Preventing Colic
- Be sure that all feed is stored behind closed doors. If for some reason a horse manages to escape from their stall and gets into a feed bin or storage container, they can overload on carbohydrates resulting in colic.
- Do NOT allow horses access to any spoiled or moldy feed, stagnant water, or otherwise contaminated sustainance.
- Do NOT feed horses on the ground. This can result in the horse unintentionally eating dirt or sand resulting in sand colic.
- DO feed horses at the same time every day. Horses have very sensitive digestive systems, and if their feeding routine is disrupted, even if only by an hour or two, it’s enough for some horses to colic.
- DO deworm horses regularly. A good parasite control program can help prevent colic caused by parasites.
- Feed the minimum amount of grain and other high carbohydrate-rich foods as necessary to maintain healthy weight and energy. Feeding excess grain can cause colic.
- Feed only the SAME TYPE of feed to a horse regularly. Change in feed can easily cause colic. If moving a horse to a different type of feed is necessary, do so in small stages, weaning them slowly onto the new feed.
