1300 Pounds of Fragility

   Horses are big, powerful and at times intimidating animals. They are workers, athletes, farmers and friends. To the unassuming, they might be considered invincible and durable animals. Most of the time that could be true but to those that really know horses, know better.
   Horses are emotional and fragile animals. Creatures of habit that stress when those habits are changed. Physically complex animals with extremely long intestinal tracts measuring up to 100 feet. All of that intestine can get twisted during the digestive process. Stress, weather changes, diet changes, travel, to mention a few, are all possible causes for horses to colic. Colic is a painful digestive disorder that is one of the most common causes of premature death in the equine world.
   The next time you look at a horse consider their fragility. It's something horse owners deal with continuously. Even with the best of care and love, we sometimes lose the battle.

Chigger 1998-2014 RIP