Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2012 | Page 98
EQUESTRIAN
Clue up
for cold weather colic
Well here we are again in mid-winter.
The average horse owner is likely to
be well acquainted with their horse’s
predisposition to colic regardless of
the season, but with very cold weather
come complicating factors that all
owners should be prepared for.
The number one cause of colic
during the winter is a lack of fresh,
unfrozen water. Horses must drink
10-12 gallons of fresh water every day
and will dehydrate quickly if water is
unavailable. If your horse is not able to
get enough water, it is at greater risk of
conditions such as simple indigestion
or impaction.
A frozen water trough is the usual
dehydration culprit so ensure that
you check the water supply daily to
guarantee continual access to water
in the winter. Bear in mind that
electrolyte supplements are not a
suitable water substitute and do not
mitigate the risk of dehydration.
There is nothing wrong with adding
appropriate amounts of electrolytes
to your horse’s diet, but offer them in
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a separate container leaving the main
water supply clean and fresh. If you
suspect dehydration in your horse,
contact your vet.
The second risk factor associated
with winter colic is exposure to cold
temperatures. A horse with a full coat
should have no trouble staying warm
as long he remains dry and has access
to shelter.
Rugs help those that have been
clipped because they have lost the
added layer of insulation the hair
provides, but rugs must be used
responsibly. Always replace or remove
a soaked rug immediately because the
moisture traps the cold and causes
your horse to lose body heat. If your
horse wears a rug you should have at
least two on hand, so a soaked one can
be swapped for a dry one.
Increasing the forage in a horse’s diet
will help prevent impactions and will
reduce the risk of hypothermia. Horses
require more calories in the winter just
to stay warm and the fermentation
process for digesting hay and roughage
generates heat that helps maintain
body temperature.
The best colic prevention in this
situation is to allow a horse 24-hour
forage access so the fermentation
process never slows or stops. Adding
concentrate feed and supplements
(if warranted) is fine but they do
not provide the same warming and