Received an email with various statements, including "Horses can't vomit". Why the heck not?

I have had horses since I was three, and have yet to see any of them vomit. But I'm no vet.

Relax pal. I've seen Jamie and Adam test many things, and was just curious is all. Isn't that what these message boards are for? It's not that big of a deal.

http://www.wonderquest.com/HorseVomit.htm

http://ohioline.osu.edu/b762/b762_5.html

you're welcome.

I've heard this myth (or fact) too, my teacher told me it was not true but I'm not convinced.

I have never been around horses, so don't have any idea about it. Thewumpus, above, has had horses and hasn't ever seen them vomit. It's probably true then, but who knows? Thanks for replying, slashbeast. I appreciate friendly agreements/disagreements, unlike sparkypaul who apparantly does nothing else but post on message boards .

[quote]Isn't that what these message boards are for?[/quote]

No. Google is for questions like this.

[quote]Relax pal.[/quote]

He seems perfectly relaxed already to me. He posted a very reasonable response to a question that is not appropriate for MythBusters to test, and could easily be answered if you followed his suggestion.

Perhaps it is you who needs to "relax." Hmmm?

[quote]He posted a very reasonable response to a question that is not appropriate for MythBusters to test,[/quote]

True enough... What are they going to do ? Feed a horse Ipicac ??

The way a horse is built they can voment but it can be fatal.

[quote]The way a horse is built they can voment but it can be fatal.[/quote]

WTF? Where do you come up with these things? If a horse is puking he is alrady dead, his body just does not know it yet. But the vomiting is not what kills him. There have been a few (very few) cases of a horse vomiting where he did not die.

It is a fact. Horses can not vomit. Instead of vomiting, their intestines get all twisted up in their body. The term for this condition is colic. The term "colic" means only "pain in the abdomen" or "pain in the belly". There are many different types of colic. The most common way for a horse to colic is to drink water after a run or eat bad hay. Sometimes it can be deadly.

hozzenberry...thanks so much for your reply. It was a great explanation of why, and I appreciate it.

Hopefully now this discussion can stop...

Thanks again

Hozzen. Yes colic is caused by that. However. In some instances, a gasseous build up in the belly can happen from other sources. But because the lil ol valve in their throat is so strong they cant puke. But sometimes the muscles that hold this valve can weaken before the belly bursts allowing them to vomit. But the whole deal is still called colic, reguardless of the cause.

In all my years with horses, I have only read about 4 instances where this happened. If the above gases build up it will more than likely cause death.

Sheba, once again. There is no myth to test here. Even if this were a myth the MB could not test it.

thank you...NOW can we be done? So sorry I've interrupted your little 'message board world'. I can honestly say that I will never again post on a message board. I thought a friendly discussion would happen, instead there has been rudeness and anger. People suck.

There has been no rudeness and anger here.

Just people discussing the topic you yourself placed on the board.

And sparkypaul has the right idea, sheba0415 - Google is your friend.

Thank you Mod.

Horses cannot, physically EVER vomit, or regurgitate. In their stomachs, they have one-way valves only. I beleive that when people are seeing horses "vomit" what they are actually seeing is when something is caught in it's esophagus, blocking it, so the food doesnt actually enter the stomach. The only other possible way, would be if there was a malfunctioning valve, or one that was deformed.