{"id":36624,"date":"2022-05-04T13:32:04","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T17:32:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourhorsefarm.flywheelsites.com\/?p=36624"},"modified":"2023-03-14T13:32:56","modified_gmt":"2023-03-14T17:32:56","slug":"horse-poop-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yourhorsefarm.com\/horse-poop-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Horse Poop 101"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dealing with horse poop is a day-to-day occurrence for horse owners. We scoop it, we dump it, and we forget about it\u2013for the most part. But have you ever taken a close look at your horse\u2019s manure? It can actually tell you quite a bit about their overall health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Normal Horse Poop<\/b><\/h3>\n

Every horse is different and their diets vary, so not all horse poop will look the same.\u00a0\u00a0 However, it\u2019s important to determine what is \u2018normal\u2019 for your horse so that if a\u00a0change does occur, you\u2019ll be aware of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note the consistency, color,\u00a0appearance, and\u00a0size, as well as the frequency of passing manure.\u00a0The average horse poops about 10-12 times per day and a reduction in frequency could be a sign of colic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consistency<\/b><\/h3>\n

Dry, hard manure, small manure balls, or manure covered in mucous\u00a0are all signs of constipation, which is linked with colic. If your horse\u2019s manure looks like this, watch him closely as you may need to call your vet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Loose, wet manure can occur for several reasons including stress, changes in diet, and eating new spring grass. Antibiotic use can also cause loose stools. As long as the horse doesn\u2019t consistently have loose stools, however, this isn\u2019t a major cause for concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diarrhea is different from loose manure and <\/span>should <\/span><\/i>be\u00a0a cause for concern.\u00a0If the horse\u2019s manure is liquidy and foul-smelling, this usually indicates illness, infection, or could be the result of eating a toxic plant.\u00a0Don\u2019t hesitate to call the vet if your horse has diarrhea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Color<\/b><\/h3>\n

Horse poop can vary in color according to the diet.\u00a0Shades of greens and brown are most common, but if your horse eats a large amount of beet pulp, his poop may be a reddish-brown color.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your horse\u2019s poop is red or black, this is a cause for concern.\u00a0Red\u00a0poop can\u00a0indicate bleeding in the lower intestinal tract, while black poop, although very rare, could mean that there is bleeding further up in the digestive tract.<\/span><\/p>\n

Appearance<\/b><\/h3>\n

Healthy manure consists of moist, well-formed balls.\u00a0Seeing small pieces of hay or grain in manure is normal, but there are a few things you might notice that are not normal.\u00a0The following indicate a need for intervention:<\/span><\/p>\n