KPU RESET PROGRAMME for Horses | A Structured, Whole-Horse, Foundations-First Programme for Horses on the KPU Spectrum

Our understanding of KPU didn't begin in theory - it began with two very complicated ponies - Kelso and Mac.

They both showed the exact kind of recurring, interconnected patterns now commonly associated with the KPU spectrum – Mac was full-on EMS/leptin resistant, with hardcore gut instability, and the worst chronic sweet itch I've ever seen; Kelso was a chronic headshaker with serious pollen sensitivity, so much so that he'd squeeze his heavy 15.2 show-cob self into an 8ft x 8ft sheep pen just to get out of the daytime air. They were both in constant cycles of improvement and relapse.

I hadn't studied KPU in time to help dear old Kelso, but in 2021, when I finally studied with Dr Christina Fritz, what followed became a 15-month MacAttack deep dive into his gut:liver axis, hindgut stability, and functional metabolic support.

The KPU Reset Programme was ultimately built from that experience – creating the step-by-step structure. For Kelso it was a case of "If only I'd known then..." - for Mac it changed his world.

What is KPU?

Cryptopyrroluria (KPU) is a complex metabolic pattern increasingly recognised in equine functional medicine. Increasingly recognised in equine functional medicine, KPU is viewed as a complex, multi-system metabolic pattern, often referred to as " the disease with a thousand faces " due to its extensive range of symptoms.

Rather than presenting as one clear issue, horses on the KPU spectrum often show recurring, interconnected patterns involving the gut, skin, hooves, energy, immune system, and overall resilience.

At its root, KPU stems from a disrupted hindgut microbiome (very often starting from birth based on how the foal was raised), and impaired nutrient production of Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate (P5P), the activated form of vitamin B6.

Over time, this can place increasing strain on the liver’s ability to process metabolic load efficiently.

KPU patterns rarely resolve by chasing one symptom at a time

These horses present with multiple, interconnected issues – gut instability, skin flare-ups, hoof problems, sensitivity, recurring inflammation, fluctuating energy – where one thing improves for a while, only for another to surface.

That’s why the KPU Reset Programme was designed as a structured sequence rather than a collection of products.

Instead of guessing what to try next, the programme follows a clear order:

→ settle the system first
→ stabilise the hindgut and reconnect key pathways
→ support the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system long-term

For many horses, this creates the first real sense of stability after months – or even years – of those circles looping again and again.

On a final note, be aware that KPU recovery isn't a sprint - in fact for some it can be a bit of a marathon, particularly in longer-standing cases - you may be looking at months to fully lower their body burden. But once the system begins to stabilise, owners often find progress becomes far more predictable and manageable - you'll be seeing - and your horse will be feeling - the benefits within days to weeks.

The KPU Reset Programme is a good fit when your horse has long-standing, layered issues that never quite resolve – and you’re ready to stop patching and start following a clear plan.

✔ You’re dealing with multiple recurring issues – gut, skin, hooves, pollens – rather than one clear problem
✔ Symptoms improve… then slip back again, no matter what you try
✔ Your horse feels sensitive, reactive, or easily thrown off balance
✔ There’s a history of antibiotics, wormers, or repeated interventions, with no lasting reset
✔ You’ve tried individual products, but nothing seems to work
✔ Droppings, coat, or overall condition feel inconsistent or unpredictable
✔ You find yourself thinking you're going round in circles

If your horse shows chronic, interconnected patterns that don’t fully resolve, this programme provides the structure to stabilise, rebuild, and move forward with a clearer plan.

When to move into the programme

The KPU Reset Programme is designed for horses with long-standing, interconnected patterns – where addressing one issue at a time hasn’t led to lasting change.

You may already have tried supporting individual areas such as gut health, skin, hooves, or energy. And while things may improve for a while, they don’t fully resolve – or they return again.

This is where a more structured approach becomes important.

Rather than layering individual products or guessing what to try next, the programme provides a clear sequence:

• Alleviate – settle discomfort and reduce system pressure.
• Reset – stabilise the hindgut and reconnect the gut–liver pathway.
• Tonify – support the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system to restore internal balance.

It’s not about doing more – it’s about doing things in the right order.

Foundation support

For best results, ensure your horse’s core nutrition is covered with a high-quality, forage-based mineral foundation . A well-supported system responds more consistently to targeted blends.

In short

• If you’re dealing with one clear issue, stay targeted.
• If it’s multiple patterns that keep circling back, this is where following a structured programme becomes the most effective next step.

This is a nutritional, functional food programme and not veterinary medicine. For more on this, see Dr Kellon's article - Nutrition is not 'Alternative' Therapy .

The programme begins by settling system pressure, before moving into gut stabilisation and longer-term metabolic support.

From there, long-term support becomes far more straightforward, with most horses benefiting from ongoing daily P5P support for at least 1 year.

Alleviate & Stabilise

• A 1-month course of DuoBute *Tincture form for swift absorption

First up, we start alleviating the discomfort with DuoBute pain and anti-inflammatory support, formulated to be very gentle on the fragile gut mucosa.

• Start by feeding the DuoBute for a couple of days in a p.m. feed to start taking the edge off before starting the reset, while continuing until finished.

Optional - if your horse is stressed, also feed a 1-month course of StressTonic .

Clear & Reset

- Stage 1 - Gut stabilisation

• A 1-month course of KPUCOMBO - a combined blend of EquiNatural's SiboCARE , GutAminos , P5P (Activated B6), B12-Balance & Spirulina . * Dried powder blend

Once your horse has had a couple of days on the DuoBute (and StressTonic if feeding), feed the KPUCOMBO gut:liver stabiliser in an a.m. feed for 1-month.

When finished, take a few days to assess - it's important to see how your horse's gut functions following the supplement; depending on the historic degree of gut dysbiosis, it may be that a 2nd month's course will need to be fed.

- Stage 2 - Tonify

• A 1-month course of LKLCARE * Tincture form for swift absorption

The final stage supports the liver, kidneys, and lymphatics pathway - the body’s natural internal housekeeping network - to support immune function and metabolic health.

Big picture

The KPU Reset Programme is not about doing more - it’s about doing things in the right order.

By following a structured sequence, it helps move horses from reactive → unstable → overwhelmed, toward settled → functional → resilient.

Footnotes

Once the system has stabilised, the focus shifts from “resetting” to maintaining steady long-term balance.

For many horses, this becomes surprisingly simple: good forage, consistent nutrition, seasonal support where needed, and avoiding the cycle of constant intervention.

As outlined earlier in the programme, most horses on the KPU spectrum benefit from ongoing daily support with activated vitamin B6 (P5P) for at least 1 year following the reset phase.

Beyond this, many owners choose to support the system seasonally:

• SiboCARE – as an annual hindgut reset
• LKLCARE – during coat changes or periods of increased metabolic pressure
• BiomeTonic – for horses needing additional intestinal stability or ongoing microbial support
• WildFed – to increase forage diversity and provide natural prebiotic enrichment

Most importantly, think foundations first:
quality meadow hay , forage-based feeding, natural movement, and balanced minerals all play a major role in helping horses remain stable long-term.

The goal is not perfection - it’s creating a system resilient enough that the horse no longer swings constantly between flare-up → intervention → temporary improvement.

Over time, many owners find their horse simply becomes more settled, more predictable, and easier to keep well.

Advisories

• Introduce gradually in sensitive horses.
• Ensure access to quality forage, hydration, and natural movement throughout the programme.
• Temporary fluctuations in comfort, droppings, or skin patterns may occasionally occur as the system adjusts.

Contraindications

• Not suitable during active laminitis episodes.
• Pregnant or nursing mares – seek veterinary guidance before use.
• Seek veterinary advice if your horse is receiving prescription medication or has significant metabolic instability.

Frequently asked questions

What is the KPU Reset Programme designed to support?

The KPU Reset Programme is designed for horses showing long-standing, interconnected patterns involving the gut, skin, hooves, energy, immune system, and overall resilience.

Rather than focusing on a single symptom, the programme follows a structured sequence designed to support the systems commonly involved in horses on the KPU spectrum.

What is KPU?

KPU (Cryptopyrroluria) is a complex metabolic pattern increasingly recognised in equine functional medicine.

Rather than presenting as one clear condition, horses on the KPU spectrum often show recurring patterns involving multiple body systems, including digestion, skin, hooves, metabolism, energy, and immune function.

This is why KPU is often referred to as "the disease with a thousand faces."

How do I know if my horse might be a KPU candidate?

Many owners begin exploring KPU when they feel they are constantly chasing symptoms.

Common patterns include:

✔ Ongoing digestive instability

✔ Recurring skin or seasonal challenges

✔ Hoof quality concerns

✔ Fluctuating energy levels

✔ Sensitivity and reactivity

✔ Symptoms that improve temporarily before returning

✔ Multiple seemingly unrelated issues occurring together

If you're unsure, our KPU information page provides a more detailed overview.

How is the KPU Reset Programme different from feeding individual supplements?

The programme is designed as a sequence rather than a collection of products.

Each stage prepares the ground for the next:

1. Alleviate – helping reduce system pressure.
2. Reset – stabilising the hindgut and reconnecting key pathways.
3. Tonify – supporting the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system.

The goal is to provide a clear pathway rather than leaving owners guessing what to feed next.

Why does the programme start with DuoBute?

Many horses on the KPU spectrum are sensitive, reactive, or carrying a degree of underlying discomfort.

Starting with DuoBute helps settle the system before moving into the deeper reset phase, creating a more stable foundation for the programme that follows.

What does KPUCOMBO do?

KPUCOMBO sits at the heart of the programme.

It combines support for microbial balance, gut lining integrity, activated vitamin B6 (P5P), vitamin B12, and wider gut:liver pathway function.

This is the stage where the programme focuses on stabilising the hindgut and reconnecting key metabolic pathways.

Why is LKLCARE the final stage?

The liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system play an important role in the body's natural internal housekeeping processes.

The final stage is designed to support these wider systems, helping maintain balance and supporting longer-term resilience after the reset phase.

The core programme is designed as a three-month sequence.

However, horses with longer-standing patterns may benefit from repeating parts of the programme or continuing with ongoing maintenance support afterwards.

KPU recovery is often best viewed as a gradual process rather than a quick fix.

Will I need to repeat the programme?

Some horses require only one reset programme before moving onto maintenance support.

Others, particularly those with long-standing or complex histories, may benefit from repeating elements of the programme or extending the stabilisation phase.

Every horse progresses at their own pace.

What happens after the programme finishes?

The focus shifts from resetting to maintaining stability.

Many owners continue with:

✔ Daily P5P support

✔ Good forage-based nutrition

✔ Seasonal use of LKLCARE

✔ Periodic use of SiboCARE

✔ BiomeTonic or WildFed where appropriate

The aim is to create a more resilient system that no longer swings between flare-up and recovery.

My horse has gut issues. Should I choose the Hindgut Reset Programme or the KPU Reset Programme?

If digestive issues are the primary concern, the Hindgut Reset Programme is often the best place to start.

If your horse shows a broader pattern involving multiple systems - such as gut issues alongside skin, hoof, metabolic, respiratory, or behavioural challenges - the KPU Reset Programme may be more appropriate.

How quickly will I notice a difference?

Every horse is different. Some owners notice changes within days or weeks, particularly in comfort, energy, and overall wellbeing.

For longer-standing patterns, progress is often more gradual, with improvements building steadily as the programme progresses through each stage.

Does every horse with sweet itch, EMS, or allergies have KPU?

Great question! And here's a thing - the question shouldn't be "Does this horse have sweet itch?" It's more "Why is this horse's immune system responding this way?"

And the answer leads back to:

• hindgut dysbiosis
• impaired B6/P5P metabolism
• compromised liver processing
• chronic toxin burden
• immune dysregulation

In other words, within the KPU model, sweet itch is often viewed as one symptom of a wider metabolic and immune imbalance rather than a completely separate issue.

That said... Biology is rarely black and white. Some horses show the full KPU picture, whilst others display only parts of the pattern. Some respond quickly to gut-focused support, whilst others require a deeper whole-horse approach before lasting changes begin to emerge.

In our experience, many horses showing recurring allergic, metabolic, skin, respiratory, or digestive patterns display the wider picture associated with the KPU spectrum.

Sweet itch, pollen sensitivity, skin flare-ups, hoof issues, digestive instability, EMS, and behavioural changes may appear unrelated on the surface, yet often share common roots in gut health, nutrient metabolism, liver function, and immune regulation.

So another good question could be, "How many of these patterns are showing up together?"

When enough of these seemingly unrelated patterns start appearing together, the KPU framework becomes increasingly useful for understanding what might be happening underneath.