Colic is the leading cause of equine death and emergency veterinary treatment, and appropriate owner preparedness and rapid response are critical welfare determinants.
Colic causes intense abdominal pain in horses — animals that instinctively mask pain and that evolved in environments where showing weakness attracted predators. An owner who recognises colic signs early and calls a vet immediately dramatically changes welfare outcomes compared to delayed response. The welfare challenge extends to economic barriers to treatment: surgical colic management is expensive, and horses without insurance or whose owners lack funds may face euthanasia as the only affordable option when surgery could save them. Insurance access and emergency fund availability directly affect welfare outcomes in colic emergencies. Prevention through consistent management — dietary consistency, adequate water, regular dental care, anthelmintic use — reduces but cannot eliminate colic risk.