Risk factors for faecal sand excretion in Icelandic horses.

The research paper investigates the risk factors contributing to the intake of sand by horses, with an emphasis on Icelandic horses in Denmark, and aims to identify prevention strategies against sand-related gastrointestinal disease (SGID). More than half of the horses studied were found to have sand in their faeces, a significant indicator of sand intake.

Research methods and data collection

• The study collected faeces from 211 Icelandic horses across 19 different studs in Denmark along with various potential risk factors including soil samples.
• An analysis of the faecal matter was conducted using a sand sedimentation test to determine the sand content. The presence of sand in the excretion was used as evidence of sand intake by the horse.
• Soil types were identified through soil analysis. These data were statistically evaluated using logistic analysis to determine significance.

Research Findings

• 56.4% of the horses studied were discovered to have sand in their faeces, and 5.7% exhibited more than 5mm of sand according to the rectal sleeve sedimentation test.
• Soil type was conclusively found not to be a direct risk factor for sand intake in isolation, but there was an observable interaction between it and the pasture quality.
• Other significant interactions were found between feeding practices in the paddock and pasture quality. Specifically, feeding directly on the ground posed a risk when the grass was short or non-existent, and not feeding outdoors increased risk in areas with short grass.
• Pasture quality emerged as a key risk factor with both short and long grass combined with sandy soil creating a more significant risk, as compared to clay soil.

Conclusion and implications for future research

• The findings of this research are a vital step towards understanding and limiting the incidence of SGID in horses. Three critical variables significantly impact sand intake: soil type, pasture quality, and feeding practices.
• More than half of the horses analyzed in this study were found to have a substantial amount of sand in their faeces, signifying higher sand consumption.
• The findings have raised several questions that warrant further research. For instance, understanding why some horses exhibit more than 5mm sand in the sedimentation test and whether this is related to geophagic behaviour (the practice of eating earthy substances).