I'm currently studying a cert 4 in sport coaching equestrian and reading through the horse health section it said when a horse is colic king to let it roll:shock:
They say that a horse has more danger of hurting it's leg whilst rolling then twisting a gut. When did this happen????
News to me. Someone needs to post some medical proof substantiating that:?
I can understand a mild rolling, like when a horse just rolls to itch but, how does one know that won't turn into the violent thrashing that will lead to a twisted gut?
Like people, horses have very different pain tolerance levels.
Many years ago, I had to two horses colic from drinking the icy creek water ---- I had just filled their buckets with warm water that I lugged from the house and I was happpaaaay:shock:
Anyway, the mare assumed the "giving birth" position until the belly ache past.
The gelding started thrashing and I had literally had to beat his hind end to get him up and walking.
The vet came right out and all ended well.
Here were two horses who handled colic very differently. For my part, if the horse is thrashing? I'm getting it up if I have to beat it half to death for putting me thru that agony, regardless of what New Medicine might say.
That being said, I put a lot of effort into avoiding colic. I've only had one other colic issue since that biggee and that was 15 years ago. <quietly knocking on wood, since we went from 63 degrees Sunday to 19 degrees this morning>:?
my vet says you dont have to walk them if they are calm, and they can lay down as long as they dont thrash and roll. never have i heard to let them roll though.
I think we should not confuse allowing a horse to go out and have a good roll in the sand or mud which is in fact good for many things including their back, with the horse who is collicky and is out in the pasture showing signs of discomfort.
Rolling to relieve an itch is one thing but rolling and thrashing because of pain is another. Its common sense I would think. )
I was not confused. The pony almost died but he said he doesn't have a problem with them rolling around so long as they don't hurt themselves when colicing.
We always keep our colicing horses moving by walking them. I have had many colic, but not one has died (knock on wood). We do it old school I guess. But if they are up and moving, they do not have a chance to roll.
I have never ever heard of a vet telling a owner to let their horse roll from colic, always keep them up and walking, you do not want them to twist a gut.
I have worked for 2 equine vets and several small animal vets, and grew up around a standardbred race track and only had one horse in my lifetime that colic as a 4 yr. old and lived to be 32 yrs. old.
Colic can be deadly if not treated correctly..........
I am old school, and if I had a horse colic and a vet told me to let it lay down or roll I'd be looking for a NEW VET........................
As for a horse rolling any other time, it is good for them to roll, they alignment their spines by rolling, and itch their backs.
Ahh no!!! Rolling when in colic leads to a twisted gut. Saw it with my own eyes and she lived because we made her get up.. but another one was thrashing all night and the owner wasn't strong enough to get the horse back up, so he died from a twisted gut
The lady I used to work for would always keep them moving, or put them in a trailer and cart them around to encourage them to poop or pee. Not sure why, but all I DO know is rolling if colicing is VERY bad.
As for rolling on other occasions, another benefit is the mud/dirt helps to keep off flies and keeps the horse cool. Also it makes them smell like their herd again, instead of a strange thing.
I have only skimmed the replying posts, and I do not claim to be an expert, but I have NEVER been instructed to 'let' a colicky horse roll. You do not want to horse to twist it's gut. However, there is a difference between say, a horse rolling because you just gave it a bath, and a colicky roll. Normal rolling, as I have been told, is okay. When a horse rolls over is when I have been told they are in danger of twisting their gut. You want them up and walking, but you don't want to over walk them. I would take caution when trying to stop a rolling horse though- a horse in severe pain does not know who or what you are, and may unintentionally hurt you.
My Vet told my BO to walk my horse when he colicked last year (she already was) while we waited for him. It was just a nice slow, ambling walk, nothing that would make a fit horse tired but did keep him from dropping and rolling which he desperately wanted to. The Vet took 45mins or more to arrive (barn is 30mins from actual civilization) and by the time he did, my horse had pooped once and was doing better. Walking encourages the digestive system to keep things moving.
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