Preventing Colic In The Fall
Winter is coming. And my horses are letting me know this because their slick summer coats are being replaced with heavier, and furrier winter coats. And while I love the teddy bear look (they are just so cute!) This is also my cue that the seasons are changing, and it’s time to get prepared for winter.
During the change of seasons, there is one thing all horse owners need to be aware of, especially in the fall, colic. Colic can happen at any time and for any reason. However, after experiencing it for myself with my own horse, and talking to my vet, the number of colic cases seem to spike during the fall season transition.
And one of the reasons, at least where I live, is the extreme changes of temperatures. In Colorado we can have an 80 degree day followed by a 35 degree night. And when a weather system moves through, the temperature can drop fast. This can cause havoc on your horses delicate digestive system. And by being prepared for scenarios such as this, can save your horse’s life.
Keep Water Warm
When the temperature drops, your horse’s water can get too cold for his liking. Keep the temperature consistent by using a tank heater. Did you know horses prefer a certain temperature for their drinking water? Unlike us, they don’t really like ice water. So promote drinking by keeping your horse’s water a consistent temperature.
Automatic tank heaters are a good option because they will turn on when the water temperature drops. This will make it easier to keep your horse’s water the same temperature, and encourage him to drink more.
Plenty Of Water
Now that you know how to keep your horse’s water temperature to his liking, you need to make sure he has a clean water source. Horses will drink 5 to 10 gallons of water a day, so make sure he has access to at least 10 gallons of water.
I like to use a large water tank that my horse’s share outside, and then in their stalls, they each have a 5 gallon bucket that I clean every few days. I may not be able to force them to drink, but I can make sure there are many places they can get to water, in case they want to drink.
Keep An Eye on the Weather
Pay attention to your local weather forecast. If there is a significant change in the weather coming, prepare for it. While we can’t change the weather, we can prepare for it. One thing that my veterinarian recommends is that when the temperature drops a fair amount, because of a storm coming in, give your horse an electrolyte paste to encourage him to continue to drink, as well to replace electrolytes in his body.
Feed More Frequently
Horses are a grazing animal, meaning their GI system is more accustom to eating small, and more frequent meals instead of large meals. One way to accomplish this is to feed your horse 4 times a day instead of 2. This may be challenging, but it can be done if you get creative.
For example, instead of feeding my horses twice a day I separate out their hay for 4 smaller feedings. And this is how I do it:
- 6:00 AM 1 flake of hay
- 7:30 Am 1 flake of hay and pelleted feed
- 11:30 AM 1 flake of hay
- 5:30 PM 1 flake of hay and pelleted feed
- 7:30 PM 1 flake of hay in their paddock, and 1 flake of hay in their stall
So even though it isn’t perfect, I stagger out their feeding throughout their day. I try to keep hay in front of them as much as I can, so there is always something available for them to eat. I prefer to use a grass hay, and during the winter, I incorporate more alfalfa especially when the weather gets colder.
Regular Veterinary Care
I have my vet come out for check ups on my horses once a year for shots and a check up. And the rest of the year, I handle the routine things like de-worming. I also add a pre and probiotic to my horses feed every day. Supplements can help to keep things moving, as well as getting your horse on a psyllium plan each month.
All the preventative care that you can do will help to keep your horse healthy throughout the year. And it is well worth the investment of the monthly supplements to protect your horse as much as you can and prevent colic from happening.
Keep His Stall Clean
If you keep your horse’s stall clean on a regular basis, you will be able to see how many piles of poo there are every day. This is very important if you are concerned with an impaction type colic. If your horse isn’t pooping, that could be one of your first indicators something isn’t right. Try to clean your horse’s stall at least once a day, so you can see how many piles there are. This can be challenging if you have a horse that likes to spread things around. But still, it helps to be able to see just how many piles there are in the stall.
An Ounce of Prevention
Thinking ahead and being prepared is so important if you own a horse. And there are a lot of little things that you can do at this time of the year to prepare for the upcoming change of seasons. Although winter time for me means a lot less horse time, doing prevention stuff right now will hopefully mean an uneventful winter. Do what you can now to prepare for the winter and prevent colic. Not all cases of colic can be prevented, but many can. So get ready for fall, and keep your horse healthy this winter by making some changes now.