Why are Arabian horses more prone to getting colic?

Melora S wrote on August 21st, 2008 11:21 pm :

I am no veterinarian but I do love horses. If any breed of horse was “prone” to a condition I would bet that it is a genetic weakness. As it is true with dogs, it is also true with horses that certain faults in certain breeds become more accentuated the more these animals are bred. Perhaps some direct questions would be appropriate if this is a concern.

~batgirl~ wrote on August 24th, 2008 1:38 am :

my trainer thinks it is because they are more hyper than other horses and they might overheat themselves

PrettyPony wrote on August 25th, 2008 12:15 am :

No that is not true. I am a veterinarian with 9 Arabians, and it is actually the opposite. They are very hardy and things tend to pass through them easier. Although they are hyper, all horses get hot and could overheat themselves. Arabians have just as equal as a chance of getting colic as other horse breeds.

Steve A wrote on August 26th, 2008 7:13 pm :

I have a small, Polish bred Arab Chestnut mare. She is 19 years old, and I have had her since she was a 2 yr old. She has ALWAYS, ALWAYS, coliced. I thought it was just her. I didn’t know other people had the same problem. In all these years my vet has NEVER said that Arabs seemed prone to colic. I will definitely ask him now after reading this.

We use sand lax mixed with Bran in an oatmeal like consistency, and as long as we keep her on that, she is fine. If she comes off it, withing 6 months she will colic, like clockwork!!!

I didn’t really answer your question, but I hope the info will maybe help….

Danielle B wrote on August 26th, 2008 10:01 pm :

We have 5 arabians at our 90 horse stall barn, and 3 of them are extremely prone to colic. Any change in weather, hay quality, a strange look at them, etc, they colic.
I think it is more of a horse specific thing. From what I have heard and researched, a horse is more prone to colic if it has been a stall horse it’s whole life and not allowed to run around on pasture (and get lots of beneficial bacteria) when young.
I know a couple TBs and a QH that get a mild colic every 2 weeks or so, so it isn’t breed specifc.
I think you just need to be aware for colic- as long as they are all mild, it is quite easy to deal with them.

*~*AlexisClaire*~* wrote on August 28th, 2008 11:30 am :

Arabs aren’t more prone to getting colic any more than other breeds, that’s just the opinion of people who don’t know much about horses. As a matter of fact, any horse who is taken care of in a decent way shouldn’t get colic in the first place. Sugary feeds, alfalfa, lack of exercise - those are human-inflicted problems that cause illnesses in horses.

desertwhisperarabians wrote on August 30th, 2008 6:43 pm :

arabians are not more prone to colic than any other breed. ive owned them all my life and have many friends lose horses to colic that are quarters, appys, grades, you name it. i did just this year lose one of my mares (my first one ever) and it was possibly a colic issue. however, she was fine, never coliced until she had a foal (a very large foal) and my vet and i think that something got screwed up in her then to make her have problems now. you cant ever tell, i guess is my point…thats like saying you arent going to buy her because she might go lame some day…just me…if you like her, take your chances and enjoy your time together.