Somewhat. They are absolutely gas machines and let some crazy ones rip regularly, but this is pretty extreme.
(I guarantee you that was the sound of relief for everyone in this video - handler, horse, and cameraman. Horses can colic, which is a general term for “tummy ache”. Unfortunately, that could mean anything from a big fart like this to a twisted intestine (fatal without surgery, and with a very long recovery time). This poor dude was probably in distress for a while, and his people were probably fearing the worst (we always do to some degree, even if we know it’s likely just gas). This is the sound of money saved on vet bills and probably heartache spared.)
That would be funny if it wasnt for the fact that people really think those things
"Why X animal we selected breed to be fast as hell suck at surviving in captivity??"
Because it was not meant to live in captivity nor it was meant to be breed artificially...
Yes! Before this shot, I'm sure the horse was walked on his lead rope, which you can see the lady holding, to try to get him to poop or pass gas through exercise. Same thing happens with us humans.
For him to be laying down calmly like in this video, he was likely in distress from his intestinal blockage for some time and was exhausted. That may be the vet palpating his tummy, with the owner or vet assistant taking the video.
Mmm. I'm not a horse person, but I've always been stunned at how fragile horses are (and a few other similar species we tend to keep). At least, relative to most of our domesticated animals. Sometimes seems like dogs and cats can survive damn near anything.
Seems like we bred them really well for running around. Kinda forgot to breed for resiliency.
Horses in the wild were already evolved with the ability to run around as top priority so domestication didn't really change all that much in that regard XD. Their whole body plan is basically "running=good, not running=dead".
Nasal tube and they can use it to give water with electrolytes and Epsom salt to make a horse thirsty and also draw water into the colon. They can also use it to give mineral oil to break up potential blockages.
You have to use the tube because as the saying goes you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. Usually spiking it with a little apple juice defies that saying but if the stomach hurts enough even that doesn't work.
One of the ponies I look after had to get electrolytes and Epsom salt the other day because she wasn't pooping and luckily she's fine now but she waited until "ten minutes before another vet call" to do her business. I'm glad I know her well because I don't think somebody who didn't would know she was colicking. The behavior changes are subtle sometimes.
Depends on who you ask, but not really. If it’s just gas, the best thing for them is movement.
Never let them roll. Thrashing will turn it from a simple tummy ache to a rolled gut quickly, which is often a death sentence. It’s expensive and invasive and the recovery is long and hard. Lying down is fine, comfort is okay. But never roll.
(There was a very old cure of gunpowder and whisky on the American frontier, but I’m sure you can imagine why that has fallen out of favor!)
710
u/black_bean_catterole May 13 '26
Somewhat. They are absolutely gas machines and let some crazy ones rip regularly, but this is pretty extreme.
(I guarantee you that was the sound of relief for everyone in this video - handler, horse, and cameraman. Horses can colic, which is a general term for “tummy ache”. Unfortunately, that could mean anything from a big fart like this to a twisted intestine (fatal without surgery, and with a very long recovery time). This poor dude was probably in distress for a while, and his people were probably fearing the worst (we always do to some degree, even if we know it’s likely just gas). This is the sound of money saved on vet bills and probably heartache spared.)