Stress colic

[Brownmare]

What can be done to stop a horse getting stress induced colic? (other than eliminate stress obv )

We have a new livery coming to our yard who has previously colicked due to stress and I want to help make his settling in here as smooth and easy as possible. My first thoughts are to make sure he has company at all times whether in or out but to keep him, at first, in a separate paddock where he can see but not be bullied by other horses. I want to keep him in as constant a routine as poss and not alter his feed etc

Anything else I should be doing? Do you think Rescue Remedy is worth trying? I'm in two minds about it but it wouldn't hurt to try I guess
He will be on a mix of part and full livery.

 

[ShellCoburn]

I had this problem with a filly I bred 10 years ago.....

She would stress EVERY time we went to a show (in hand) without fail.

The silly thing was that nothing had ever happened to make her stress - she just couldnt handle the excitement of everything that was happening around her - sensitive little petal she was! (little being 16.2hh at 3 yrs old! lol)

We would be either in the stalls, at the float or out in the ring and she would come down with stress colic.

All I can suggest is keep his routine as constant as possible, personally I have never used Rescue Remedy and probably wouldnt, as I dont believe it would do much. But it certainly wouldnt HURT to try it..... lol.... Anything is worth a go.

Perhaps a calmative feed supplement while he is getting used to the new routine.

 

[nikicb]

What can be done to stop a horse getting stress induced colic? (other than eliminate stress obv )

We have a new livery coming to our yard who has previously colicked due to stress and I want to help make his settling in here as smooth and easy as possible. My first thoughts are to make sure he has company at all times whether in or out but to keep him, at first, in a separate paddock where he can see but not be bullied by other horses. I want to keep him in as constant a routine as poss and not alter his feed etc

Anything else I should be doing? Do you think Rescue Remedy is worth trying? I'm in two minds about it but it wouldn't hurt to try I guess
He will be on a mix of part and full livery.

I can relate to exactly what you are going through. We moved our pony to home a couple of weeks ago and it was the one thing I was really worried about. He gets spasmodic colic really easily, and only had an episode at Easter for no apparent reason (other than a wet couple of days which sometimes gives him the runs). Thank goodness he was ok. I fed him a little less hard feed than usual (he is only on alfa-a anyway), only turned him out for a couple of hours the first day, and then about 4 hours the following day, called the vet in advance to be on standby etc. and he was fine. I think it's all about preparation and knowing what is and isn't normal for the horse so you can act quickly if you need to get the vet. Good luck, hope it goes smoothly.