Preventing Fall and Winter Colic
eating other plants such as red maple, and others. Pay attention to what your horses are eating, to ensure they are getting adequate forage from either the grass or the hay. Take the time to inspect your pastures and clean out weeds to reduce risk.
2. Increasing forage intake and changing forage sources. The fall is a time of change from moisture rich summer pastures to dried hay. Try to make this transition in a gradual manner without sudden changes to the diet. The gut of the horse needs about 2 weeks to shift over to different forages to reduce the risk of colic.
. Always have fresh, clean water available. Water needs may increase as a result of the dry grass and increased hay being consumed so make sure there is lots of fresh, clean water provided 24 hours a day. Observe the behaviour of your horses to ensure that all horses are able to access the water, as sometimes in small paddocks one horse may prevent other horses from getting to the food and water sources.
4. Check water temperature. Keep an eye on the water buckets, and provide heated water on the nights when the temperature is dropping rapidly. Monitor the amount of water consumed so that you can act in a preventive manner if there is a decrease in water consumption.
6. Have a parasite prevention program. Talk to your veterinarian about appropriate fecal testing and parasite control. The "shotgun" approach to deworming horses is often ineffective and parasite loads can be a high risk for colic.
