Colic in horses while travelling?

Question

I'm taking my 3 year old filly to her first show on saturday and i have to take her in a box for a 30-40 minute drive. I am terrified (and always have been) of my horses getting colic. On new years eve my thoroughbred gelding died at 7 years old from colic. I know travelling with horses can lead to colic so can anyone give me tips and advice on how to prevent it?

She is out at grass full time, and can be stabled at the town where the show is taking place if needed over night.

Any advice is really greatly appreciated as i'm so scared of colic since my big guy died :( Thanks very much in advance =]

Answer 1

Colic usaually occurs if the horse you are loading, are very nervous to step into a trailer, let alone hauled.  Try giving your horse a VERY SMALL ammount of bran mash (make sure it is Wheat Bran), this keeps the digestive tract going, and it prevents them getting colic. Don't give her oats before you go either, this can also lead to colic. Like i said, give her a little bit of bran mash about 1/2 - 1 hour before you leave on your trip. Look up on google on how to make a mash.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

well the best way to solve/cure this fear is to look up all the reasons horses can get colic to see if you are at risk and how to prevent it...i would explain them all here but that would take too much time LOL =]]

Answer 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^...

what she said n i think if you want the barn will let you stay the night with your horse thats what i wanna do with my horse!!!!!

Answer 4

I always tell people never to use grain to entice a horse into the trailer...the horse will be stressed by travelling and sometimes the digestive function in the gut shuts down during periods of stress.  If she is used to getting grain in the morning, I would give her only half of what she is used to and increase the amount of hay.  If she is not used to loading in a trailer, I would practice it every day until then, which will make it less stressful on that day.  If you load another horse first it can help ease her stress as well.  Try to keep her cool as heat can lead to colic....hose her legs for several minutes each....this cools the circulating blood and cools the whole horse.  Good luck!

Answer 5

colic comes in meny shapes and forms and sadly these things hapen even wen we hav done our best to prevent it, I lost my boy a few years back to colic and i know its not nice but you cant keep thinking that everything is goin to end up with your horse having colic.

if you keep feeling like this over it the chances are your horse will pick up on your stressing and stress herself out, probably resulting in her not loading or freeking oot in the box.

all you can do is make shure she is calm and happy at the time of traveling and that she is not going with a full tummy.

just try and stay calm, you should be looking forward to her first show and thinking of that

good luck and i hope you bring home the ribbons

Answer 6

Colic while travelling is usually either because the horse is a panic colicker (colics when scared or upset) or because of changes in feed and water.  

You'd probably already know if she was a panic colicker, but you can take along a mild tranquilizer just in case - ask the vet.

Take along her own feed and water.  Hay, not grass, but that'll be fine.

This short drive sounds like a wonderful distance to get her used to the whole idea of traveling and showing.  Don't worry; it won't help and you're already doing everything you can to prevent it.  Don't let the fear cripple you and keep you at home.

And remember...  old time horsemen and even vets understand the value of a "therapeutic trailer ride."  Many a horse, colicking badly, has been put in the trailer to go to the equine hospital for surgery, only to arrive cool, calm, and over it.  I've had it happen myself - my little mare was LATHERED in sweat on a cold day, gassy and distended, not responding, so I threw her in the trailer.  Fifteen minutes later, at the vet's, she stepped off dry and happy.  Her fur was stiff with dried sweat all over, but she was fine!  I don't know why this happens, but it does sometimes!

PS - I lost one of my favorites 2 years ago to colic, so I do understand your fear - not trying to in any way make light of it!