amount of curiosity (and humor).

Dan (equine veterinarian & equine ethologist, Romania):

“I’m a wine enthusiast and I couldn’t help but wonder; could we approach manure the same way sommeliers approach wine? With a trained nose, you start noticing nuances: sour, musty, mineral, fermented. Could we develop a shared vocabulary for the nuances in manure’s smell? And if we did, would that language hold across cultures or would the same odor be described as pleasant in one region and unpleasant in another?”

Kate (equine massage therapist, UK):

“That got me thinking, maybe our perception of what’s ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’ in a manure smell is influenced by emotional conditioning or past experience. And also the horse’s habitat. What if a totally normal poo in one environment, with that region’s specific grass and soil, would seem off to someone from another part of the world?

And what if it really was unhealthy for our horses if their poop suddenly smelled that way - not because it’s bad everywhere, but because our horses don’t thrive on that diet or ecology? That really complicates things.”

Mirela (equine veterinarian, Romania):

“We absolutely need to start with knowing what’s normal for each individual horse. Things like color, shape, texture, moisture, frequency. Most horses go every three hours. Just getting familiar with that baseline gives you a head start on noticing when something’s off.”

Me (Everyday Ethology, USA):

“So it’s kind of like building a sensory baseline and from there, noticing deviations?”

Mirela:

“Exactly. For example, just one scoop of grain can change the horse’s microbiome for three months. So if you notice a stronger or slightly off smell, maybe more acidic or ferment-y, that could be your clue that something’s happening in the gut.”

Kate:

“And what would it do to research results if people who aren’t horse people were asked to smell and rate manure samples? Would they pick up on things that we, as horse people, are too used to? Or do our conditioned emotions, like how we felt the last time we smelled a similar pile, influence our interpretation of what smells ‘good’ or ‘bad’?”

Dan:

“Which is why I still think we need a vocabulary. Maybe even a decision tree or flowchart. Something that says:
Poo smells acrid → is it loose or solid? → is it in a usual place? → is there a temperature change? → is this part of a pattern? That structure could help us move from vague impressions to more consistent data.”

Kate:

“Also, how does manure smell change in horses with chronic metabolic conditions like PSSM or EMS? Do they have a different baseline smell? Because if so, we can't compare them directly with a so-called healthy horse. It's not one-size-fits-all. Maybe similes would help too, does it smell like grass? Like fish? Like slurry? Like ammonia? If we standardize the language, then ‘pungent’ or ‘acrid’ means the same thing across different people and regions.”

Me (Everyday Ethology):

“I wonder, could careful smell tracking help us catch early signs of things like ‘leaky gut’ or inflammatory conditions, before they become full-blown issues?”

Mirela:

“Yes, especially if you're also noticing changes in behavior, skin, temperature, or coat condition. Manure can be an early whisper before the body starts yelling.”

Me (Everyday Ethology):
”Noticing changes in behavior is central to my work. I'm oversimplifying here, but the connection between the gut and our thoughts and feelings is strong. Both our guts and our horses' produce hormones, which become neurotransmitters -chemicals that influence our thoughts, moods and reactions. So if the gut is off, how we feel might be too. This can range from mild nervousness to a full-blown inability to filter or tolerate everyday stimuli.”

Kate:

“And don’t forget, horses sniff their own and others' manure. They’re likely gathering a lot of information: stress levels, hormone changes, gut status. Maybe we should pay closer attention to how they behave around dung of their own and others. Do they recoil? Show extra interest? Walk away fast? We’re not the only sommeliers in the stable. Horses are ahead of us in this skill and we’re just catching up.”

The Takeaway

Being a “sommelier of manure” isn’t about turning every pile into a science experiment, but it is about cultivating an eye (and nose) for the ordinary, so you can spot the extraordinary. Equines are talented at hiding discomfort, but their manure doesn’t lie. If you can attune yourself to its subtle signals, from smell to shape to placement, you may catch imbalances before they escalate. Even more, you might discover how your own emotional filters shape what you notice or ignore.

Call to Action: What Does Your Nose Know?

We want to hear from you.

·      How does your nose interpret different manure smells?

·      Have you noticed your horse sniffing their own or others’ droppings and seeming to make decisions based on it?

·      Do you think manure in different environments smells different even when the horse is healthy?

·      What vocabulary would you use to describe what you're smelling?

Let’s crowdsource the beginnings of a field guide. A glossary. A shared language.

Further Reading For the Curious Nose

• Equine Olfaction: What We Know and What We Don’t – a short review that dives into how horses use their amazing sense of smell.

• Waring, G.H. Horse Behavior – a classic book covering all aspects of horse behavior, including how they communicate through dung piles.

• Carabotti, M. et al. (2019). The Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 16(9), 553–566 – a readable look at how the gut and brain talk to each other.

Extra Credit!

• Zhang, Y. et al. (2020). Exosomes: Emerging Roles in Communication Between Gut Microbiota and Host. Trends in Microbiology, 28(12), 1062–1075 – explains how tiny chemical messengers in manure may influence adaptation and health.

Nose-Nudging Notice

While examining manure’s smell and appearance can provide useful insights into a horse’s health, these observations should be used as complementary tools alongside more definitive diagnostic methods such as laboratory testing and sampling. Keep in mind that individual variation and environmental factors can influence manure characteristics, so avoid making conclusions based solely on smell. For safety, always practice caution when smelling manure, avoid inhaling deeply or inhaling large quantities, as it may contain pathogens or harmful microbes. Consult your veterinary care team for accurate diagnosis and advice.

Friendly Reminder: These articles are meant to spark thought, not replace expert guidance. Consult equine professionals for individual advice.

About the Authors

Désirée Braganza, EdD, EBQ received her equine behaviorist qualifications from the Natural Animal Centre, located in South Africa. As a member of Bodhi Horse Practice, she collaborates with equine professionals worldwide on research projects specific to experiences of domesticated horses from an ethological lens. She is a horse partner, a rider and has cared for and supported numerous horses over the years. Désirée recently relocated from Northern California and is now based in Monroe, Georgia, USA. She consults internationally in-person and virtually.

Dan Manolăchescu, DVM is a veterinary professional and ethology researcher associated with the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj‑Napoca (USAMV Cluj), Romania. He has been involved in work on equine welfare and stress measurement (including indicators such as heart rate variability). He is also known for an inspiring personal journey: overcoming a severe spinal cord injury sustained in a horse‑riding accident, demonstrating extraordinary determination and resilience; RE-STAT.

Mirela Tripon, DVM is an Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the same institution. Her research focuses on equine reproduction, with published studies on sperm recovery techniques, the effects of lidocaine on epididymal spermatozoa and diagnostic methods for equine endometritis.

Kate Thornton, EMA (Dist) EIST is a certified and insured equine musculoskeletal therapist and bodyworker, operating under Kate Thornton Equine Sports & Remedial Bodywork in Norfolk, UK. Her approach combines sports and remedial massage with a whole-horse perspective, addressing both physical dysfunction and the emotional factors that often underlie it.

Kate works with horses in training, recovery, and rehabilitation, providing maintenance massage, remedial therapy, and pre-/post-competition support. Her thorough assessments often include video analysis to identify subtle behavioral or biomechanical signs of pain, discomfort, or compensation.

A passionate advocate for equine welfare and owner education, Kate serves on the board of International Equine Professionals  and regularly shares insights on horse health, including the role of olfaction and emotional well-being.

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