Q: In article after article, EQUUS comments on how rare colic is when horses are on continuous pasture turnout. But all the horses I’ve ever lost to colic have been out on pasture. I believe this is partly due to a slower response time because their problem went unnoticed for a while. In fact, during the past 40 years of my caring for horses I’ve had equal amounts of colic in pasture horses vs. hand-fed horses, and all deaths from colic were in the pasture-horse group.
I have to disagree with your observation and the information you give your readers on colic. I believe pasture horses are just as susceptible to colic as are hand-fed horses. I believe ulcers are less in the pasture feed group but not colic. I would like to see the data you use for your articles.
Name withheld by request
A: Before addressing your specific question regarding management ---particularly in relation to time on pasture and risk of colic----I think it is important to point out that data is typically generated from large numbers of horses, and within any data set there will be variability. That means that studies can tell us about the influence of management factors on average but these conclusions may not hold up when looking at small groups of horses or individual horses, because of other variables such as geographic location, type of showing, and preventive health care programs. Nonetheless, it is important to be aware of data, because lessons learned from larger populations of horses can be useful in managing individual horses.
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PROGRESS AND STRUGGLE IN SENIOR HORSE CARE
A study from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University confirms what many dedicated horse owners have long known: Caring for a geriatric horse with a chronic health condition can be a significant physical and emotional burden.
THREE WAYS TO PREVENT BLANKET INJURIES
Of all the things your horse could injure himself with, his blanket seems an unlikely candidate. But don’t rule it out. Blanket mishaps do happen and they can be serious. Here are three things you can do to avoid them:
PUT AN END TO BARN DRAMA
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A FOREVER HOME
How a Facebook post led to a midnight rescue and an unexpected partnership
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A career focused on horses is not for the faint of heart but the rewards are many and can last a lifetime.
MAKE WINTER EASIER FOR YOUR OLD HORSE
The season ahead may be hard on aging horses in cold climates but with some planning and preparation you can help yours sail through until spring.
7 THINGS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT TETANUS
With modern vaccines and wound management practices, tetanus is almost a thing of the past. But the threat persists, so it’s wise to remember which horses are most at risk and why.
THE FIRST AMERICAN “SPORT HORSE” BREED
The very name of the American Standardbred reflects the performance requirement established at the inception of the breed. Here’s how genetics, conformation and training came together to create horses that could trot a mile in 2:30 or less, or pace it in 2:00 flat.
THE 6 WAYS HORSES LEARN
You’ll be more successful in teaching your horse new skills or maneuvers if your lessons, timing and tasks are aligned with his natural modes of acquiring information.
