Scouring

coss

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 August 2010
Messages
1,184
Location
NE Scotland
Visit site
A horse i ride regularly is on 24/7 turnout with 2 other horses in her field. There is very little to eat but they are given hay morning/night.
The horse i ride (mare) seems happy and healthy in all aspect except the scouring, really smelly and dried crud down the insides of her hinds:( Other 2 horses (a mare that comes in at night and a gelding that's out 24/7) are absolutely fine.
She was ok throughout the summer and only feed changes have been the gradual increase in some speedi beet (but not a lot) and hay which is nearly adlib.

Any suggestions as to what things may improve her gut health. She's already on feed with pre/probiotics.
 
She's on alfa-A, rowenbarberry senior support (which contains yea-sacc ;)) and speedi beet. With carrots - note she's been on this feed all summer and its only since the hay has been introduced that she's scouring.
 
Will sound a weird question but is she rugged with a tail flap with fillet string or leg straps?
My new mare came the same, was quite squitty and when using a Rambo with a heavy tail flap and fillet string, her droppings would perch on the string; delightful! I found one with leg straps instead and that I could cut shorter the tail flap to about six inches, (was not going to desecrate a Rambo!). Squits solved because she could lift her tail high enough to clear everything and she now is beautifully clean except for the mud of course.

Don't forget, the grass is still growing which might have a laxative effect on her especially if you've had any frosts too.
 
i know exactly what you mean Maesfen as had that problem with another horse. However with this mare the poohs are not cow pats but are loose in consistency and she does sometimes lift her tail and only liquid comes out (very small amount)
We've had a couple of frosts but her management has basically remained the same spring/summer/autumn/winter- always has grass access and it is quite rough grazing - as far as i can tell... it only coincides with hay consumption - speedi beet was added earlier than hay and that didn't seem to affect her but i have heard of it having a laxative effect.
 
Top