Excellent: Help, my horse eats sand!

Many horses eat or lick up sand. A small amount of sand does no harm and is disposed of through the faeces. But with too much sand in the digestive system, problems can arise in the intestines. This can pose serious health risks, including sand colic. In this blog, we discuss why horses eat sand, what the risks are and how to prevent it.  

The causes of sand eating  
A horse can eat sand unconsciously while grazing, but there are also horses that will eat sand consciously. There can be several causes for this:  

Nutrient deficiency 
Horses may start eating sand if they are deficient in essential minerals or fibre in their diet. Consider, for example, a shortage of silicon. Eating sand is a way for horses to supplement the missing nutrients.  

Boredom or stress 
Like humans, horses can exhibit unwanted behaviour out of boredom or stress. For example, cribbing and sand eating. Insufficient exercise or lack of mental stimulation can contribute to this problem.  
 
The risks of eating sand  
When a horse has too much sand in its digestive tract, it can pose major risks. The biggest and most well-known risk is sand colic. This is a painful condition where sand has accumulated in the intestines. Symptoms of sand colic include abdominal cramps, lack of appetite, lots of rolling and changes in defecation pattern. In addition, the accumulation of sand in the intestines can lead to irritation and inflammation of the intestinal wall, causing chronic digestive problems and negatively affecting your horse's overall health.  

It is therefore important to learn to recognise the signs of too much sand in the intestines:  

- Sensitivity at the abdomen (on the right side)  
- Reduced appetite and energy  
- Thin manure  
- Difficulty jumping into the right canter  
- Colic symptoms such as kicking to the belly and excessive rolling  
- Emaciation  

Note: These complaints can also have another cause. If you notice one or more complaints, we recommend you contact your vet so that the correct diagnosis can be made and any treatment carried out.  

Preventing sand eating  
Sand eating is common, but fortunately you can take several measures to prevent your horse from deliberately eating sand.  

Change the feeding routine 
Do not feed your horse on the ground, but provide an elevated surface such as a feed manger or slowfeeder to prevent them from ingesting sand. Make sure there is enough fibre-rich feed available to meet their fibre requirements.   

Minerals and supplements 
Supplementing your horse's diet with minerals and supplements can help make up for any deficiencies and reduce sand eating. For example, use a product such as Equi Total Balance, which contains humic acids and important minerals, to support overall gastrointestinal health and resistance. Equi Seaweed Pellets also support resistance and also intestinal function, as they contain a mix of minerals, prebiotics, trace elements and antioxidants.  

Sufficient exercise and stimulation 
Make sure your horse gets sufficient exercise and mental stimulation. This can help reduce boredom and stress, making them less likely to engage in unwanted behaviour, such as eating sand.  

Sand test 
Do you suspect your horse has ingested too much sand? Then you can do a manure test. Put some manure (preferably the top part that has not touched the ground) in a plastic bag with some water. Make sure the water is slightly above the manure. Knead the manure loose and let the bag hang for at least an hour, with one point down. After this time, check how much sand has sunk to the bottom. Is it more than a teaspoonful? If so, the horse may be ingesting too much sand. If your horse shows no symptoms do a preventive cure. In case of complaints or doubts, always contact your vet.  

Treatment of sand eating  
If you suspect that your horse is ingesting a lot of sand, it is a good idea to take action. For example, use Excellent Horse Equi Psyllium Plus or Excellent Horse Herbs Plantago seed Psyllium, which help remove excess sand from the digestive tract. Psyllium fibres absorb water and form a gel-like substance, which binds the sand (and other particles) to it, allowing it to leave the body naturally.   

In many shops, you often see psyllium powder. Make sure you feed this powder dry, for example over the pellets. As soon as this powder comes into contact with water, it thickens. If you give it in a mash or water, this process can already start in the oesophagus, which can cause constipation. Want to prevent this? Then feed Plantago seed (psyllium). These are the whole seeds with the husk still around them. You can safely feed these seeds through a mash. The horse has to chew these seeds to pieces first. It therefore forms a gel-like substance later in the digestive tract.  

Furthermore, it is of course important to contact a vet if you suspect your horse is eating a lot of sand. A vet can perform diagnostic tests, such as a manure test or an abdominal scan, to confirm the presence of sand in the intestines and determine the best treatment approach.