KPU RESET PROGRAMME *A structured, whole-horse, foundations-first programme for horses on the KPU spectrum

Our understanding of KPU didn't begin intheory - 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.

Footnotes

The KPU Reset Programme is built as a structured sequence, not a collection of products.

When multiple systems are under pressure, trying to address everything at once often leads to more instability, not less. Instead, this programme follows the body’s natural order of recovery - stabilising first, rebuilding second, and supporting long-term function last.

Think of it as the blueprint behind the programme - not just what to feed, but when and why it’s fed in that order.

Functional intent

The programme is designed for horses showing long-standing, multi-system patterns, where gut instability, nutrient disruption, and metabolic pressure are all contributing to ongoing symptoms.

It works across three core phases:
→ Alleviate
→ Stabilise & reconnect
→ Process & maintain

This phased approach reduces system pressure first, restores key pathways second, and then supports the body’s natural ability to maintain balance long-term.

The reset sequence – KPU support in action

Phase 1 – alleviate & settle - DuoBute

The first step is to take the edge off - before deeper work can begin, the system needs to feel safe and stable.

DuoBute helps settle discomfort, reduce inflammatory pressure, and support a calmer internal environment - particularly important for horses with sensitive or reactive gut systems.

This creates the foundation for the reset phase to follow.

Phase 2 – stabilise & reconnect - KPUCOMBO

Once the system has settled, the focus shifts to the root.

KPUCOMBO works to stabilise the hindgut, support gut lining integrity, and restore key nutrient pathways - particularly those involved in vitamin B6 activation and metabolic function.

This is where the gut–liver axis begins to reconnect, allowing the system to move out of the cycle of recurring imbalance.

Phase 3 – process & tonify - LKLCARE

With the system stabilised and pathways reconnected, the final phase supports the body’s ability to process and maintain balance.

LKLCARE helps support the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system - the body’s internal housekeeping network - allowing metabolic load to be handled more efficiently and helping maintain internal stability as recovery progresses.

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.

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.