Question: We’ve had a lot of snow recently, and I’ve noticed my horse eats snow. Should I be concerned about this? Can he colic from eating snow?

 Answer: As long as you are providing plenty of water at least twice a day, I wouldn’t be overly concerned about your horse eating some snow. It’s common for horses to play in the snow, paw it, dig through it to see if there’s any grass beneath it, and to eat some of it. Also, if you provide hay or grain outside, some horses will eat the snow or appear to eat the snow as they search for the last morsels. If your horse seems to have an unquenchable thirst, drinking more than about 10-15 gallons a day without being extensively worked, you might want to talk to you vet to see if there are underlying health issues. If his water is always freezing before he drinks it, you might want to invest in a bucket or tank heater for your waterer. I’ve never had a horse colic specifically from eating snow, but if he’s not getting adequate water intake, he could colic from impaction.