Colic simply means abdominal pain, but in horses it covers everything from mild gas to a life-threatening twisted gut. Because horses cannot vomit, digestive problems escalate quickly, which is why colic is the leading medical emergency in horses.
Recognising colic
- Pawing at the ground or repeatedly looking at the flank
- Rolling or wanting to lie down and get up repeatedly
- Loss of appetite and no fresh manure
- Sweating, restlessness or an elevated heart rate
What to do
Call your vet at the first real sign — do not wait to see if it passes. Remove feed so the gut is not loaded further. Walking a horse gently can help and discourages dangerous rolling, but never exhaust the horse. Follow your vet's instructions exactly.
Reducing the risk
Most colic is linked to management. Provide constant access to clean water, feed plenty of forage and limit large grain meals, make any feed changes gradually over a week or more, keep up a parasite-control programme, and ensure regular dental care so food is chewed properly. Consistent routines are a horse's best protection.
Why sudden routine changes are a common trigger
A change of yard, a new batch of hay, or even a disrupted turnout schedule can be enough to trigger a colic episode in an otherwise healthy horse. Whenever a change to routine is unavoidable, phasing it in gradually rather than all at once meaningfully lowers the risk.
