redriverrock
Well-Known Member
Colic is my worse nightmare and over the 4 years I have owned my TB have had to deal with it twice, one was an impaction which was very serious, the other gassy colic which was more dramatic but less serious.
I am not an expert but have come up with a few strategies which have helped my horse...touch wood... to live colic free. Most of what I do is really going back to basics and though I know no one can prevent colic I do believe we can minimise the risks, this also makes me feel better!
So number one tip...TURN OUT as much as is possible, 24/7 if you can manage it...if not daily excercise is really important to keep the gut moving and prevent gas build up. When the weather was really bad I was free schooling or lungeing in the school for 20 mins morning and evening. I adapted my yard so all 3 horses had accesss to the shelter, yard area and school so though they couldnt go out in the field they could stretch there legs. I have also put electric tape along any surface that the TB was cribbing on and removed the stable doors and partitions to make it in to one big shelter.
I always make sure there is ad lib hay/haylage...which ever suits your horse and do not use straw bedding, just in case they eat it and impact.
Fresh clean water...monitor water intake as well as you can and make sure it is clean. My tb will stop drinking when the temp drops to about 5 so I have to put boiling water in which he will guzzle down!
To aid in water intake I totally altered the diet and now feed equi beet which absorbs a huge amount of water and needs to be soaked for 24 hours, fast fibre...again absorbs alot of water and micronised linseed. This routine has resulted in him coming out of winter in very good condition and have had several people commenting on how good he is looking...very proud mum! His feet are also alot better which the farrier has commented on.
The really great addition has been activated charcoal...I cannot over egg how amazing this has been for my horse. He has always been quite gassy and can look bloated...not anymore. Within 3 days of starting him on it he looked far more comfortable...wasnt farting for england when we were working him and very interestingly showed no inclination to crib. When we changed grazing he was fine and changing from hay to haylage was also trouble free. Along with the routine changes the activated charcoal has made the biggest difference to his well being Im sure.
So, what tips has every one else got, the above is what works for my horse. ...colic is such an awful condition and it is really sad to read of so many cases on the forum.
I am not an expert but have come up with a few strategies which have helped my horse...touch wood... to live colic free. Most of what I do is really going back to basics and though I know no one can prevent colic I do believe we can minimise the risks, this also makes me feel better!
So number one tip...TURN OUT as much as is possible, 24/7 if you can manage it...if not daily excercise is really important to keep the gut moving and prevent gas build up. When the weather was really bad I was free schooling or lungeing in the school for 20 mins morning and evening. I adapted my yard so all 3 horses had accesss to the shelter, yard area and school so though they couldnt go out in the field they could stretch there legs. I have also put electric tape along any surface that the TB was cribbing on and removed the stable doors and partitions to make it in to one big shelter.
I always make sure there is ad lib hay/haylage...which ever suits your horse and do not use straw bedding, just in case they eat it and impact.
Fresh clean water...monitor water intake as well as you can and make sure it is clean. My tb will stop drinking when the temp drops to about 5 so I have to put boiling water in which he will guzzle down!
To aid in water intake I totally altered the diet and now feed equi beet which absorbs a huge amount of water and needs to be soaked for 24 hours, fast fibre...again absorbs alot of water and micronised linseed. This routine has resulted in him coming out of winter in very good condition and have had several people commenting on how good he is looking...very proud mum! His feet are also alot better which the farrier has commented on.
The really great addition has been activated charcoal...I cannot over egg how amazing this has been for my horse. He has always been quite gassy and can look bloated...not anymore. Within 3 days of starting him on it he looked far more comfortable...wasnt farting for england when we were working him and very interestingly showed no inclination to crib. When we changed grazing he was fine and changing from hay to haylage was also trouble free. Along with the routine changes the activated charcoal has made the biggest difference to his well being Im sure.
So, what tips has every one else got, the above is what works for my horse. ...colic is such an awful condition and it is really sad to read of so many cases on the forum.
but he seems fine with it!
