Preventing colic as the snow thaws.....

[el_Snowflakes]

Hi all,


where we are, the snow has now thawed (and some of the ice) so the horses are being turned out all day (9am-4pm) however its been about a month and a half that they have been stuck indoors or turned out for short periods with v little grass. My mare has a sensitive tummy and lastnight i noticed her nibbling at her sides (generally happy and bright apart from this), i decided just to keep an eye on her rather than phone the vet and she is fine thankfully. Yesterday was only the second day they have been out for any length of time with access to normal amounts of grass, so i thought i might ask the yard to bring her in early today- what length of time do you think she should be put out while re introducing her to grass??

thanks

 

[Lotty]

Hi there, my mare was diagnosed with laminitis last year and she was stabled for 5 months, only coming out for x-rays. When she recovered the vet said I could turn her out for 2hours and then build up giving her half an hour extra each week.

Before I turn her out in this freezing weather I make sure she has had breakfast and a small haynet so there is something in her tummy.

Hope that helps.

 

[sam72431]

I'm not sure but i would think that she would of been more likely to get colic when she went from grass to none, so if she coped ok with that i would think she would be ok? My horses were turned out but they couldnt get to the grass so they were being hayed the snow thawed a few weeks ago and we carried on haying in the field and have gradually weaned them off it, normally if either of my horses have to be box rested i give them dried grass and haynets so it isnt such a shock to the system, maybe if she has half a day out this week and then full days next week just give her plenty of roughage so she doesnt get the runs and if she does pro-biotic yoghurt may help.

 

[Birker2020]

Hi all,


where we are, the snow has now thawed (and some of the ice) so the horses are being turned out all day (9am-4pm) however its been about a month and a half that they have been stuck indoors or turned out for short periods with v little grass. My mare has a sensitive tummy and lastnight i noticed her nibbling at her sides (generally happy and bright apart from this), i decided just to keep an eye on her rather than phone the vet and she is fine thankfully. Yesterday was only the second day they have been out for any length of time with access to normal amounts of grass, so i thought i might ask the yard to bring her in early today- what length of time do you think she should be put out while re introducing her to grass??

thanks

I used to have to go through this scenario everytime my horse went out following a period of box rest, either through bad weather or due to illness. Initially he'd go out for a couple of hours and I'd look at increasing it by an hour or so by the end of the week.

I'd make sure your horse has hay or haylage prior to turn out so as to line his stomach and put him on pink powder as a preventative. Also make sure he has access to fresh water in both field and stable as dirty water can cause colic.