The Equine Digestive Health & Colic Risk Reduction Programme

A veterinarian-designed programme for horse owners who want clearer understanding, sound daily decisions, and greater confidence in what truly matters for their horse’s digestive health — helping reduce avoidable colic risk while supporting long-term well-being.

Created to help owners move beyond conflicting advice and uncertainty, the programme translates veterinary principles into practical decisions for real-life horse management.

Previously available only in individual format, it is now offered for the first time as a live guided online cohort.

What this programme enables you to do

Gain a clear understanding of the equine digestive system and the key factors influencing digestive health and colic risk.
Recognise and address early signs of digestive imbalance, including those linked to colic and gastric ulcers, before they progress further.
Reduce avoidable colic risk and support digestive health through seasonal changes, stress, travel, workload, and ageing.
Apply evidence-based, sustainable management strategies that support equine digestive health, work in real-world conditions, and suit your horse’s individual needs.

“

Before the programme, my gelding consistently looked bloated. Within 15 days of applying what I learned, his bloated appearance reduced noticeably and he appeared far more comfortable overall.”

Elena de la Rasilla, horse owner

This feedback refers to the programme in its individual format.

What is included

The programme runs over nine weeks in a format designed to fit realistically alongside work, family life, and everyday horse care.

Each online session lasts approximately 60–90 minutes and takes place weekly across the programme. Sessions 1–8 cover the eight modules through structured teaching, practical application and case discussions. Session 9 reviews implementation and addresses additional questions that may arise once all modules have been completed.

All sessions are recorded and remain available for 6 months after the live programme ends, allowing careful review and ensuring you remain fully included if attendance is not possible in a given week.

Questions submitted between sessions are addressed during the following live session so that all participants benefit from the answer.

Each module is accompanied by written guidance supporting implementation, including common practical challenges and decision-making points. These guides remain available for 6 months after the live programme ends.

This programme is for you if

You want to actively improve your horse’s digestive health, not just understand it in theory.
You are looking for practical strategies tailored to your horse’s individual needs.
You want to reduce avoidable colic risk by understanding and addressing risk factors effectively.
You care about long-term health, performance, and wellbeing, not only emergency prevention.

When this programme is not for you

You are looking for a quick fix rather than a thoughtful, long-term approach.
You expect someone else to make management decisions for you.
You are unwilling to adjust management habits where needed.
You expect information alone to change outcomes without application.

What you will learn

Module 1 — The Equine Digestive System and Colic Risk

Understand why the equine digestive system is inherently vulnerable to colic.

Explore the main types of colic, their mechanisms and key risk factors.

Learn to use the Colic Risk Audit to assess relevant risks in your own horse and stable situation.

Module 2 — Hydration & Electrolytes

Identify and address factors that influence drinking behaviour.
Reduce impaction colic risk through practical hydration strategies across seasons and management situations.
Use salt and electrolytes according to your horse’s individual needs.

Module 3 — Feeding as Nature Intended

Understand what forage-based feeding should realistically look like for your own horse.

Learn how to select appropriate forage and how to use fibre alternatives when needed.

Adjust energy intake without compromising hindgut health.

Module 4 — Feeding Practices, Concentrates and Supplements

Avoid common starch, sugar and feeding mistakes that increase digestive risk.

Learn how to interpret feed labels and assess concentrates and supplements correctly.

Build feeding routines that support digestive stability through meal size, timing, frequency and how feed is presented.

Module 5 — Movement, Housing & Environment

Understand how movement, housing and daily living conditions influence digestive health.

Apply practical measures to reduce environmental risks, including those linked to sandy soils, toxins and limited movement.

Discover realistic solutions within your own stable and space constraints to improve daily living conditions for optimal digestive health.

Module 6 — Stress, Behaviour & Colic Risk

Recognise subtle stress signals often mistaken for ordinary behaviour.

Understand which evidence-based training techniques help prevent and manage acute stress.

Apply practical strategies, including environmental enrichment, to reduce avoidable stress in daily management.

Module 7 — Emergency Readiness

Monitor your horse’s digestive health objectively and recognise even subtle warning signs.

Know what to do — and what to avoid — when colic is suspected.

Understand the key components of an effective emergency plan and how to communicate clearly with your veterinarian when urgent decisions are required.

Module 8 — Preventive Veterinary Care

Understand how dental care influences digestion and what to look for in professional dental care.

Apply modern parasite control based on current evidence rather than outdated routine approaches.

Adapt preventive care for horses with changing needs, including age-related changes, digestive sensitivity or management constraints.

Who guides the programme

Dr. Carolin Schröder is a veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience supporting horses and their owners in digestive health, everyday management, and complex welfare-related challenges.

Her work combines veterinary practice, behavioural medicine, welfare science, and practical horse management, with a consistent focus on translating scientific evidence into decisions owners can realistically apply in daily life.

This programme reflects the same principles she applies in veterinary work and in the daily management of her own horses.

Learn more about Dr. Carolin Schröder →

“

Carolin explains complex topics in a way that finally makes sense. I now feel much calmer and far more confident in the decisions I make for my horse.

Elisabet S., horse owner

Why prevention matters in equine digestive health

Colic remains one of the most common emergencies and a leading cause of death in horses.

Colic can develop suddenly and has a significant emotional and financial impact.

Because of the way the equine digestive system is built, no horse is entirely without risk.

While not all colic can be prevented, scientific evidence shows that many types of colic are strongly influenced by management-related factors.

Understanding how these factors affect digestive function — and how they can be addressed in practice — gives owners a meaningful opportunity to reduce avoidable risk.

This programme provides the knowledge and practical strategies needed in everyday equine care.

“

My competition gelding had repeated impaction colics. After improving his water intake based on the strategies I learned from Dr. Schröder, he now stays much better hydrated.
He has not colicked again in the months since.”

G.C., veterinarian & professional rider

First guided cohort: participation & access

Participation is limited to 15 places to allow individual attention throughout the programme.

To mark this first live online guided cohort, the programme is offered at an introductory rate before future cohorts move to the standard rate.

A waiting list is now open. Those joining it will receive priority access 48 hours before enrolment opens publicly.

First 10 confirmed participants — €590

Remaining places — €690

Join the waiting list

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