[RC] need info on possible link between hard water and tying up - Sullivan
I am hoping to get some imput as to any possible
link between horses drinking hard water and being more prone to tie
up.
I read an article in the ridecamp archives that
explained a posters consistent problems with her horses tying up, despite
good conditioning and warmup, supplementing with Vit E se, etc. They
finally tested their water and found it was very hard, which means high in
calcium. This might be my story also.....most of my mares, over the years,
having minor problems with tie up...and one bad one which went to U.C Davis.
Davis did not run a test for Se, but reccomended adding the
supplement.
I finally had our water tested. IT came up
with a ph of 7.4, and a hardness of 14....which they said was in the medium
range of hardness. They also said the calcium was 14g/gal....or 240
ppm. I am hoping perhaps a vet can comment on this. Anyone know if this
degree of hardness is going to cause any problems? Of course, at my age
(47), I would personally thinking drinking water high in calcium is perhaps a
good thing....
Problem would be doing anything about it; we have a
softener at the house, but the horse water is way out at the barn. We could not
give softened water (which takes out the calcium but leaves sodium), but would
then need a reverse-osmosis filtration system ($1,000 to $2000), and again, it
would be up at the house and we would have to run very long hoses back to the
barn area.
Any thoughts or comments appreciated. We have
our own well.
