A rider coming from the northeast to Florida asked the riding community what hazards she should be aware of in bringing her horse to Florida.
The number one answer by far was sand colic.
Sand in the digestive tract can lead to numerous problems from minor discomfort, diarrhea, weight loss, and if severe enough, sand colic.
South Florida has been extremely dry, so it wouldn’t be surprising to find sandy patches in even the best-maintained turn-out areas. But sand colic is also prevalent in the Southwest, including Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and parts of California. Since there’s no escaping sand in some areas, this is definitely a case where “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”
If your horse feeds in a yard or pasture, make sure you feed hay from hay nets or feed racks. Use a rubber mat under feeding areas to catch feed that falls. It will be that one nugget that falls that your horse finds most tempting. And feed your horse more fiber! It’s a natural remedy to make sure stuff is moving through the gut.
If you suspect your horse already has swallowed a good bit of sand, try a psyllium product that increases bulk and helps move the sand through the intestine.