Does lack of turnout increase colic risk??

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Leesobo

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I'm currently at a yard where horses go out on a mud paddock for an hour to an hour and half a day, the rest of the time they are in eating Christ knows how much haylage. There seems to be a large amount of colic cases are the two related? Please note I am trying to move but there is a severe lack of livery yards in the area :( :(
 
Yes, horses are grazing animals - they need as much turnout as possible to keep their digestive system in good working order. Personally, the setup at your yard would not be acceptable for me and I would move.
 
This is what I said and was told I was talking crap. :'( I'm so stressed as my mare isn't young, but I'm struggling to find a yard as there seems to be a lack and the ones there are have waiting lists. ( which I am on for several) for the money I am paying too! Just short of £300 and 56 liveries share 3 fields. What I don't want to do is to upset anyone as I will be told to leave and as much as I want to, I don't want to be in a situation where I have nowhere to go.
 
Yes, there is a connection. Horses need as much movement as possible (preferably - constant) to guarantee their guts work optimally.
 
Sounds an awful set up, but I think you have to make the best of it for now. Is there a walker? Or walks in hand or lunging if you don't have time to ride? I think I'd be trying to find something daily to add to the turn out to keep them moving, obviously within the time you have available if you work etc :/ all you can do is wait it out or widen your search area for yards, possibly one that's maybe cheaper but will do assisted livery or something so cut down on visits to yard... Not very helpful I know but sending sympathy! Or possible find someone to do some extra riding? Easier said than done I'm sure though!
 
I would definitely be quietly looking to move in your situation. As you say, there's no need to upset anyone, but if their management system doesn't work for you, there's no sense in you continuing to stick with it and pay for it.
 
Horse walker is £3.50 a go and she got electrocuted at her old yard even though I asked not to have electric on and can't get her near it :(. I work shifts so riding is hard and although we seem to have 4 arenas they are constantly used for lessons. I often do a short but sweet walk ride around the farm and now someone has put a crow scarer up plus they keep shooting on farm next door and I very nearly came a cropper the other day. Which being pregnant isn't the ideal situation. I'm lucky she didn't react as bad as would be expected!! Advertised her for loan a few times with a strict no novices as she can be feisty and keep getting idiots who cant ride turning up! Complete nightmare!!!
 
Sleipnir said:
Yes, there is a connection. Horses need as much movement as possible (preferably - constant) to guarantee their guts work optimally.
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This.
I had a pony that was on the point of impaction colic, post surgery just supposed to be on box rest. Turning it out was the only option and he was back to normal within a couple of days.
I have to have mine stabled in barns over the winter so they may not go out for three months. They are have the whole of the barn and are on hay and straw ad lib. I have never had a problem I think because they are constantly moving around and they get sloppy sugarbeet if the poo starts to get a bit too dry. The water in sugar beet takes longer to be absorbed by the gut so keeps the poo bulky.
 
Leesobo said:
I'm currently at a yard where horses go out on a mud paddock for an hour to an hour and half a day, the rest of the time they are in eating Christ knows how much haylage. There seems to be a large amount of colic cases are the two related? Please note I am trying to move but there is a severe lack of livery yards in the area :( :(
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YES! is the answer - I suggest you look around and find another yard that gives more turn out time. I would not be happy with my horses on this situation
 
My old fellow was constantly coming down with low grade gassy colic when he was on a yard which only offered an hour or so a day turnout - and that was so foul they hung around by the gate anyway. I moved him to a place with way more turnout and, go figure, he hasn't colicked since (touch wood) and that was almost 4 years ago.

If I were you, I'd be looking for somewhere more suitable in a hurry.
 
As everyone has already said, there's a definite link between colic and lack of movement, if your horse is living in 24/7 exercise becomes even more important. It's also really difficult for their joints. It must be such a worry for you, I hope you find a suitable place as soon as possible. I know it can be hard in certain parts of the country to find a yard with good turnout at any time of year, let alone winter, but your yard sounds absolutely dreadful, so I wish you all the best.
 
What part of the country are you in? I to would be looking to move but understand it's not always easy depending on location.

It sounds like a huge stress for you which you don't need with being pregnant! Hope you can get something sorted soon x
 
Milton Keynes. There are a few yards but many are very very expensive and I just can't afford them. I also need to be able to work around my shift patterns which isn't easy :( trying to exercise more but it's a busy riding school and the arenas are constantly in use. I am on early shifts this week but not been finishing until half 4 so it's been dark by the time I finish otherwise I would ride around the farm :(
 
AdorableAlice said:
Could you lunge him in an arena in the evening, not ideal but some movement.
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Literally can't get in any arenas at the moment they have been full every single evening. Got one opportunity to let her run around for 5 mins in the arena before they wanted it for lessons. its really taking the p**s pay all that money and can't use the facilities
 
Are the initials of your yard BF?

There is a new livery yard on the way past wing, a bit further from you but looks great. And you could always turn away for a while at say quainton or dry leys, especially since you are pregnant whilst waiting for a space elsewhere?
 
The simple answer is yes if you cannot exercise enough the next useful tip would be to try to keep your horse well hydrated making sure it has lots of sloppy feed,speedibeet, grass nuts fibre nuts or the like as the biggest cause is dehydration. Might help to add a handfull of table salt to his feeds too so he drinks more. At least until you have the chance to move him
 
As others have said YES! There will be a connection. You see I never understand this mentality that's it's ok to leave horses standing in a stable for hours on end barely moving? The only reason yards get away with this type of 'management' is because their clients accept it as normal! IT IS NOT NORMAL nor acceptable IMHO for horses to be imprisoned in this way. On my yard we have 3 sacrifice paddocks that we use every winter. They get completely trashed and it costs me a small fortune every year to have them 'fixed', but you know what? Our horses are happy and settled and more importantly our risk of colic is drastically reduced.
 
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