Colic (abdominal pain) is the most common cause of death in horses and requires prompt, appropriate management to minimize suffering and prevent progression to life-threatening conditions.
Colic causes genuine, often severe pain. A horse with a twisting colic is in extreme pain, attempting to lie down and roll, and may injure itself further in its attempts to relieve the pain. Even milder colic causes significant distress. The welfare imperative is prompt recognition, appropriate analgesia (always from a veterinarian — never over-the-counter anti-inflammatories without assessment), and rapid determination of whether surgical intervention is required. Delaying veterinary assessment to see if mild colic self-resolves is a welfare risk because progressive conditions may become unsalvageable with delay.