The No. 1 killer of horses is colic.  Colic is not a disease, but rather a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse. Colic can range from mild to severe, but it should never be ignored.  Many of the conditions that cause colic can become life threatening in a
relatively short period of time. Only by quickly and accurately recognizing colic – and seeking qualified veterinary help – can the chance for recovery be maximized.

​While horses seem predisposed to colic due to the anatomy and function of their digestive tracts, management can play a key role in prevention.

​1. Establish a daily routine – including feeding and exercise schedules – and stick to it.

2. Feed a high-quality diet comprised primarily of roughage.

3. Avoid feeding excessive grain and energy-dense supplements. (At least half the horse’s energy should be supplied through hay or forage. A better guide is that twice as much energy should be supplied from a roughage source than from concentrates.)

4. Divide daily concentrate rations into two or more smaller feedings rather than one large
feeding to avoid overloading the horse’s digestive tract.  Hay is best fed free-choice.

5. Set up a regular parasite control program with the help of your equine practitioner.

6. Provide daily exercise and/or turnout. Change the intensity and duration of an exercise regimen gradually.

7. Provide fresh, clean water at all times. (The only exception is when the horse is excessively hot, and then it should be given small sips of lukewarm water until it has recovered.)

8. Avoid putting feed on the ground, especially in sandy soils.

9. Check hay, bedding, pasture and environment for potentially toxic substances, such as blister beetles, noxious weeds and other ingestible foreign matter.

10. Reduce stress. Horses experiencing changes in environment or workloads are at high risk of intestinal dysfunction. Pay special attention to horses when transporting them or changing their surroundings such as at shows.

Virtually any horse is susceptible to colic. Age, sex and breed differences in susceptibility seem to be relatively minor. The type of colic seen appears to relate to geographic or regional differences, probably due to environmental factors such as sandy soil or climatic stress.
Importantly, this indicates that, with conscientious care and management, we have the potential to reduce and control colic, the No. 1 killer of horses.
 
For more information about colic prevention and treatment, contact the Starwood Equine office.

Additional colic information is available by visiting the AAEP’s  website at www.aaep.org/
 
Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

In order to help you navigate the wildfire smoke that is affecting our air quality, we have put together some recommendations for respiratory support of your equine companion. Please note that this information is intended as a helpful guide for horse owners. Questions regarding your horse's individual situation is best addressed by your veterinarian. 

There can be some confusion regarding which source is the best to use for determining AQI in your area. This article explains the differences. 
​
This site combines Purple Air (crowdsourced, readings every 10 mins) with the EPA (government-run, regularly calibrated, readings less often)

Green Days are considered to be satisfactory air quality where no equine activity restrictions are recommended for healthy horses. ​

The air quality is considered acceptable on Yellow Days. However, there may be a risk for some horses, particularly those who are sensitive to air pollution. 

Orange Days are widely accepted as being unhealthy for sensitive groups. In cases where air quality is poor due to smoke inhalation, we recommend that all horses be limited to an easy trot or walk as you do not want the particulate matter found in smoke to be drawn deep into your horse's lungs. 

The particulate matter from a wildfire is tiny and can get all the way into the deepest parts of the lungs, causing problems for weeks, months, or years down the road, depending on level of damage incurred. These particulates will affect horses with pre-existing respiratory conditions more than horses with a healthy airway. ​

The graphic above has some ideas for ways to safely work with your healthy horses (those with no pre-existing conditions). 

• The downward transition is really important for muscle strength, so do 8-10 of these each day. 
• When backing up in-hand start slowly on flat ground
  • 5-6 steps only for a few days, then progress to 8-10, then 12-14, and then up to 16-20 steps.

Similarly to humans, Red Days indicate that the air has become unhealthy for all horses and people. We recommend avoiding intense work and concentrating on ground exercises to build strength and flexibility. The Starwood Equine team has been hard at work to provide you with "How-to" videos on our YouTube page. Check out our videos on ground exercises to build strength while minimizing exertion: 

Therapeutic Exercises: 
-  Pelvic Tucks:  (3 sets of 10)
- Sternal Lifts: (3 sets of 10)
- Lateral Tail Pulls: Pull to the side and hold for 10 seconds; 5 times on each side
- Hindlimb Mobility: Please perform daily stretching of the hind limbs by pulling the limb forward (protraction) towards the front knee and backwards (retraction). Then follow it with a whole limb flexion. Keep the limb in this position for 3-6 seconds.

Stabilization and Balance exercises:
 - Front Limb Circles: lift front limb as if to pick out the hooves and circle 10 times clockwise and 10 times counterclockwise on the left and right
- Hind Limb Leans: lift the hind leg as if to pick out the foot, once lifted and gently holding the weight lean your shoulder into the horse's side, this will cause them to further balance and activate the opposing limb, repeat 5 times on each side.
​

​We have gotten a lot of questions about nebulizing- Nebulizing can be an effective way to deliver medications to the respiratory system, and nebulizing with saline may show some benefit to helping healthy horses clear their airway. Nebulizing should be performed under the guidance and recommendation of a veterinarian because many substances can be irritating and cause more harm to the respiratory tract.

Horses in dusty environments or exposed to environmental irritants are more likely to suffer from respiratory infections. The following steps can decrease environmental irritants and help maintain a healthy airway

Supplemental care can be an effective way to support respiratory health.

• StableLab SAA test, used by the veterinarian, for discerning an infection from airway inflammation during an exam. 
• Acupuncture or laser stimulation of acupuncture points can be a useful adjunct to the body to encourage healthy respiratory systems.
• Equine nebulizers are veterinary medical devices that can be used for aerosol administration of veterinarian prescribed medications.

​Starwood Equine recommends returning to work 2 full weeks after AQI levels have improved consistently.