Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Kelly, gal, sounds like you have had your troubles with colic.  Stressful
and very scarey.  First, in case you don't know, there are many kinds of
colic.  Not all are caused by grain, as exhibited by your gelding, who
stresses in confined spaces.  My mare is like that.  She's a pasture horse.
Your new QH mare -- did you change her feed quickly?  Most sellers don't
like to give the new buyer any feed to make the transition.  I insist.  Most
horses can't take a sudden feed change.  You have to mix a little of the new
in with the old, increasing new each day for about 7 days.  Yes, a heavy
worm load can certainly cause colic.  Most folks keep their new horses in
some sort of quarantine situation for a week and double dose them with their
favorite wormer.  If using Quest, do not double dose w/o checking with your
vet.  Some find it more effective to worm with single dose one week and then
worm again the next week.  If your horse is consuming large amounts of hay,
make sure there's plenty of nice fresh drinking water and that's it's warm
enough for them to tolerate.  Not sure where you are located.  If not
drinking enough you could toss in 1 Tablespoon salt (no iodine) each meal to
encourage thirst.

Now as to what you are feeding:  I like what you are feeding.  What are your
reasons for wanting to change?  How much fat, how much feed at each meal,
how often do you feed, age of horse?  Your horse is getting a better
balanced diet the way you are feeding than those who are using sweet feed.
Sweet feed & alfalfa is rather a rich diet and not especially balanced.
Hope they are working their horses.  Are you allowing your horses free
access to hay?  What type of hay?  Do you know how to tell if the hay is
moldy or "off"?  Moldy hay can cause colic.

Susan B.



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