Trailer rides to improve colic outcomes?

[Maythehorsebewithme]

Has anyone ever heard of taking a colicking horse on a trailer ride to encourage pooping?

Let me preface by saying the horse is fine, and that this is not all that was done. Horse colicked at about 2 PM, vet was called, was there by 3 PM. Did what I think was appropriate: Checked vitals, did rectal, tubed with oil/water, advised no hay or grain, small amounts of grazing, brief walks. Gave some drugs, I am not sure what. OK if horse lies down quietly, call immediately if thrashing or rolling. This seems like usual protocol.

BM hooked up trailer at about 5 PM, loaded horse, 15 minute trailer ride. Horse produced tiny bit of very dry manure.

At about 6 PM, a second ride. No poop

At about 7 PM, a third ride–lots of poop! Horse was and is OK after that.

Everyone is congratulating themselves on how well the trailer rides work. They have done this before, but I stress, have always called vet and have followed the usual protocols as well.

Do you think it the trailer rides help? Hurt? Would the colic have resolved anyway? (Coincidence does not mean causation.)

[2tempe]

https://horsesidevetguide.com/The+Tr…Really+Work%3F

[Equkelly]

This is one of those things that some people say is a myth and others SWEAR by. I myself, have seen it work and my vet even believes it as well. It’s not like it’s going to work 100% of the time but I think for certain types of colic, something about the bouncy trailer ride seems to help some horses. I’ve seen horses with bad colics heading for the hospital to go into surgery only to be fine when they unload off the trailer.

When my mare went to the local hospital for a bad colic the trailer ride didn’t cure anything, but she actually did really well during the trailering part as long as the trailer was moving. She was thrashing and throwing herself on the ground before she got into the trailer but once she was in and we were moving she was a statue. The second we would stop at a red light she’d start pawing and thrashing so we just ended up running all the lights and stop signs. I think when they’re focusing on balancing they’re not focusing on the pain so that helps.

[Cat_Tap]

This is not really related to the topic but every time I pulled the trailer up to the barn my horse would immediately have a loose poop. The horse was still in the barn but he could see the trailer. The trailer usually meant we were going to a show. I always thought if I ever think he is blocked I will just pull the trailer up.to the barn.

[Lizrd]

Myself, I think it can help in some cases for the reasons Cat Tap mentioned above. I do not think it has anything to do with the travel or bouncing of the trailer. I think it has everything to do with the stress/excitement of going for a ride. Many horses poop at the sight of a trailer, being prepped to load on a trailer, and hauling. This is particularly true if they are not a very seasoned show horse. For seasoned horses, a trailer can be very ho hum. For horses that rarely or never leave the property, a trailer ride is worth getting worked up for. OP I appreciate that you also took care of things appropriately by calling a vet and seeking treatment.

[Maythehorsebewithme]

@Lizrd

Myself, I think it can help in some cases for the reasons Cat Tap mentioned above. I do not think it has anything to do with the travel or bouncing of the trailer. I think it has everything to do with the stress/excitement of going for a ride. Many horses poop at the sight of a trailer, being prepped to load on a trailer, and hauling. This is particularly true if they are not a very seasoned show horse. For seasoned horses, a trailer can be very ho hum. For horses that rarely or never leave the property, a trailer ride is worth getting worked up for. OP I appreciate that you also took care of things appropriately by calling a vet and seeking treatment.

I can’t take credit for the vet. The BM did that, and I arrived well after she was there. But yes, much credit goes to the barn for doing the correct and necessary.

[endlessclimb]

@Equkelly

This is one of those things that some people say is a myth and others SWEAR by. I myself, have seen it work and my vet even believes it as well. It’s not like it’s going to work 100% of the time but I think for certain types of colic, something about the bouncy trailer ride seems to help some horses. I’ve seen horses with bad colics heading for the hospital to go into surgery only to be fine when they unload off the trailer.

When my mare went to the local hospital for a bad colic the trailer ride didn’t cure anything, but she actually did really well during the trailering part as long as the trailer was moving. She was thrashing and throwing herself on the ground before she got into the trailer but once she was in and we were moving she was a statue. The second we would stop at a red light she’d start pawing and thrashing so we just ended up running all the lights and stop signs. I think when they’re focusing on balancing they’re not focusing on the pain so that helps.

A little OT, but…

I’m glad your horse was worth the safety of everyone else on the road. Good grief.

[Highflyer]

My horses are definitely in the seasoned category and start pooping as soon as the shipping boots come out.

I do think that both the thought of a trailer ride and the bouncing around in the trailer can help with a gas or impaction colic.

That said, it obviously won’t fix a surgical colic and if the horse is violent it can be extremely dangerous-- I’ve had to ship horses that were colicking severely and probably half spent most of the ride down. Obviously in an emergency situation where your destination is the vet hospital they can deal with getting a downed horse up and out but it’s not particularly safe.

[Laurierace]

It has to do with the fight or flight reflex that a prey animal has when they are stressed. Their body prepares for flight by lightening the load so to speak. I was heartbroken when I took my colicky mare to New Bolton and found a clean trailer when we arrived. It doesn’t always work, especially if there is an impaction like in my mare’s case but is worth a try.

[Equkelly]

@endlessclimb

A little OT, but…

I’m glad your horse was worth the safety of everyone else on the road. Good grief.

It was 1 in the morning during a pandemic when everything was locked down. We didn’t pass a single vehicle in the entire 45 minute drive.

BUT I guess this wouldn’t be COTH without the presumptuous judgmental BS in every single thread no matter the topic.

[endlessclimb]

@Equkelly

It was 1 in the morning during a pandemic when everything was locked down. We didn’t pass a single vehicle in the entire 45 minute drive.

BUT I guess this wouldn’t be COTH without the presumptuous judgmental BS in every single thread no matter the topic.

I’m sorry, but your presumption that no one else was out there was not an excuse to disregard basic safety laws, at the risk of not only you and your horse but also the other people on the road (essential workers?). Go drive in circles in a parking lot if you can’t stop without thrashing around. Or get on a highway.

[Ghazzu]

Trailer rides can help by bouncing things around a bit. Seems to help mainly with gas colics, in my experience.

Waaay back when I lived with dairy cows, we had a prize show cow with an LDA on an incredibly hot and humid summer day.
The vet was tied up with another emergency, but suggested we load her in the cattle truck and take her down the bumpiest road we could find.
So, we put her on and headed down the dirt road past the farm.
Since everything was going wrong that day, the truck overheated.
Bobby cursed, and we went to unload Bessie and lead her home.
Dropped the ramp, and she shot out the back, slipped on the ramp, and went ass over teakettle.
Stood up, let out a loud belch, and walked off right as rain.

[Equkelly]

@endlessclimb

I’m sorry, but your presumption that no one else was out there was not an excuse to disregard basic safety laws, at the risk of not only you and your horse but also the other people on the road (essential workers?). Go drive in circles in a parking lot if you can’t stop without thrashing around. Or get on a highway.

It’s not a presumption. There were no cars. I would know because I was there, unlike you. You might want to pick something more fulfilling to be outraged about. It’s 2020 there are plenty of better options than how I ran a few stoplights during an emergency while rushing my horse to the hospital ffs.

[Ghazzu]

@endlessclimb

A little OT, but…

I’m glad your horse was worth the safety of everyone else on the road. Good grief.

Good grief indeed–what on earth makes you think they were driving unsafely?
Do you feel the same way about somebody trailering to a show?
Would it be acceptable if they drove to a referral hospital?

[endlessclimb]

@Ghazzu

Good grief indeed–what on earth makes you think they were driving unsafely?
Do you feel the same way about somebody trailering to a show?
Would it be acceptable if they drove to a referral hospital?

She said she blew every red light and stop sign. Did you miss that part?

[2DogsFarm]

Sadly, I had the same experience as @Laurierace with a bad gas impaction.
Surcingle on the anti-sweat put on the horse at the barn was so tight when we arrived at the vet hospital it had to be cut off.
My poor gelding looked like a very pregnant mare.
He came out of surgery fine & was back in work & showing a month later {knockwood}

FWIW:
I think the motion of the trailer - meaning horse has to be constantly rebalancing - might help a minor colic as it takes some of the focus off the pain.

[JB]

@Equkelly

It was 1 in the morning during a pandemic when everything was locked down. We didn’t pass a single vehicle in the entire 45 minute drive.

BUT I guess this wouldn’t be COTH without the presumptuous judgmental BS in every single thread no matter the topic.

@endlessclimb

I’m sorry, but your presumption that no one else was out there was not an excuse to disregard basic safety laws, at the risk of not only you and your horse but also the other people on the road (essential workers?). Go drive in circles in a parking lot if you can’t stop without thrashing around. Or get on a highway.

Well you know what? Equkelly could have given some context around disregarding traffic laws - did they slow and go? Did they just zoom on by without a second thought? She could have mentioned it was 1am and there was nobody on the roads and they approached with caution but simply didn’t stop for 2 minutes for every red light.

But endlessclimb could have actually read the post that she was headed to the vet hospital (so no, they weren’t going to drive circles in a parking lot or take a longer route), and perhaps asked some questions before assuming equkelly was going 60mph through red lights at 5pm rush hour.

Good grief - more discussion, more respect, less assuming and pointing fingers would do everyone a lot of good.

[Equkelly]

@endlessclimb

She said she blew every red light and stop sign. Did you miss that part?

Yea but you don’t know how many that is. I live in a rural and flat area. If there was another car, you could see it a mile away. There’s not that many stop lights to begin with. Seriously this is recreational outrage on your part.

[JB]

As for the OP situation - given what the vet had already done, the trailer ride was likely just “for good measure” and had nothing to do with the pooping.

Other times? Absolutely - horses who get the wet cow plops at the idea of getting on a trailer are preparing for “flight”, so the body sends in some extra water to help get the load out quickly. If that’s what was needed to resolve that colic issue, you’re good to go.

But that’s not what’s needed for all of them, not by far.

So CAN it help? Absolutely. Just don’t assume it will and don’t trailer a horse for an hour instead of calling a vet.

[MoonWitch]

I think it depends, as others have said and won’t work in every situation. I know that in the event of colic symptoms, if I even show the horse the back end of the trailer, the adrenaline kicks in and the elicit response is a visit from the poop fairy. If this is a suspected impaction or twist, nothing but surgery will help.

As far as the lying down with no thrashing, this can go two ways too, and I don’t know that you want to gamble with it going the wrong way. I had one that had a suspected lymphoma twist that actually was able to undo it with a slight roll. We were prepared to have him to be euthanized but he ended up living another three years after this. The other one ended up with a rupture minutes prior to being PTS so there is no guarantee with colic.