Equine colic — abdominal pain — is the leading cause of death in horses and causes enormous suffering. Prevention, early recognition, and prompt treatment are the cornerstones of colic welfare management.
Equine colic welfare encompasses both the acute suffering of individual colic episodes and the preventive management that reduces their frequency and severity. The pain of colic ranges from mild discomfort to extreme agony in severe cases — horses with large colon torsions experience some of the most intense pain documented in veterinary medicine. Early recognition is critical: mild colic that is caught early can be resolved with veterinary analgesia and walking, while cases allowed to progress may require surgery or euthanasia. Prevention through evidence-based management — appropriate forage-based diet, constant water access, regular dental care, strategic parasite control, and gradual dietary changes — reduces colic risk significantly. Owners should develop a colic action plan with their vet and maintain a relationship with an equine vet before emergencies arise.