On The Right Lead September 2026
The sun is setting earlier, the kids are back in school and the mornings have a bit of a chill … and your horse is looking a little colicky. Colic is more common certain times of the year, and fall is one of those times. It’s not the weather that actually causes impaction colic – it is more likely the changes in management and behavior. There are actions we can take, as horse owners, to help our horses move into the autumn and winter weather healthy and sound.
Pasture grass quality declines in the fall, so we often feed more hay. This reduces the amount of moisture your horse is getting from his grazing activities, causing a drier gut. Couple this with cooler weather, and your horse may not be staying hydrated. Providing salt and mineral blocks, or loose salt in the feed, usually encourages water consumption. Many professionals prefer adding loose salt daily to the feed, as a way to keep track of how much the horse is actually getting. A 1,100 horse requires 10 grams of sodium a day, which is about 2 tablespoons of table salt. To get that amount from a salt block alone, it would be a two-pound block each month! An electrolyte supplement will provide some salt along with other necessary elements. If you feed a formulated feed, such as Purina Strategy or Equine Senior, there is salt in the ingredients but generally neither a concentrated feed or electrolyte supplements will satisfy a horse’s sodium requirement.
Another change in our horses’ daily lives in the fall is often less exercise. Some horses on pasture all summer are now moved into a barn for the colder weather. The riding and exercise schedule might change too. But, movement is important to horses to stimulate their gastrointestinal tract. Longing, hand walking or a short gentle ride helps to keep everything moving, and encourage drinking too.
Whether your horse is on pasture year-round, or moves into the barn for the winter, spending time with them and monitoring their feed and hydration can help prevent colic during this transitioning time of year.
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That chill in the morning we mentioned earlier? Yup, it is time for a sweatshirt! Rainbow has you covered! Fall clothing is in the stores now – vests and jackets, flannels and boots and of course – Sweatshirts! Carhartt, Ariat, Wrangler and more -
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September 5th from 9 am to 3 pm - White Dog Ranch and All Hands Rescue will be holding a used tack sale at the ranch on 9800 Main Street, Potter Valley. Stop by and help support our local equine rescue!
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Seabiscuit Therapeutic Riding Center (STRC) will be holding their annual fundraiser on September 5 at 5:30 PM. It’s Claws for a Cause! Lobster and Prime Rib Dinner to support the Seabiscuit Therapeutic Riding Center’s programs for youth and adult special needs riders. Tickets go fast for this one – so get your tickets now!
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The Lake County Fair is what’s happening over Labor Day weekend – September 3 – 6. Good luck to all the youth competing with their projects during the fair. Rainbow will be there to support the local youth, and bid at the auction!
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Trivia! Enter to win a $15 Rainbow Coupon. All correct answers go into a random drawing.
The August OTRL Trivia question was, the NATRAC Region 1 Trail Ride is going to be held …
Our winner is June Richmond, with the correct answer that the ride was held in the cool Redwood Forest!
The August question is, How much salt does the average horse need a day?
ENTER HERE