Horse Colic Prevention and Welfare

Colic is the leading cause of death in horses and a source of acute and severe pain. Understanding prevention and recognizing early signs saves horses from significant suffering.

Key Facts

Colic refers to abdominal pain in horses and encompasses a range of conditions from mild to fatal
It is the single most common reason horses are euthanized
Simple impaction and spasmodic colic resolve with veterinary treatment in most cases
Surgical colic including large colon displacement requires emergency intervention and carries significant mortality
Management factors including water access, forage diet, and exercise influence colic risk
Annual colic incidence is estimated at 4-10% of horses per year

Welfare Considerations

Colic causes severe abdominal pain that horses express through rolling, pawing, looking at the flank, and refusing food. The suffering can be intense and prolonged without veterinary intervention. Early recognition allows faster treatment that improves outcomes and reduces duration of suffering. Prevention focuses on management: ensuring constant access to fresh water, feeding high-quality forage rather than large grain meals, avoiding sudden diet changes, and maintaining regular dental and parasite control. Horses at pasture with free forage access have lower colic rates than stabled horses on restricted feeding schedules.

What You Can Do

Ensure horses have constant access to fresh clean water at all times
Feed primarily forage with minimal concentrated feed to reduce colic risk
Monitor horses daily and act immediately if signs of abdominal pain appear
Maintain regular dental care and parasite control programs as colic prevention