How To Prevent Horse Colic

How to prevent horse colic? - Horse Health Advice...

How to best to prevent colic :

Fresh Water

Make sure there is always plenty of fresh clean water available, and that it does not freeze in winter. Invest in a trough heater or arrange to break the ice regularly.

Remember, winter roughages generally contain less than 20% moisture whereas summer and spring grass contains 75% or more. Without sufficient liquid your horses food becomes dry and prevents easy bowel movement ie; peristaltic action. However, don’t give your horse anything but small amounts of warm water if he gets overheated.

Routine

Develope a regular exercise and feeding schedule.

Feed your horse mainly roughage and only a little grain or energy-rich supplement and divide the daily feed over two or more rations. Twice as much energy should come from hay or forage than from supplements.

Don’t put hay or other feedstuffs on the ground, especially where the soil is sandy; and check regularly for twine, plastic bags and other human detritus which could be ingested by your horse.

Worming

Develop a tactical approach to worming that ensures maximum effectiveness. Use our free worming programme to monitor and track what wormers you use and when you use them. The guide also lets you know what wormers are effective against what worms and the worming page will teach you all about the little nasties.

Stress

Try to keep stress to a minimum by either minimising the amount of travel or eliminating the need for transportation to shows.

Make sure your horse has a friend to graze with and/or travel with and make sure your horse is comfortable and settled in his environment.

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