Two well-known findings from the horse literature are worth knowing. First, muscle carnosine tracks with fibre type: it is positively correlated with the percentage of fast-twitch glycolytic fibres — the ones used for powerful, explosive work — and breeds richer in those fibres (such as Quarter Horses) tend to carry more of it (Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 1990). Second, in the Thoroughbred middle gluteal muscle, carnosine is estimated to be highest in type IIB fibres, where it may account for a large share of the muscle's physico-chemical buffering of hydrogen ions across the working pH range (Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 1992).

This describes carnosine as a molecule in equine muscle, drawn from published research. It is not a statement about what any product does when applied to a horse.

Why a topical format is of interest

There is a well-known catch with getting carnosine into the body by mouth. An enzyme called carnosinase splits much of it back into its building blocks in the gut and bloodstream before it can be absorbed as the whole molecule. That limitation — which applies across species — is why researchers and formulators have taken an interest in non-oral formats that don't route the molecule through the digestive tract. Topical delivery is one such area. It is genuinely interesting, and like anything at the frontier of a field, it deserves a careful, evidence-led read rather than hype.

How FortiGo is used

FortiGo is applied topically as part of everyday horse care. In practice, owners:

  • Work a thin layer into clean, dry coat and skin over the areas they are grooming.

  • Massage it in as part of a normal grooming, turnout or care routine.

  • Use it as a regular part of that routine rather than as a one-off.

  • Use 4-5 pumps for large muscle groups like the neck, back, and glutes.

  • Use 2-3 pumps for small muscle groups, like the poll, sternum, and for legs.

ortigo is generally applied to targeted major muscle groups. Massage the product into the horse’s coat to allow the product to reach the dermal layer of the skin. Each animal may have specific application requirements depending on the activity being performed, or for targeted treatment of issues such as being prone to stiffness or soreness in select areas. If required for longer coats, brush or towel off excess product 15 to 30 minutes post application.

Product size: 247 ml and 946 ml bottles.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Vegetable Glycerin, L-Carnosine, Magnesium Sulfate, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum (Keltrol F), Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid.

A word on the evidence

The buffering role of carnosine in muscle is well described in horses. The published performance research on the topical carnosine gel, however, has been conducted in people — and even there the results are promising but mixed, with some trials showing a benefit in repeated high-intensity effort and at least one showing no significant effect. It is fair and accurate to say the ingredient science is solid, the topical delivery idea is interesting, and the product evidence is still developing. Anyone who jumps from “carnosine does X in muscle” straight to “so this gel will do X for your horse” has taken a step the science doesn't support on its own.

Important information

FortiGo is a topical grooming and care product for horses. It is not a veterinary medicine, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition in a horse. Information on this page is general and educational and is not veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your horse's health, and before introducing any new product — especially for a horse that is unwell, pregnant, or under veterinary care.

Competition horses: if your horse competes, it is your responsibility to confirm the product's suitability under the anti-doping and controlled-substance rules of your relevant racing or equestrian body before use.

Learn more or enquire

Want to understand carnosine before anyone asks you to try anything? Start with our human-side explainer, which goes deeper on the molecule and the delivery question: the Carnosine page. To ask about FortiGo for your horse, get in touch below.

FortiGo for Horses

A resource on carnosine for horse wellbeing, and on FortiGo — a topical carnosine–magnesium gel used as part of a horse's wellness and care routine. This page is educational. It is not veterinary advice, and nothing here is a claim about treating, preventing or managing any condition in a horse.

What FortiGo is

FortiGo is a topical gel containing carnosine and magnesium, designed to be massaged into a horse's coat and skin as part of a regular grooming and care routine. It is the equine counterpart to LactiGo, the topical carnosine–magnesium gel made for people. The sections below explain what carnosine is and the role it plays naturally in the horse — so you can understand the ingredient, and decide for yourself.

Carnosine in the horse — the science

Carnosine is a naturally occurring dipeptide — two amino acids, beta-alanine and histidine, joined together. Horses carry it in appreciable amounts in their skeletal muscle, and decades of equine physiology research point to one job in particular: acting as an intracellular buffer, helping to steady the pH inside muscle cells as acidity rises during hard effort.