Do you worry about sand ingestion but your horse hates psyllium husk?
Horses and sand are not a good mix. Ingestion of sand can cause discomfort in the gut, diarrhoea, reduced appetite, and in the worst cases, colic. Horses that graze sandy pastures are particularly at risk of sand accumulation, with this risk heightened when feed is sparse or when new grass is coming through. During these times, the horses are most at risk of ingesting the sandy roots as they try to pick at the fresh green shoots. This article from Dr John Khonke gives an excellent overview of the main risk factors and how to check for excessive sand ingestion in your horse.
So what can you to protect your horse?
Psyllium husk is a great product for sand removal, however it has to be fed in large quantities to be effective (at least 70-100g/100kg for 2-5 days per month; depending on the severity of sand ingestion - Dr John Khonke) and is not very palatable to the horse. Perhaps these issues, combined with the cost of psyllium, have perpetuated the myth that 1 cup of pysllium husk is sufficient to 'treat' the horse for sand ingestion. However, this amount is not only ineffective, but can also reduce the efficacy of using of psyllium in the future. Repeated exposure to these small doses of psyllium husk allow the gut microflora to adapt and digest it, thus rendering it ineffective in pushing the sand through the digestive tract.
Is there an effective, palatable solution that doesn't break the bank?
Our Equine Sand Bars contain a unique combination of natural ingredients in a palatable bar, that may help to remove sand from the digestive tract of your horse. The active ingredients (chia seed, linseed and pumpkin) facilitate sand removal by creating a mucilaginous mass to push the sand through the digestive tract. The bars are fed at a rate of two per day (at the same feed) for 10 days and best results are obtained by repeating this feeding regime every month during high risk periods. Each bar is vacuum sealed to maintain the integrity of the ingredients and most importantly... the horses can't get enough of them!
