Followup For Spring Weather....COLIC

I think it is important to add a bit more information to my last post.  Spring (and fall) weather is often a time when I see an increase in the number of colic's.  One year, the late Dr. Dave Catlin & I were discussing  the frequency of colic's we both saw in the spring & fall.  We were scratching our heads about it then came to the conclusion that it is likely water related.  In other words, warm days & cool nights...the horses are probably not drinking as well as they should be on the cool nights, then with the warm days - their reserve just isn't there so they develop an impaction...from mild to severe.  A couple of things you can do to be proactive, 1) CHECK your water supply at least daily if not more frequently (I was just talking to a client yesterday whose outdoor, auto waterer was dry - for the first time since it was installed at least 6 years ago.  It turned out to be a pump issue.  Also,  I have had issues in the past with my auto, year round waterer's freezing.)  Automatic waterer's are wonderful time savers, BUT they must be checked at least 1x/day everyday!, 2) add a small palm full of salt to your horses' supplements every day in the spring & fall to encourage an increase in water consumption.  As well as ALWAYS having free choice salt AND a mineral available (loose or block is fine, just PLEASE DO NOT use a combo salt/mineral block - these are phony in the sense that they would have to consume way more salt than is normal to get their mineral needs met).

Signs of colic:  colic is simply abdominal discomfort.  There are MANY things that can cause colic or abdominal discomfort, everything from the dreaded large colon volvulus or twist or to a much more mild displacement or simply gas or an impaction.  These are just a few of the things that can cause colic.  It stands to reason that for as many things there are that cause colic, there are many signs horses give us that they have abdominal discomfort or colic.  It is not always, and in fact not common to display what most people know which is down, thrashing, rolling from side to side, standing then laying or throwing themselves down.  That is certainly one sign but USUALLY always there are much more subtle signs first.  It can be as simple as irritably swishing the tail (when there are for sure NO bugs), very subtly lifting a hind leg (& sometimes kicking at their belly), pawing (for no other reason such as boredom, loneliness - when tied by themselves, etc),  not eating when they normally would and sometimes something so subtle as curling their upper lip (not to be confused with the flehmen response when a horse curls its' upper lip in reaction to certain smells).  The key is to KNOW YOUR HORSE.  Know your horse's normal behaviors, that is the only way you will know abnormal.  And PLEASE, listen to your instincts, if their is some behavior that seems abnormal, trust yourself that you are seeing what you are seeing, continue to observe & respond if necessary. 

Winter Weather in Spring

Here it is April 29 and we are getting some very bad weather.  It took me almost 3 hours to feed today - usually takes 30 mins.  Part of the time was getting blankets put on.  So I thought I would write a couple of notes to everyone about these spring storms.  The horses are 1/2 or more shed out & almost ready for nice weather, plus it has been nice so they are accustomed to warmer weather.  A combo for some pretty chilly ponies on a cold, horribly windy, snowy day such as today.  When I went to feed, about 1/2 of my guys were standing around shaking like leaves.  I don't see any harm in putting a good, heavy winter blanket on them, even though they haven't had one on all winter.  They will probably only wear it 1 or a few days until it warms back up.  The spring & summer are a great time to pick up sale priced blankets.  All catalogs will tell you how to measure for them.  I have used MANY brands through the years & I will share with you that the brand I have been most pleased with are the Weather Beeta's.  They are durable, warm and made to fit a horse.  I have quite a few that have a neck portion attached to the blanket.  It is different than a separate hood.  It is just  a continuation of the blanket that comes up the neck to almost the head.  They have the design down pat & it fits the horses very well.  Another thing that you may want to think about getting is a cooler.  A nice wool, cotton or fleece cooler is invaluable when you need it.  I frequently use one in my practice when it is cool/cold out and I have a horse that is sweating.  They may be sweating because I have tranquilized them or because they are anxious (usually because of being alone) or painful (colicking or injured) or wet because of a cold rain.  Any way you look at it, a wet horse that is chilled will be helped tremendously by putting a cooler on them for 30 - 60 mins.  The coolers pull the moisture out of the hair (even long, winter hair) & wick the moisture to the outside of the cooler & away from the horse.  You may not use it often, but the few times you may need it, you will be glad you have it.  In summary, make sure you have a good winter blanket handy somewhere for these unexpected cold snaps as well as a cooler for the unexpected wet, cold horse.  And as always, please check their water source daily.  It is imperative that they always have fresh water.  And in our part of the country, even our automatic waterers freeze sometimes, or have something dead in them that is tainting the water. 

Frustrated about starving horses

I am very frustrated with our current laws & society's apathy about horses.  I know that there are many of us who are passionate about horses & for that I am asking everyone to put on their thinking caps....I have personally seen 310 horses belonging to 3 different owners within the last 13 months.  Not remarkable except all 3 herds are starving & these numbers don't include the dead horses that died of starvation/malnourishment/harsh winters.  A group of us mounted huge rescue efforts, spent lots of time organizing to rescue all 3 groups.....only to be halted in our tracks by either law enforcement not following through or wanting to pursue, or county/district attorneys not wanting to pursue (either because of judges not wanting the horses to leave the county or from county commissioners not wanting to be involved).  I want to scream!  Things have to change!!  At this time it looks like all 3 herds will have to endure yet another winter - starving.  And the a.......s who own these poor horses just get to trot along continuing to neglect them.....occasionally just getting their hands slapped but no one doing a damn thing!...try as some of us might.  I am feeling a bit hopeless about my generation & the older ones....leaving the thought that the only hope seems to be with younger generations!!  We need to make sure they are trained better than us!  Sorry to be a downer, but I am so frustrated and I am so sick of horses being the recipients of our ignorance, apathy, being stuck in our "old" ways, etc.  If anyone has ideas on how these situations can change, please share!!!