Epsom salts....

[Gucci_b]

would you give epsom salts to a t/b horse if going over to long lush summer grazzing? & how long to feed this? horse will be going out at night to start with and in the cool stable in the day. strip grazzing, but the grass really is lush. If not epsom salt what else is on the market!!! Advise much welcome

 

[deicinmerlyn]

prob better off using mag ox, although epsom salts have magnesium in it, it may make your horse very loose.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Sounds like you're sensibly doing a gradual changeover G. But why Epsom Salts? If you're worried about colic then I'd recommend Coligone (H Bradshaw's sell it and H's_mum is a Forum member and is the Marketing Director - signs herself Coligone Kate - and the company are very, very helpful). I stupidly turned my cob straight out on lush grazing and bang he went down with gassy colic after a week. An injection of Buscopan put him right within minutes but Coligone is keeping him right. He can either have a small regular dose as a preventative or I just give him a tubeful when he changes fields or anything like that. He's permanently off the lush grazing and is doing well on an occasional dollop of Coligone in his feed. If it's laminitis you're more worried about, remember it only ENDS in the feet so I'd think Coligone again.

 

[Gucci_b]

Thanks for that info, very helpfull, Horse has never got grass colic (touch wood) but i beleive in prevention rather than a cure. and no that epsom salts will help if she pigs out, was'nt sure if there was any thing else on the market.

 

[spaniel]

I use Coligone on my cob during the spring as he has a very delicate constitution and will colic at the drop of a hat. He only needs to be out 5 minutes more than normal and this can set him off.

Mag ox is excellent if you want to try and guard against laminitis and I use epsom salts if a horse looks as though he is bunged up although I have never used it as a preventative against grass colic/gassy colic.

Speak to kate at H. Bradshaws (Coligone), she is wonderfully helpful and knowledgeable on this sort of thing.