Do you have sandy pastures that pose a problem?

While the fall months are when pastures are very short, don’t disregard the bare winter months also.

Horses grazing sparse vegetation or being fed on bare ground, on sandy soil, tend to ingest varying amounts of sand. This sand may accumulate in the ventral colon and the cecum. The amount of sand ingested, and the signs associated with sand retention are somewhat different among individual horses. Some horses show diarrhea, colic signs, and chronic weight loss. More serious manifestations of sand ingestion include damage to intestinal tissues and even rupture of the intestine.

A psyllium-based product, such as Sand A Way, can help support a clean, healthy GI tract.

/product/sand-a-way/

Psyllium is a vegetable fiber derived from the ripe seeds of several species of Plantago plants, and is believed to stimulate peristalsis, the wavelike contractions that push ingested material through the intestine.

Psyllium products are most beneficial to feed in the fall season when pastures are very short, generally August, September and October. However, it may be beneficial during the winter months when the frost isn’t very deep, and the ground is bare (no snow cover).

With supplementation given one week out of the month feeding rate, the assurance of a clean gastrointestinal tract is insurance alone.

When supplementing with psyllium product, studies have shown to feed a probiotic, such as Daily Start Probiotic, along with it to prevent resistance.

/product/daily-start/

Sand, or tiny rocks, caught in the large intestine, can cause irritation, colic, or complete obstruction. Horses feed on the ground in sandy dry lots or over grazed fields with sandy soils are at the most significant risk.

Use this quick method to test your manure for sand:

  • Gather a few nuggets of fresh manure into a clear glove or gallon size food storage bag. Be careful not to pick up dirt.
  • Add water to the glove, so the hand portion is 3/4 the way full, or fill the bag 2/3 full.
  • Squish up the manure and hang the bag, allowing it to sit for several minutes. The sand will accumulate in the fingers of the glove or at the bottom of the bag. Bag quick tip: Hang the bag askew so that one corner points towards the ground enabling the sand to collect in the point.
  • Give the sand time to settle, about 5 minutes and evaluate. If you discover more than a tablespoon of sand, your horse has a high sand load. You may also find tiny rocks.

If either of these occurs, consider feeding with a hay bag, elevated feed trough, or slow feed barrel, also adding in a psyllium-based product and a probiotic.