Stable Hands Equine

01/19/2026

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01/01/2026

Happy new year to all our followers!

12/30/2025

Colic: What You Need to Know During Cold Snaps

With our recent Cold snap, the temperatures dropped suddenly, and colic cases often rise. Cold snaps can change how horses drink, eat, and move - three key factors that keep the gut healthy.
Being proactive during winter weather can dramatically reduce your horse’s risk.

❄️ Why Colic Risk Increases in Cold Weather
Cold weather can cause:
• Decreased water intake - Horses drink less when water is icy or cold.
• Reduced gut motility - Less movement + less hydration = slow-moving feed.
• Changes in routine - More stable time or abrupt diet changes stress the digestive system.
• Impaction risk - The combination of dry feeds, low water intake, and reduced motility is the perfect storm for impaction colic.

💧 Hydration Tips to Keep Horses Drinking
Keeping the gut hydrated is your strongest line of defence.
✔ Warm the water:
Horses prefer slightly warm water and often drink significantly more when water is warm.
✔ Offer soaked feeds:
• Soaked hay cubes
• Beet pulp mash
• Warm bran mash (occasional treat, not a staple)
These increase moisture intake without changing the diet drastically.
✔ Encourage drinking with salt:
• Free-choice salt lick available at all times. Salt stimulates thirst and maintains electrolyte balance.
✔ Check water sources frequently:
• Break ice at least twice daily
• Make sure automatic waterers are working properly
• Keep buckets clean - algae and debris can discourage drinking

🌾 Feed Adjustments for Winter Gut Health
Increase forage, decrease concentrate: More hay = more heat production and better gut motility.
Avoid sudden diet changes: Introduce new hay or concentrate over 7–10 days.
Use slow feeders: This extends eating time and maintains steady gut movement.

🚨 WHEN TO CALL THE VET - Colic Checklist
If you notice any of the following, call your vet immediately:
Behaviour Signs
• Pawing, circling, rolling repeatedly
• Looking at or biting the flank
• Restlessness or inability to get comfortable
• Stretching out as if to urinate
• Sudden aggression or depression
Gut Signs
• No manure for 6 – 12 hours
• Smaller, drier, or harder manure
• Reduced appetite
• Reduced water intake
• Visible abdominal distention
Vital Signs
• Elevated heart rate (over 44 bpm)
• Elevated respiration
• Temperature changes
• Gums that are pale, dry, or tacky
Other Red Flags
• Horse is lying down more than usual
• Refusing to walk
• No gut sounds
• Any behaviour that “just isn’t normal” for your horse

When in doubt - call. Even if just to discuss concerns on the phone. Early intervention is far safer, easier, and less expensive than waiting!

12/25/2025

12/15/2025

Equine therapy (also called equine-assisted therapy or equine-assisted activities) uses interactions with horses to support emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical healing. It’s used with children, adults, veterans, first responders, and people coping with trauma, anxiety, or life stress.

Here are the key benefits:

⸻

🧠 Emotional & Mental Health Benefits
• Reduces stress and anxiety
Horses are highly sensitive to human emotions. Being around them encourages calm, mindfulness, and regulation of the nervous system.
• Supports trauma and PTSD recovery
Horses respond to body language, not words, which helps people safely process trauma without needing to relive it verbally.
• Improves emotional awareness and regulation
Clients learn to recognize their emotions because horses mirror tension, fear, or calm in real time.
• Builds self-esteem and confidence
Successfully communicating with and caring for a large animal fosters a sense of competence and empowerment.

⸻

❤️ Social & Behavioral Benefits
• Enhances communication skills
Participants learn clear, non-verbal communication and boundary setting.
• Builds trust and healthy relationships
Horses require consistency and honesty, reinforcing skills needed for human relationships.
• Encourages responsibility and accountability
Grooming, leading, or caring for a horse teaches follow-through and respect.

⸻

🧍 Physical & Neurological Benefits
• Improves balance, coordination, and posture
Especially in therapeutic riding, the horse’s movement stimulates core strength and motor control.
• Supports sensory integration
Touch, movement, smell, and sound help regulate sensory systems, which is beneficial for trauma survivors and individuals with autism.
• Promotes relaxation of the body
The rhythmic motion and warmth of horses can help reduce muscle tension.

⸻

🌱 Personal Growth & Life Skills
• Encourages mindfulness and presence
Horses live in the moment, helping participants slow down and stay grounded.
• Fosters leadership and decision-making
Leading a horse requires clarity, confidence, and calm authority.
• Provides a sense of purpose and connection
Many participants feel understood and accepted without judgment.

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🪖 Especially Beneficial For:
• Veterans and first responders with PTSD
• Survivors of trauma or abuse
• Individuals with anxiety, depression, or grief
• Children with emotional or behavioral challenges
• People struggling with trust or relationship issues

⸻

Why Horses?

Horses are prey animals, meaning they are exceptionally attuned to safety, emotion, and intention. They offer honest, immediate feedback—without criticism—making them powerful partners in healing.