Hi there, fellow horse lovers! We’re based in Florida and in the summer, we are no doubt, hammered with thunderstorms. While the South gets our share of storms, the North often has equally as much rain, coupled with significant daily temperature fluctuations. The severe barometric changes are evident to us horse owners as our horses seem to start rough housing in the fields, spook at a twig breaking, and even get a little jumpy in their stalls. All of these behaviors are consistent with our horses sensing storms before they happen.
Although there are no studies that show a direct link between weather and colic, if you own a horse, you know there is a very strong link indeed. Mention colic and weather to your horse friends and the conversation will certainly be dampened by sad stories. The link is likely due to the fact that weather changes cause the horse to work harder to maintain their thermal zone, horses decrease activity during weather changes, and they drink less. These demands create stress on the horse, especially in the GI tract, increasing the risk for colic.
So with knowledge comes power, right? We know we can increase water consumption by soaking grain and adding electrolytes. We know keeping predictable turnout schedules is important so long as the horse can safely go out. Often times those things are not enough, and supporting your horses GI can help keep that link between colic and weather changes at bay. The maintenance use of GI support is important for a healthy microbiome which controls disease risk, health preservation, immune response and therapeutic response. In the case of weather changes, a healthy gut facilitates adapting to the change with less internal stress, thereby decreasing the risk of weather related colic.
We at FarmGalz know that our Equine Belly Balancer enhances gut health. The use of natural, organic support can positively help maintain an environment to support those microorganisms that are the foundation to equine health, as well as to reestablish such an environment following treatment for ulcers, the use of antibiotics, or other factors that disrupt the necessary balance.