This is not the approach today, though it is observed that horses continually on hard feed and those on sandy soils have problems which cannot be ignored.

Any such deposit can act as a source of toxins that adversely affect the animal's digestion and lead to systemic problems of an often obscure nature.

The answer lies in routine evacuation of the bowel with a mild laxative like psyllium on a bi-annual basis for horses at risk. They will be much the better for it.

Soil types may have a significant effect on bowel condition. Aside from the risk of specific deficiencies on, for example, teart pastures (high in molybdenum, leading to copper deficiency), sandy soils are renowned for the ingestion of sand and the problems that can pose when it remains in the bowel. Sand colic is common and more serious conditions can occur if it's not dealt with as a routine.