Nutrition Bulletin: Nutrition and Colic
By Dr. Margaret Winsryg
Field Equine Technical Manager
Most horse owners and fanciers know that improper feeding is associated with colic. Beyond that, however, opinions are widely varied about what does and does not constitute improper feeding, as well as to what factors will and will not lead to colic. There is a brief review of available research to answer some common questions about colic and its relationship to nutrition:
How often and how much should I feed my horse to avoid colic?
Horses and ponies are vulnerable to overeating if they are fed just once a day. The American association of Equine Practitioners recommends avoiding excessive grain feeding, and dividing daily concentrate rations into two or more feedings. One guideline I have seen recently suggests feeding no more than 5 lbs of grain in a single meal. Spreading consumption over a day's time avoids colicky responses to digestive functions. Some studies recommend dividing meals into three "squares" a dayjust like your own eating patterns.
Should I water my horse before or after feeding?
The answer is.yeas. You should water horses both before and after feeding, although there is no data that supports the claim that watering horses after feeding decreases digestive efficiency. Be aware, however, that sudden changes in watering habits can cause stomach upsets.
How can I avoid sudden dietary changes?
Whereas researchers agree that rapid feed changes can cause colic, there is little proof on the optimum time to introduce a new feed. Many horse owners stick with the old adage to make changes over a 4-5 day period. Changes from dry to green or succulent food might take longer to introduce safely.
Will fiber help prevent colic?
This claim is based on findings that turnout into young, green pastures in the spring can lead to colic. Some researchers have found that you can decrease colic in this situation by providing free-choice hay in the pasture, as well as introducing hay before pasture access is allowed.
Are apples to blame?
They can be, certainly. But no one is sure just how many apples each horse can eat before getting sick. Allowing a horse to self-feed on apples to satiation could be serious, but one a day will probably not cause problems. And, as is true of most feedstuffs, horses can build up a gradual tolerance for apples over time.
What about new hay?
There is no scientific data from controlled studies that indicates feeding new hay will cause colic.
If your horses suffer from colic, work closely with your local veterinarian to identify and eliminate possible causes. Look for patterns in their sickness and for contributing environmental conditions such as climate and parasitic load. With care and properly balanced feed, your horses should be able to avoid the problems colic causes.
