Drawing a Line in the Sand: How to Prevent Florida Sand Colic

Written by 4th year veterinary student, Layni Challender

While Florida is typically known for its sandy beaches, we also have sandy pastures, which can be a problem for our equine family members. Our horses do not intentionally eat sand, but they can accidentally consume it during their normal everyday activities. This most commonly occurs when they are out grazing grass that is short and close to the ground or picking up feed or hay that has fallen onto sandy soil.

Small amounts of sand can pass through the digestive tract without causing problems. However, repeated consumption can cause sand to accumulate in the intestines. Because sand is heavier than the normal contents of the digestive tract, it can settle and interfere with the normal movement of feed and manure. This can lead to irritation of the intestinal lining or, in more severe cases, an intestinal impaction. 

The term “colic” is a very generalized way of saying your horse has a belly ache. Many different conditions can cause colic in our horses, so owners should not assume it is “just sand” if their horse begins showing signs of abdominal pain. Signs of colic can include eating less, producing less manure, lying down more than usual, looking at their flank, becoming restless, rolling,  sweating or appearing generally uncomfortable. If you are seeing any of these behaviors, it is important to contact your veterinarian. 

While it is hard to completely keep your horse from consuming sand, there are steps you can take to help reduce their exposure. 

1. Keep hay and grain up off of the ground whenever possible. 

This can be as simple as using hay racks and hay nets, feeding grain from a bucket or tub, and placing rubber mats under feeding areas. These changes can greatly reduce horses' accidental intake of sand while eating. 

2. Provide plenty of easily accessible forage. 

Providing plenty of forage can help keep horses from grazing vegetation all the way down to the sandy soil, reducing the chance of accidentally consuming sand. Horses should generally consume approximately 1.5-2% of their body weight in forage daily. For an average 1000-pound horse, this is about 15-20 pounds of grass or hay each day. 

3. Ensure they always have access to clean water. 

Water is essential for normal digestive tract function and helps maintain movement of material through the gastrointestinal tract. Ensuring that your horse has easy access to clean, fresh water is an important part of reducing the risk of impaction. 

4. Avoid overcrowding pastures. 

Too many horses sharing a single pasture can cause them to graze the vegetation very short. This brings their mouths closer to the soil, increasing the opportunity to consume sand while grazing. Adequate pasture and forage availability can help reduce the exposure. 

We cannot keep every grain of sand from our Florida horse’s diet, but we can work to reduce the amount they consume. Simple management changes such as feeding hay and grain off the ground, providing adequate forage and fresh water, and avoiding overgrazed pastures can help decrease sand exposure and reduce the risk of sand-related digestive issues. 

If your horse does show signs of colic, do not simply assume sand is the reason. Colic can have multiple causes, some of which can be life-threatening. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian.