Supplement for mild laxative effect?

[MadTrotter]

Hi all, wondering if anyone has dealt with this issue. I have a 12 year old TB/KWPN cross who flags his tail up during the first 15 mins of riding, acting like he wants to poop. He isn’t acting like he’s in pain, no farting or gas, just like he’s a little “sticky”. I can’t recall if he ever had a problem pooping under saddle, I don’t think so? This is a new issue.

After a couple straight days of this, I would bring him back to his stall, take off his bridle and loosen the girth, he would poop normally, we would go finish the ride without issue. His gut sounds were normal, he’s not flatulent, just seems to not wanna poop in the arena.

Vet did a cursory work up, looked at manure, said it’s probably a case where he’s not moving around as much combined with being on full time hay (with the super mild autumn they were grazing And ignoring hay until a few weeks ago).

She didn’t think anything medical was warranted because his stool was exactly right in terms of softness and moisture, was lubricated. She said I could try some flax, in seed or ground form.

Nothing new or remarkable about his health, tack, training, etc. He has had exactly one has colic in his life due to finding an apple tree where I used to board him, so I wouldn’t call him prone to GI issues. No history of ulcers.

He gets free choice orchard grass and 2lbs ration balancer, is a good drinker and likes his loose salt.

It’s been too wet to ride in the fields but hopefully it will firm up, I’m sure some nice long slow rides would help his GI tract.

Any other ideas? I guess one thing to try is a longer, slower warmup on the lunge? Just keep him in a stall for an hour or so pre-ride so he can poop on his own schedule? I am restricted in what times I can ride…

[Obsidian_Fire]

If you have access to green grass, try letting him eat that. Try some alfalfa - it will cause loose stool in some.
Magnesium, but I don’t know how much you need to give to have a laxative effect.

[IPEsq]

If his stool looks fine, I don’t think you really want a laxative effect. Your vet is right that foods rich in omegas can help. First, they can help with inflammation in the smooth muscles of the gut, and the fats can perhaps help the stool pass. But you can’t just pile on a bunch of flax right away or you will have loose stools from the diet change.

FWIW, my unfortunate experience with low back and SI problems have led me to notice a trend with some horses who are a bit anxious about pooping under saddle (but who poop normally otherwise). I think there is a link to low back discomfort. Of course exercise can stimulate the bowel to move, so putting the horse in the stall may not work unless the horse is habitual about pooping when brought in. But that doesn’t mean he won’t have to poop again.

Not saying your horse has an injury necessarily. My guy was fine then developed similar behavior after acute SI injury (which was all too familiar to me after having a horse with chronic SI problems). And now he’s feeling tons better but gets a little weird when he is very gassy or a bit backed up feeling, and he’s also a little weird when the temps drop because his back is very sensitive to the cold. I generally try to address it with a longer warmup or maybe adjusting my flatwork.

If going back in the stall works for yours, maybe you could start with a light longe then put him in the stall before getting on.

[MadTrotter]

Good call on mag, I actually used to supp him as he was very very reactive but took it off him when he calmed down after moving.

[MadTrotter]

Very interesting, hope it’s not SI but if I can’t manage this easily with the changes suggested I will do a bute trial and get the vet back out. /fingers crossed for no lameness!

[JB]

I agree with @IPEsq that you don’t want or need a “laxative” if his manure is as you describe.

What are you doing in the first 15 minutes of riding, especially to consider " one thing to try is a longer, slower warmup on the lunge"?

It is possible that his back is tight enough and he doesn’t feel he can (comfortable) lift his back enough to allow the manure to pass - you know the humped feeling/look. To that end, you could consider warming up in a half-seat, as long as you can do it well enough so that you’re not just standing in the stirrups (and it will be great work for you if that’s where you’re starting from )

[MadTrotter]

It’s totally possible that he’s tight. What’s weird here is he’s always been verrrry sensitive and you can always tell when something is bothering him…with this it’s very subtle. Like he will go around and do his job but I feel like I’m nagging him with my leg, plus the lifted tail.

Warmup is ~5 mins walk around, he’s looky so make sure no monsters are in the corners (outdoor arena), then 10ish mins walk/trot transitions, gradually pick up contact, stretch low if he wants, etc. Then if he’s still feeling up and tense, I just start to pull him into some gentle lateral work, serpentines, spirals, ground poles, until his mind is in the game. His “serious” work is greater collection/extension and walk-canter transitions, counter canter etc, he’s basically schooling 3rd level.

I’m gonna look into a back on track pad to help him warmup and try your suggestion to stay in 2 point…he’s going in a dressage saddle currently but I’m an eventer and ex pony clubber so I can stay in 2 point even with that deep seat

[carman_liz]

What about just adding some oil to his grain? Or electrolytes…basically salt… so he will drink more and things may flow easier? Wet his grain into a mash and/or lightly wet his hay? More hydration! The thing that worked for my mare was a round of Probios to get her gut back to normal. Good luck!

[JB]

@MadTrotter

Warmup is ~5 mins walk around, he’s looky so make sure no monsters are in the corners (outdoor arena), then 10ish mins walk/trot transitions,

Transitions, done properly, are, IMVHO, not beginning/warmup work. I would spend minimally 10 minutes walking, longer rein, asking him for more and more changes of direction as the minutes go by, before asking him to trot.

And some horses, especially TBs or others who are bred to run, warm up better at a canter than at a trot

A Back on Track sheet for as long as you can before you groom, and a BoT saddle pad, as well as a quarter sheet in the cooler/colder weather, may also help a lot

[Feathered_Feet]

Is he stalled when you come to ride? If so, I would imagine 5 minutes walking is not much warmup - I would aim for more like 15 (maybe even 20, for older or stiffer horses, which if your horse is 12 and you live in a cold climate he might benefit from a longer, slower warm up).

The other thing that came to mind after reading the other responses is to do a bute/banamine trial (and/or methocarmbamol). If he feels better on bute and/or muscle relaxers, then you know it’s a pain issue and can pursue that route for further diagnostics.