Temperature Swings Increase Risk of Colic in Horses

As winter sets in, notable temperature swings have occurred in many areas of the country. Perhaps it’s 50○ F during the day but drops to 25○ F at night, or sunny and mild one day but snowing the next. Horses are notorious for colicking under these conditions, but horse owners can minimize this through simple management strategies.

It may seem obvious, but providing access to fresh, unfrozen water is essential for proper hydration and digestion. The more forage a horse consumes, the more water required to help move it through the gastrointestinal tract. This is especially important in winter when moisture-rich pasture grass is limited or absent.

Offering free-choice salt or adding a little salt or electrolytes, especially a slow-release electrolyte supplement like Restore® SR, to a horse’s ration will encourage a horse to drink and assist in keeping a horse adequately hydrated, minimizing colic risk. Another key to helping a horse stay hydrated is to provide plenty of forage in the form of hay or pasture grasses because the presence of the fiber in the gut will stimulate the thirst response.

Additionally, microbes in the hindgut ferment the structural carbohydrates, or fiber, in hay or grass. Heat is a byproduct of fermentation, which helps keep the horse warm. For this reason, extra hay (and water, of course) should be offered when temperatures are expected to drop. Note that grain concentrates will not have quite the same hydrating or warming effect. Exceptions would be commercial feeds high in beet pulp or standalone soaked beet pulp, which will have a similar effect as forage.

When temperatures drop, it’s not unusual for training regimens to diminish and for turnout time to decrease. Exercise and movement, even if just walking around a turnout area, promotes gut motility. When horses are confined for long periods due to inclement weather, the risk of colic increases. Keep horses moving and turned out as long as the footing is safe. With this in mind, for horses that live outside, shelter is critically important for protection from the elements. If a horse’s coat or blanket becomes wet, the risk for chill increases dramatically and could trigger a bout of colic. Be sure to check in on your horses, especially in inclement weather.

The use of a digestive-tract conditioner such as EquiShure® or RiteTrac™, products designed by Kentucky Equine Research, helps minimize the risk of colic. EquiShure is a time-released hindgut buffer that acts on the cecum and colon by minimizing the effects of subclinical hindgut acidosis. RiteTrac contains a blend of ingredients to support healthy function in both the foregut and hindgut. It provides a combination of fast-acting antacids and coating agents to neutralize excessive gastric acid, protecting the stomach lining and restoring the normal gastric environment.

In summary, remember the basics. The importance of water cannot be overstated in helping a horse stay healthy and hydrated. Good-quality forage is essential for warmth and proper gut motility. When drastic temperature changes are predicted, pay extra attention to a horse’s behavior. Any subtle changes could indicate a problem. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect colic or any health issue.

Kentucky Equine Research (KER) is an international equine nutrition, research and consultation company serving both the horse producer and the feed industry. Its goal is to advance the industry’s knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology and apply this knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses. For more information, see www.ker.com or call 888-873-1988.