19/09/2025
Educate yourself and share to others 🫶
🍂🌧️ It’s getting to that time of year again where we are starting to switch our horses from 24/7 turnout to spending large amounts of time stabled. This change in routine is a big risk factor for the development of colic. One of the most common types of colic we see during this time is impaction colic - when food material becomes stuck in the large intestine due to a combination of reduced exercise which slows the guts down, and less water intake.
‼️If your horse presents with colic signs please ring us immediately and we will be able to advise you on the next best steps or advise if a visit is necessary! ‼️
We’ve put together some useful tips to help reduce the risk of your four legged friend getting colic! ⛈️🍁
⭐️ Soaking hay and/or giving mash - grass has a high water content so suddenly changing their diet to predominantly hay reduces their water intake. By soaking hay and giving mashes we can promote water intake and reduce the risk of an impaction colic.
⭐️ Encourage movement as this helps to keep the guts moving. If you don’t have access to any paddock turn out this could include riding, hand walking, lunging, horse walker and turn out in an arena.. any movement is better than none!
⭐️ Try to increase time spent in a stable gradually so that your horse has time to adjust to a different diet and a reduced level of exercise.
⭐️ Make sure to offer clean, fresh water. Providing a salt lick in their stable can encourage horses to drink too!
⭐️ Rugging - even though it’s getting to the time of year where we start to stable it is still very mild! Please remember to rug appropriately as excessive rugging causing your horse to get too warm can also result in colic!
‼️The following signs may indicate that your horse has colic:
🐴 Pawing at the ground
🦄 Kicking their abdomen
🐴 Rolling
🦄 Lip curling
🐴 Sweating
🦄 Lack of interest in food
🐴 Change in droppings - reduced in number, or a change in consistency to very hard or soft
🦄 Change in demeanour
If you have any concerns please ring the office and one of our vets will be able to advise whether we need to visit your horse!
