Sand colic prevention?

[luckydee]

For those of you who live in sandy areas, what do you all use for sand colic prevention? I’ve seen a few studies that claim that free-choice hay is a better alternative to psyllium products (Sand Clear, Metamucil, etc.), but thought I’d ask you for your experience/opinions.

I’ve gotten paranoid because I’ve seen some pretty impressive pictures of enteroliths circulating on Facebook lately! Mine are on pasture for 12 hours a day with access to their round bale, then are paddocked for 12 hours a day with free choice hay. It seems to work for them, but I was just curious about what other folks thought/did. Do you have a preference for a psyllium product?

This is the post that I saw this morning that put me on alert . https://www.facebook.com/NorthwestEquineVet/posts/10152932745138719

Thank you!

[buck22]

My horses get one cup of whole flaxseed daily. I am non-negotiable on this portion of their diet because of the sand clearing properties. My horses live out 24/7 on very very sandy soil. Other boarder’s horses on the same farm have sand coliced in the past, and sand colic is very common in my area.

One of my boys is a Morgan, which, iirc, is a breed known for enteroliths. Alfalfa is part of his diet which makes the risk even higher iirc.

Incidentally, the same Morgan colics on Sand Clear - if you can believe that! Irony. So he lives on whole flax daily.

I do periodic checks of their manure and sand is minimal to barely there. Compared to other friends who’s horses have usually a half a teaspoon in about 4-6 manure balls.

I will never ever ever not feed whole flax - if for no other reason than its sand clearing properties.

[luckydee]

That’s great to know. Thank you! I’ve heard that chia seeds work as well. Where do you get your flax in bulk and about how long does it last you?

[buck22]

I luckily have a farm/feed store near by that keeps 50lb bags in stock. $38 per bag, I go through about 4 per year for my two horses.

[twelvegates]

Just saw this article:

http://equusmagazine.com/article/combination-treatment-sand-colic-27113?utm_source=EQUUSNL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter

[Frizzle]

Free choice hay, soaked beet pulp, and flax seed (or chia seed).

[Arabiandressage]

" I’ve seen a few studies that claim that free-choice hay is a better alternative to psyllium products (Sand Clear, Metamucil, etc.), but thought I’d ask you for your experience/opinions."

I think we read the same article. We moved our six horses to an area with largely sandy loam and it seems the best thing for them is grass and hay. We have fed ground flax for years and ours are on pasture but I have the same concern. Following

[Appsolute]

From my understanding, SAND colic and ENTEROLITHS are different things.

Sand colic - from the build up of sand - loose sand (like this graphic photo).

And enteroliths - are more diet related - only takes a grain of sand or another particle for minerals to start forming around. Diets HIGH in west coast alfalfa (unbalanced calcium phosphorus ratios) seem to be a cause, and certain breeds are more prone.

To prevent SAND colic - like you, I have read that hay does as good, or a better job than the “sand clear” type supplements. I do the following:

AVOID feeding on sandy ground. Depending on my situation, at times this meant keeping a large matted area in the paddock - and sweeping the dang thing before every feeding.

Lots of hay (on said mats)

Avoiding over grazed pastures in sandy areas.

Frequent “sand checks” (poop in the glove method)

As for avoiding enteroliths, I try to keep a balanced diet, making sure Ph / CA ratios are within proper parameters.

[DQ01]

does milled flaxseed provide this same benefit?

[MoonlightsMom]

I feed my mare free choice hay, she gets her grain where if she drops any it lands on hay or grass, and once a month I buy the largest equate brand version of metamucil I can find at walmart - she gets 1/2 - 3/4 cup once a day until its gone.

[EventerAJ]

I’m a believer in free choice hay and beet pulp, personally. My horses in Ocala eat 25-30lbs per day of excellent hay fed in nets. I used to feed beet pulp 2x daily, but with their hay consumption I cut back to one feeding of soaked beet pulp.

However, something has always bothered me regarding sand ingestion and removal.

You are supposed to test the manure, right? And if you see sand in the sample, it is alarming, yes?

BUT, wouldn’t that mean that sand is properly being expelled from the gut? Meaning, whatever you’re doing is working, and the horse is clearing the sand he accidentally eats? So, is seeing sand in the poop possibly a GOOD THING, because it is no longer sitting in his intestines? And if you know your horse is ingesting some sand (because in a sandy location, it will happen to some extent) but his poop is sand-free…is that a bad thing?

Just wondering. Clarification would be welcome.

[Appsolute]

Here is my understanding on the “sand test” - Seeing sand in the manure, yes, “good” that some at least is passing - but BAD in that, really, they shouldn’t be ingesting that much sand in the first place.

And seeing sand - yes, that might mean that they are passing it all… OR it could mean you have a MAJOR sand build up, and a bit of it is passing each day.

If I had a horse with “positive” sand test, and diarrhea, poor keeper, or something of the like - then I would want an ultra sound to see if you are dealing with a heavy sand load.