Colic is a potentially deadly and unfortunately common condition that affects horses of all ages, breeds, and disciplines. In fact, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) estimates 700,000 horses will colic each year in the U.S. alone. But with the right care and management, you can help ensure your horse has everything he needs to maintain a happy and healthy hindgut. We’ve outlined a few of the most common proven† risk factors for colic below, along with tips on how you can help reduce your horse’s risk.

Make any changes to your horse’s hay or grain as gradually as you can
Changing your horse’s grain (type or amount) increases his risk of colic up to 5 times, while changes in hay increase the risk of colic a startling 10 times! If you must make a change to your horse’s hay or grain (either in type or amount), make the change gradually over 7-10 days. A digestive supplement that provides yeast, prebiotics, and enzymes may also help keep your horse’s hindgut happy as he makes feed transitions.

Maximize your horse’s turnout time
Lack of turnout is unnatural for your horse, and increased stall time can increase your horse’s chances of digestive upset. Research shows that an increased number of hours spent in a stall has been associated with an increased risk of colic. It also suggests that there is a higher risk of colic in horses that have a significant change in activity, whether that’s due to injury* or seasonal changes. Because your horse was designed to move around up to 20 hours per day, give him as much turnout as possible.

*For any horse on stall rest, since changes in hay and grain, as well as poor quality hay and large amounts of grain, are also proven risk factors for colic, do your best to ensure that your horse’s diet is based on high-quality forage that stays the same day after day. Knowing that many barns are forced to use a variety of different types of hay it may be a good idea to get daily digestive support going right away. Supplementing with ingredients such as prebiotics, probiotics, and yeast that stabilize the hindgut may ease the stress of fluctuations from feed transitions as well from abrupt confinement.

Keep your horse on a deworming program targeted to his individual needs
Failure to receive appropriate deworming doubles your horse’s risk of developing colic. Work with your veterinarian to develop a parasite control program that includes fecal egg counts, strategic use of dewormers, as well as conscientious manure and herd management. Learn more about how to develop a deworming plan for your horse here.

Change your horse’s exercise schedule as slowly as possible
Changing your horse’s exercise routine (whether increasing or decreasing workload) has been linked to digestive upset. Keep your horse’s turnout and exercise schedule as consistent as possible, and try to make any changes gradually. If weather, traveling to shows, or other events limits your horse’s turnout time, try hand-walking, lunging, or riding if possible.

Prioritize hydration in every season
Without adequate water intake horses may be at a greater risk for GI trouble, including impaction. Make sure your horse always has fresh water available. If your horse sweats regularly in the summer, consider adding an electrolyte supplement such as SmartLytes to replace key minerals and encourage normal drinking. If your horse is a poor drinker in the winter, consider adding a daily salt supplement like SmartSalt Pellets to encourage normal drinking. In addition, a heated bucket or water bucket cover may be helpful if you notice your horse isn’t a fan of cold water.

Enroll your horse in ColiCare
With the comprehensive support of clinically studied ingredients and a veterinarian-directed wellness program, you can rest easy knowing that you’re providing the ultimate in digestive health. Best of all, ColiCare provides up to $15,000 of colic surgery reimbursement, should your horse ever need it. Signing up is easy and FREE— apply today at SmartPak.com/ColiCare

Get started today at SmartPak.com/ColiCare

†Cohen ND, Factors predisposing to colic, 8th Congress on Equine Medicine and Surgery, 2003 White NA, Equine Colic II: Causes and risks for colic, 52nd Annual Convention of AAEP, 2006.