Cooler weather can increase the risk of colic in horses, at least anecdotally, reports The Horse. However, it's not the weather that's increasing the risk of colic; it's the management and behavior changes the shift in weather causes that increase the risk of impaction colic.
Horses that shift from pasture to a more hay-based diet experience a decrease in water consumption. If a horse's diet is changed rapidly, he may not increase his water consumption enough to make up for the shift in diet. This could increase the risk for impaction colic. The shift from grass to hay should occur gradually.
Horses that generally spend the majority of their time on pasture that are brought into stalls don't move their bodies in the same way they do as when they're outside. Movement is important for many things, including gut motility, so reducing the horse's ability to move may also lead to an increased risk of impaction. Riding, lunging, hand walking, or turnout is beneficial no matter how cold the weather is.
Cooler weather can cause water in buckets and troughs to freeze; limited access to unfrozen water can negatively impact a horse's water consumption, which will also increase the risk of impaction colic. Care should be taken when using heated buckets or trough heaters to ensure the horse doesn't get shocked, which would negatively affect his inclination to drink.
Adequate salt consumption will also encourage a horse to drink and further reduce the likelihood of impaction colic. While horses can lick and ingest salt from a salt block, adding it directly to the horse's feed can ensure that he's receiving adequate sodium.
Read more at The Horse.
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