It's an absolute miracle, that's what it is. I want to shout it from the rooftops so that everyone can hear me…….because it can help all of us with horses…..in fact all of us with animals of any kind. It can also help us, ourselves.

Activated Charcoal is an inert form of carbon and Gas-Ease Activated Charcoal is made from 100% ground coconut shell.

Activated Charcoal can hold many thousands of times its own weight and its absorption potential is massive.

Well, let me put this in an easy-to-understand way. Activated charcoal is like a big sponge - it absorbs (sucks up) impurities such as gas, toxins, poisons, just as a sponge absorbs water.

But here's the more technical explanation:

The structure of activated charcoal consists of a complex network of pores which are present on the surface of activated charcoal particles. Substances are attracted to the surface of the activated charcoal and are held by weak intermolecular forces to produce a charcoal complex.

When dispersed in the digestive system, activated charcoal absorbs substances which may be present in the digestive system and blood vessels. This process may occur via migration secretion or diffusion. Activated charcoal does not migrate from the digestive system as the particles are too large. In the presence of activated charcoal, substances are bound to the surface forming complexes which are inactive and pass safely out of the body.

Activated charcoal does not alter the chemistry of the body and does not form complexes with nutrients or minerals. The number of active sites on each particle of activated charcoal is limited. Once these complexing sites have been occupied, the particles of activated charcoal can play no further role in removing substances from the body, hence it is important to take activated charcoal regularly to ensure there is sufficient activated charcoal present to remove unwanted substances

StableLabel supply only activated charcoal in powder form. However, there are other types widely available, but let me tell you why StableLabel uses this particular grade of charcoal.

Gas-Ease Activated Charcoal is prepared in UK for the pharmaceutical industry and as such is used for human consumption. Charcoal used for medical applications is activated, highly refined and purified to remove any harmful substances and to increase the absorbency of the material.

The process of activation involves washing and heating charcoal to temperatures exceeding 700 degrees centigrade whilst exposing the charcoal to steam. This process removes the impurities and increases the adsorption power of activated charcoal by over 300%.

Pharmaceutical grades of activated charcoal are very potent adsorbents, with surface areas of 1000m2/g being typical.

StableLabel Activated Charcoal is produced from coconut shells, due to the unique structure, quality and uniformity of material.

The problem with using granular activated charcoal is mainly that it is not certified to pharmaceutical quality. The only pharmaceutical grade of activated charcoal is supplied in powder form only (see pharmacopeia standards).

Technically, granules will be less effective as they don't have the same surface area as powder. Commercially available granules are just lumps which won't reduce in the digestive system and will be far less effective.

No. AC is not water-soluble, has zero calories and has no nutritional value whatsoever.

No. Gas-Ease activated charcoal is pure, unadulterated, charcoal made from coconut shell. There is nothing more added. I take it myself for a gassy stomach, and wouldn't do so if it wasn't safe. Again, I reiterate that this product is used in UK hospitals, so better quality cannot be found anywhere.

To give my clients assurance I contacted the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) who confirmed that activated charcoal contained no banned substances. However, for confirmation clients can call the BHA themselves (020 7152 0000).

Well, I managed to find a UK manufacturer of Activated Charcoal….but not just any manufacturer….in my opinion the best. The Activated Charcoal that I use is manufactured for the pharmaceutical industry and is used in hospitals for people who swallow poisons or who have taken an overdose of drugs.

After speaking to the owner of the company, and asking all sorts of questions, he reiterated what I had been told about Activated Charcoal….that yes, it could and would absorb gas build-up in the horse's gut and he would highly recommend it. I didn't need to hear any more to convince me of its merits.

The unfortunate thing, if I can call it unfortunate, is that I had to buy the Activated Charcoal in wholesale bulk quantity…..yikes, what a lot of Charcoal, but I didn't care as long as it worked.

So, with some information from the manufacturer and using my own gut instincts I guess, I started off giving Shaun a 15ml scoop of Activated Charcoal in one feed per day.

Well, in all honesty, yes I was. A little at first. However, my brother-in-law is a chemical engineer to trade, and he reiterated all that I had heard from the manufacturer and the vet. He put my mind totally at rest and from that day to this I have never doubted it again.

Activated Charcoal is an inert product and as such, should be safe for animals and humans alike. It is inert and cannot react to, with or against any other material. It is vegeterian, non-toxic and is tasteless and odourless.

I trialled the Activated Charcoal on Shaun for a full year, during which time he had no episodes of gassing up at all. When I told my vet about it he was delighted and agreed that it was a great product to use on horses.

A lot here depends on the severity of the problem. However, by rule of thumb, at onset of gassing-up, I recommend one 15 ml scoop (one tablespoonful) in the horse's feed once a day, or more if the problem is really bad. It is absolutely essential that you dampen the feed to avoid inhalation of the powder, which is very fine.

if you have to give a double dose in a feed, that is absolutely fine. It can be given more often than once a day if required.

As safely as it can be increased, so too can it be decreased. It may only be necessary to feed Gas-Ease two or three times a week, perhaps even only once and perhaps as little as a teaspoonful is all that is required for maintenance. You'll know yourself by watching your horse.

If you feel you need to give it more than once a day, if the problem is severe, but you don't want to give a second feed, then just dampen the charcoal and stick it in a scooped out hole in half an apple.

Gas-Ease has a very long shelf-life as long as it is kept dry. My recommendation would be that you keep it in the tub supplied and keep the lid firmly shut when not in use.All tubs of Gas-Ease have a use by date.

In the unlikely event that you take skin irritation upon contact with Gas-Ease, just wash off as soon as possible with warm soapy water.

Well, this is an interesting question, because Gas-Ease may well be able to help with a variety of problems - however veterinary trials have not been carried out. Please email me for more information. marion@stablelabel.co.uk

There can be many reasons for gas build-up in the horse's gut.
Here are some:
Grass, particularly lush grass/grazing new pasture
High grain diet
Feeding haylage
Long periods in between feeding
Not enough food going through the gut
'Gulping' his food
Changes in feeding routine
Stress/anxiety/excitement