I read that drastic barometric pressure drops can cause colic in horses fed grain. My first experience with a horse colicking came after Hurricane Irma 2 years ago. Fortunately it was a simple colic. Does anyone know if this has only to do with grain? and doesn’t extend to a complete feed like TC Senior?
I would just feed hay and water. Unless you have a toothless old guy on a high forage bagged feed that’s a total hay replacement. Then obviously give him that. That said, colic is a very wide term for gastro intestinal pain. How would a barometric drop cause this? Would it make existing gas more painful? Get horses upset so they don’t eat or drink and get impactions? What do you mean by simple colic? I would go forward with the idea that horse was susceptible to that kind of colic but if you don’t know what kind it was (gas, torsion, impaction etc) then cause and treatment is harder to determine.
This is what I read:
“The great barometric changes, especially in storms like Irma, from my experience, seems to greatly increase colic problems. I can attest after not being able to travel in Andrew, so your veterinarian may not be able to get to you. I recommend withholding grain for at least 36 hours before and 48-72 hours after a hurricane BUT give the plenty of hay to help maintain good GI function and to browse on as a pacifier.” Dr. Jim Wright, DVM
https://www.caremorenutrition.com/blogs/news/important-feeding-horses-during-a-hurricane-please-read-share
I personally would feed as normal, and make sure your horse had plenty of hay and water. I have never varied a feeding routine due to weather, except to make sure my horses have plenty of clean, drinkable water, and plenty of hay especially if they cannot get out in pasture or turnout.
Have you talked to your own vet?
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Thank you. I will call her Tuesday. We are stocked up on alfalfa hay, feed, etc… just found that little tidbit of info as I was reading and since I did have a horse colic after a hurricane, I was wondering if there was truth to it.
http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/23840
There is plenty of anecdotal information out there, but the exact mechanism isn’t know. It’s hard to say if concentrated feed specifically increases the risk. That said, a horse being stalled significantly more than normal may be at risk of decreased gut motility due to a lack of movement and foraging behavior. If I was worried about this, I might be inclined to cut the grain ration in half and soak it well, especially if the horse will be stalled without exercise. Some people add soaked bran or beet pulp, but I wouldn’t recommend adding anything new during a stressful time. Hand walking or arena turnout in bad weather may also help mitigate the risk.
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Thank you. I have a senior on stall rest after a hoof resection and two new horses, including a weanling, just brought in last week out of a high stress environment (kill pen). So I will take caution and decrease concentrates and increase hay starting tomorrow.
We cut grain whenever ours stay in for a prolonged period for this reason, not because of the pressure change associated with weather. We feed beet pulp year-round, but make it more soupy when they are stuck inside. Nobody gets so much grain per meal that we ever worry about colic when we bump back up to normal rations (but something to consider if you are feeding large amounts of grain per meal).
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I would worry if they were upset and not drinking water. I would be prepared with flavored molasses water or alfalfa soup in case they forget to drink.
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My senior on stall rest is on Triple Crown Senior which doesn’t have grain. And he is getting alfalfa hay. But my new horses are on a little grain for weight gain and to sneak some supplements into them. Not much though. They are in a paddock so should be okay. I worry about my Ol Man.
Prior, we used to give a couple buckets of soaked alfalfa to keep the stool loose and keep water in them. Plus hay. We didn’t grain full rations and some of the more sensitive ones got ulcer guard 24 hrs prior till things settle. Always have banamine on hand and ace just in case.
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I believe a sudden change in barronetric pressure can cause colic in some horses. I’ve blamed a couple if colic on fast weather change.
I agree with with just feeding hay and water until the weather stabilizes, in your area. If there are supplements the horse has to have, just use enough feed to get the supplements down him (a cup) or buy som straight Timothy pellets, if there’s any left anywhere.
Good thoughts coming your way for your safety:)
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Thank you 
He is on a very strong antibiotic and a couple of supplements for recovery. Fortunately, I stocked up on alfalfa pellets. Timothy pellets are harder to find all the time. I have to get them on the day they arrive. Have no idea what is still left on the shelves at the feed stores.
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My horse has been through 2 hurricanes, and the barns didn’t change the feed for anyone. All horses were just fine. I think that sudden changes in diet also wreak some havoc.
Good luck and I hope you are safe!!!
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My friend suggested offering a bucket of water and adding feed after rides in hot weather to encourage drinking. My mare wasn’t very certain about that but finally drank the bucket to get to the feed. I would try that if you need to feed concentrates.
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Sudden pressure changes can affect some horses, but in my experience, USUALLY those horses have a pattern (i.e. they have a history of getting uncomfortable with weather changes) that you would have already seen, so long as you have owned them a while.
Like others, I do not make big changes, I think that just tempts disaster. I do add extra salt to all meals when there will be big weather shifts (pressure drops, cold snaps) to maximize drinking. Hydration is about the most important thing you can do to keep guts moving. You already mentioned soaked pellets, they’re also good for getting some extra hydration, along with calcium for stomach buffering.
You can’t make a horse drink, but you sure can make him thirsty. 
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹
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I’ve owned a number of hard-keeping or food-obsessed horses that would be far worse off without their grain than with.
I try to keep things the same. I think the worst thing you can do is make a bunch of changes. The only changes I ever consider are adding extra water to the feed and/or adding salt or e-lytes (provided the horse will tolerate the addition) to keep the horses drinking. If the horses are going to be stalled for an extended period of time and are NOT used to that, I may reduce hard feed rations, but not eliminate them. My horses always have plentiful forage, so obviously I’d continue providing that.
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I have experienced true “sudden” pressure changes during my time as a Naval Aviator. They put you in a chamber, suck out the air until you get to a 25,000 foot equivalent, and then you do such things as take off your O2 mask, and play simple games (like patty-cake) while becoming increasingly hypoxic. They video the session and in the debrief it’s like a grand session of MST3K as we laugh at ourselves and each other. 
One of the things that happens is that gas in your intestines expands. Most places tell you not to eat Mexican or Cowboy (or other foods heavy in legumes). You find out why when you take off your mask and find the air truly rank. It’s a scene that pre-dates the campfire sequence in “Blazing Saddles.” I’ve seen guys get some significant abdominal pain during the training. But this happens in a very few minutes and pressure drop is really steep (sea level is 29.9; 25K is 11.1).
Then, at the end, is “rapid decompression” where they let all the air out in a few seconds so you an experience the consequences of that. A truly fun day!!!
What about the significant international traffic in horses traveling by air. Again, at sea level you 29.9; at 10,000 feet (maximum cabin altitude in a pressured aircraft) you have 20.6. That’s not the fractions of an inch you get over hours in a frontal passage; that’s a full third in matter of a few minutes. These flights can last more than 12 hours. Is colic a problem in this activity? Serious question.
I know of the anecdotal claims, but I’m deeply skeptical of the “pressure drop” argument.
G.
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I am increasing their normal soaked hay cubes, adding a bit more salt/electrolytes than usual, and reducing concentrates. I have been told that taking a feed away is not an issue for intestines - it’s adding lots of new stuff suddenly - the gut flora needs to catch up.
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Colic due to barometric changes is definitely a real thing. I will increase salt, increase soaked beet pulp, and add soaked hay cubes to make sure to keep plenty of water in their gut. Depending on how long the storm goes on, I may also soak their regular hay.
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