Sand Colic in Horses: The Simple Poo Test You Can Do at Home

Horses grazing on short or sandy pasture can pick up a surprising amount of soil and grit, and over time it can build up in the gut and lead to sand colic. The good news is there’s an easy way to check.

In this video, we mix a poo sample with water so the solid material breaks down. Anything heavy, like sand and soil, settles at the bottom where you can see it clearly. This horse isn’t showing any signs of sand colic right now, but the amount of grit in the sample means the risk is high.

Our next step is psyllium, which you can pick up from most feed stores. It helps bind the sand and grit so it can pass through the gut and out the other end, giving the digestive system a chance to settle.