If your yard's on sand

[Surbie]

I've just moved to a new yard, which is on sand, fairly rare for Surrey!

I am LOVING the absence of mud (last yard was foot-sucking bog after rain). Horse is now out on the winter field, which is only just opened so has a really good amount of grass in it.

He's out 8-10 hours a day now and has 6-7kg of soaked hay overnight - he did have more but isn't coming close to finishing it.

I've been reading up on keeping horses on sand,and the dangers of sand colic - but given the above, would you feed psyllium husk all year round?

 

[rextherobber]

I had never heard of sand colic until I moved house! If the grazing is good, you shouldn't need to feed it routinely, it's more of a problem when grass is sparse. But it is really easy to check for the sand content in poo, pop a bit in a sealable clear plastic bag with water, it will break down and any sand will be the bottom sedimentary layer (it will feel gritty through the plastic too) Westgate Labs (the worm test kit people)also offer it as a test, but it really is just sticking a bit of poo in a bag of water!

 

[windand rain]

I feed psyllium for a week every six weeks or so if the grass is long enough in the winter once it's very short or feeding hay they get a small amount daily don't usually feed in summer unless they get runny poo

 

[PurBee]

A while ago now when looking into sand colic/ sand accumulation in horses guts and the dangers etc, i came across a study which compared psyllium, hay, and other methods to remove sand. I’ve only remembered the result of the study: hay was the best ’broom’ material for sweeping sand from the gut.

I imagine if the grass on sandy soils is very short, theyre more likely to ingest more. Also pastures without a dense covering of grasses are likely, during rainfall, to get the lower inch of grass covered in sandy soil so the risk is increased ingestion. The rain hitting the soil directly causes soil to splash nearby grasses.
Worst kind of pasture with sandy soil would be very short sparse grass in an area of regular rainfall.

If you do the poop in water test for sand/grit, and do find it - in a way thats a good sign that the horse is moving it through the gut and binding with feed...rather than it accumulating Into lumps in the gut.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I was on a sandy yard in Surrey, wonder if it's the same area! Although doubt it because we certainly weren't out for 8-10 hours a day in Winter!

The YO gave them a sand out type supplement for a week every now and then when grass was sparse and one horse did have sand colic one year. If the field has just opened and is lush I wouldn't worry about sand colic until it's been eaten down. I wouldn't want to put them on a sand out supplement for an extended period of time as I did notice my mare was a bit uncomfy whilst on it.

 

[Surbie]

Thank you very much for the replies and advice. I'll be keeping an eye on the ground and the grass cover. I'm betting the poo inna bag experiment is going to really enhance my reputation as a weirdo on the yard!

I've only been at yards on clay before so this is a learning curve. His feet (which I have posted about before a couple of times) are making a rapid recovery from being out in very muddy conditions at the last place.

 

[Surbie]

I was on a sandy yard in Surrey, wonder if it's the same area! Although doubt it because we certainly weren't out for 8-10 hours a day in Winter!

Might be! Most yards within commutable distance are on clay, & occasionally chalk. I think this might be the only one on sand. (eta, near me I mean!)

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I'm on Surrey sand, in all the years I've had my yard I've never had sand colic with anything.
I'm very aware on it though as a neighbour lost hers to it about 10 years ago.
Mine will never be on a very bald patch for long, I prefer to either muzzle on long grass, or supplement with soaked hay or have in part of the time, or a combination of all 3 unless they are able to take the long grass.

Neighbours on sparse keep use psyllium and/or sand out.

Hope you enjoy the sand base more than the clay

 

[Surbie]

Thanks - so far I am a convert. I've never had such clean legs & feet at this time of year.