One of the many factors that can affect a competition horse's focus is intestinal upset–specifically impaction and spasmodic colic. Kyle Newman, PhD, of Venture Laboratories, explored how sport horse owners can help prevent these colic episodes in their equine athletes at the Veterinary Sport Horse Symposium, held Sept. 22-24 in Lexington, Ky.

According to Newman, an increased risk of impaction or spasmodic colic can be attributed to changes in diet (for example, if you change your horse's hay, the fiber content increases and digestibility decreases), changes in grains or concentrates (i.e., greater than 2.7 kg oats/day), and a decrease in pasture availability.

He said horse owners can help prevent colic by "examining simple sugar and fiber of forages, avoiding (dietary) changes that increase gas production, stabilizing fermentation, and improving digestibility."

To improve a horse's digestion, Newman suggests maintaining neutral pH levels in the cecum and colon (the major site for fiber digestion). Yeast cultures can help maintain a pH favorable for fiber digestibility, as shown in a study conducted by Newman et al. using the yeast Yea-Sacc¹⁰²⁶