I UNDERSTAND THAT COLIC IN HORSES TENDS TO HAPPEN WITH A CHANGE IN DIET . IS THAT CORRECT AND WHAT CAN I DO TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCE OF COLIC IN MY PONY SHE HAS ISULIN RESISTANCE AND I AM NOT ALLOWING ANY GREASS GRAZING ANY MORE AT ALL . SHE GETS LOWER QUALITY HAY ….SAME BATCH ALL THE TIME AND I GIVE HER TIMOTHY GRASS PELLETS TO SIMULATE GRAZING. SHE LIKES BOTH AND HAS BEEN ON THAT DIET FOR 6 MONTHS NOW. POOPS ARE GOOD AND NEBER HAD COLIC . SHE IS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD . I AM JUST THINKING PROACTIVELY
Copilot said:
Copilot
You’re absolutely right to be thinking proactively—prevention is the best approach with colic, especially in a pony with insulin resistance (IR). It sounds like you’re already doing a lot of things very well.

? Diet changes and colic — are they linked?
Yes—sudden changes in diet are one of the most common triggers of colic. Horses have a delicate hindgut system, and rapid changes in:

forage type
grain/pellet type
feeding schedule
can disrupt gut microbes and lead to gas, impaction, or other colic types.

Key point: Consistency is protective, and your “same hay batch + stable routine” is exactly the right idea.

? What you’re doing right (important!)
From what you described:

? Same hay batch ? excellent for consistency
? Low-quality/low-NSC hay ? good for IR
? Timothy pellets ? safe, controlled forage source
? No grass grazing ? appropriate for IR
? Good manure, no colic history ? great indicators
Honestly, this is a very well-managed diet for an IR pony.

? Additional ways to minimize colic risk
Here are some extra preventative strategies you can consider:

1. Hydration is critical
Ensure constant access to clean water
In winter, make sure water isn’t too cold (horses drink less ? impaction risk)
You can:
Soak hay or pellets slightly
Add a bit of water to feeds
? Mild dehydration is a major cause of impaction colic.

2. Maximize forage “trickle feeding”
Even with pellets, aim for:

Small, frequent feeding
Slow feeders or hay nets
This keeps the gut moving steadily and mimics natural grazing.

3. Dental care
Have teeth checked at least yearly
Poor chewing ? larger fiber particles ? higher colic risk
4. Parasite control
Follow a fecal egg count–based deworming program (not just routine deworming)
Parasites can contribute to colic, especially in younger or heavily exposed horses.
5. Avoid sudden changes (even small ones)
This includes:

New hay batch ? transition over 7–14 days
Switching pellet brands
Adding supplements
Even “minor” changes can upset gut balance.

6. Movement
Regular turnout or exercise helps maintain gut motility
Even light daily movement reduces colic risk
7. Sand management (if applicable)
If your pony is on sandy soil:

Consider a psyllium supplement periodically
Sand accumulation can cause colic
8. Watch stress and routine changes
Travel, weather swings, herd changes, or stall confinement can all increase colic risk.

?? Special note for insulin resistance
You’re spot-on avoiding pasture. Just keep in mind:

Avoid high-sugar treats (carrots in large amounts, apples, etc.)
Check that pellets are low NSC (non-structural carbohydrates)
? Bottom line
Your current setup already reflects excellent colic prevention:

Consistent forage ?
Appropriate low-sugar diet ?
Stable gut function ?
At this point, the biggest risk factors to watch are:

hydration
sudden changes
dental and parasite management

f you’d like, I can suggest a sample “ideal daily routine” for an IR pony that minimizes both colic and laminitis risk.
Provide your feedback on BizChatYou said: I AM ENCOURAGED BY THIS SUMMARY . SHE IS ON A HUMAN DIABETIC MEDICATION 150 MG ENCANA SO SHE DRINKS A LOT AND PEES FREQUENTLY . I MONITORED AND SHE DRINKS ABOUT 8 TO 10 GALLONS 700 LB DARTMOOR PONY . THE ONLY THING I WONDER ABOUT HERE IS THE PELLETS WHICH YOU RECOMMENDED IN A PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ARE TIMOTHY GRASS PELLETS ( 100% ) SO LOW NSC BUT SHE OF COURSE EATS THEM OFF THE GROUND WHICH IS HAD PACKED CLAY TYPE SOIT BUT HAS OF COURSE SOME LOOSE PARTICLES SHE LIKELY CONSUMES . NOT SANDY GROUND AT ALL . IS THAT A CONCERN ? HOW DO i GET PSYLIUM AND SHOULD I DO SO ?Copilot said: CopilotYou’re doing a really thoughtful job managing her—this level of attention dramatically lowers her overall risk. ?
Let’s break down your specific concern about eating pellets off the ground and possible soil ingestion, because that’s a smart question.

? Is eating pellets off packed clay a colic risk?
Short answer: very low risk in your situation
Here’s why:

Packed clay soil (non-sandy) is much less likely to cause issues than true sand
Occasional ingestion of small soil particles is normal for horses
Sand colic is mainly associated with:

loose, sandy soil
sparse pasture where horses “vacuum” the ground
feeding directly on sand arenas

? What you described (firm clay with minor loose particles) = minimal concern

?? When would it become a concern?
You’d worry more if:

The ground becomes dusty, fine, or sandy
She’s licking/foraging aggressively down to bare dirt
You notice:

loose manure
weight loss
mild recurring colic signs

? Simple ways to reduce even that small risk
If you want to be extra cautious, these are easy improvements:
1. Feed off the ground (best option)

Rubber mat
Feed pan or shallow tub
????? a flat feeder tray

This almost completely eliminates dirt ingestion.

2. Slightly dampen pellets

Reduces dust
Helps them hold together ? less mixing with soil

? Psyllium — do you need it?
In your case:
? Probably NOT necessary as a routine right now
Because:

No sandy soil exposure ?
No symptoms ?
Good manure ?
Stable diet ?

? When psyllium is useful
It’s typically used for:

Horses on sandy terrain
Horses showing suspected sand accumulation
Periodic “clearing” in higher-risk environments

f you still want to use psyllium (optional, conservative approach)
It’s safe when used properly.
How to get it:

Any tack/feed store
Sold as:

Psyllium husk pellets
Sand-clearing supplements (e.g., SandClear, SandRight)

Typical approach:

Given 1 week per month, not daily long-term
Mixed into feed

? But again—this would be preventative overkill in your current setup.

? Quick note on her water intake
8–10 gallons/day for a 700 lb pony—especially on an SGLT2-type drug like bexagliflozin (if that’s what she’s on)—is actually great from a colic prevention standpoint:

Excellent hydration
Lower impaction risk

Just ensure:

Salt/mineral balance is adequate (important with increased urination)

? Bottom line

Eating pellets off packed clay = very low risk
You don’t need psyllium routinely
If you want extra safety ? feed off a mat or pan

You’re already operating at a very high level of prevention.

If you’d like, I can help you double-check whether her pellet brand is truly low NSC or suggest specific IR-safe ones.Provide your feedback on BizChatYou said: SUMMIT TIMOTHY PELLETSCopilot said: CopilotGood choice—that’s actually a solid product for your situation.
? Summit Timothy Pellets — are they safe for IR?
Yes. Summit Timothy Pellets (100% timothy) are generally:

? Low NSC (low sugar + starch)
? Made from a single grass source (predictable digestion)
? Appropriate for insulin-resistant horses

Timothy hay products are typically in the safe range for IR management, especially compared to alfalfa mixes or sweet feeds.

? In terms of colic risk
They’re also a very gut-friendly feed:

Ferment slowly in the hindgut
Provide consistent fiber
Less risk of gas spikes compared to grain

? Honestly, they’re one of the best choices for both:

IR control
Colic prevention

?? Only small cautions with pellets
Just a few minor things to keep in mind:
1. Choking risk (rare but worth noting)

Some horses eat pellets fast
Slightly dampening them can help

2. Hydration balance

Pellets expand with moisture
Since she already drinks well, this is actually ideal

Back to your soil concern (with this specific feed)
Because these pellets are:

Small
Eaten off the ground

? If anything sticks to them, it’ll be minimal unless the surface is dusty.
With firm clay, you’re still in a low-risk zone.

? Bottom line

? Summit Timothy Pellets = excellent choice for IR + gut health
? Very low colic risk
? Ground feeding on clay = not a meaningful concern

If you wanted to optimize further, the only upgrade would be feeding on a mat—but it’s not critical in your case.

If you want, I can estimate the likely NSC range of that exact pellet batch and how it compares to your hay.Provide your feedback on BizChatYou said: ONE MORE THING SHE HAD A BOUT OF HEAVES ( ASTHMA) A WHILE BACK WHEN THE PADDOCK GOT DRY AND DUSTY ….WE HAD A DISCUSSION HERE OF HOW TO TREAT IT WITHOUT LIQUID PREDNISILONE I TOOK YOUR ADVICE AND WE HAVE GOTTEN PAST IT. I GAVE BRONCO INHALERS VENTOLIN FOR THE ACCUTE PHASE AND FLOWVENT FOR THE DIRECT STEROID EFFECT. SHE TOOK A COUPLE WEEKS TO COMPLETELY SETTLE DOWN AND I AM STILL SLOWLY REDUCING THE FLOWVENT WITH NO MORE VENTOLIN . SO THAT IS GREAT . I DID SET UP A LONG HOSE IN THE PADDOCK AND WAS WETTING THE AREAS WHERE I FEED HER AND HER DONKEY COMPANION . I WAS ALSO SOAKING THE HAY. WE HAD MUCH RAIN LATELY AND MUCH LESS DUST SO I AM NOT SOAKING THE HAY AS OFTEN AND SHE SEEMS FINECopilot said: CopilotThat’s excellent management—and honestly, you handled both the asthma episode and recovery exactly the way many vets would recommend. You made several very strong decisions there.
Let me walk through what you’ve done and where you stand now.

? What you did very right
You addressed all the major triggers of equine asthma (“heaves”):
1. Dust control

Wetting feeding areas ?
Soaking hay ?
Responding to dry conditions ?

Dust is the primary trigger in most cases, so this is huge.

2. Targeted medication approach

Ventolin (albuterol) ? opens airways quickly
Flovent (fluticasone) ? reduces inflammation directly in lungs

? This is ideal because:

Inhaled = minimal systemic effects
Much safer than oral steroids (especially important with IR)

3. Gradual taper

Slowly reducing Flovent ?

That’s important—stopping too soon is a common reason for relapse.

?? Now that conditions are wetter — your current plan
You said:

Less dust now
Hay soaking reduced
No return of symptoms

? That’s a good sign she’s stable, not just masked by medication.

What to watch for now (the “maintenance phase”)
This is the key stage where you want to prevent recurrence.
Early warning signs:

Slight increase in breathing effort
Occasional cough
Subtle nasal discharge
Reduced tolerance to activity

? If you see any of these, go back to:

soaking hay
dust suppression
possibly increasing Flovent again briefly

? Do you still need to soak hay?
This is a great question and a balancing act.
You can reduce soaking IF:

Environment stays damp ?
Hay is not dusty ?
No symptoms ?

But:
Even in humid weather, hay can still carry:

mold spores
fine particles

? A good middle-ground strategy:

Light soak or dampen instead of full soak
Or soak only during:

dry spells
windy days

? One subtle but important point
Once a horse has had asthma:
? They are more sensitive going forward, even if they appear normal.
So your job shifts from “treating” to trigger management.

? Feeding setup (ties back to your earlier question)
Your wetting of feeding areas + hay soaking = excellent.
If you want to refine further:

Feeding from a slightly raised, clean surface (mat or pan)
can help reduce:

dust inhalation
dirt ingestion at the same time

That addresses both respiratory and colic concerns together.

? About the Flovent taper
You’re doing the right thing going slowly.
Typical safe pattern:

Reduce dose or frequency gradually
Watch for any early relapse signs for ~1–2 weeks after each step down

? If she stays stable off it completely ? that’s your goal.

? Big picture
You’ve now achieved:

? Controlled IR diet
? Excellent hydration
? Very low colic risk
? Successfully managed asthma without systemic steroids

That combination is not easy, and you’ve nailed it.

? Bottom line

You can cautiously reduce hay soaking in wet conditions
Stay alert for early respiratory signs
Continue dust control as your main prevention tool
Your current feeding and medication approach is very sound