Colic
What It Is, Why It Happens,
and Why Most Cases Are Predictable
Colic is not a disease.
It is a symptom.
Colic simply means abdominal pain.
That pain can originate from gas distension, spasms, impaction, displacement, strangulation, inflammation, or vascular compromise. The cause matters. The mechanism matters even more.
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1. The Horse is a Fermentation Engine.
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​They evolved as continuous grazers.
Key realities:
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Small stomach, 8 to 15 liters
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Massive cecum, primary fermentation chamber
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Large colon, complex and mobile
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No ability to vomit
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Narrow flexures are prone to blockage
The cecum and colon are microbial reactors. They rely on:
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Constant fiber flow
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Stable hydration
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Stable microbial populations
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Consistent intake patterns
Interrupt that system, and pressure begins to build.
2. The Most Common Types of Colic
Gas Colic
Usually microbial imbalance. Rapid fermentation of starch or sugars creates excess gas. Pressure increases, pain follows.
Spasmodic Colic
Disordered gut motility. Often stress-related, or secondary to dietary change.
Impaction Colic
Dry ingesta accumulates, typically at the pelvic flexure.
Common causes:
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Dehydration
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Poor fiber quality
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Coarse, indigestible feed
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Inadequate movement
Displacement or Torsion Colic
Gas distension can cause sections of bowel to move or twist. These become surgical emergencies.
3. Feeding Errors That Drive Colic Risk
You know this well, and it is where powerful education begins.
Feeding from buckets on fences alters:
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Saliva production
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Natural head and neck posture
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Airway drainage
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Chewing mechanics
Ground level feeding:
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Encourages natural chewing rhythm
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Improves saliva buffering
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Reduces choke risk
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Supports proper flow of ingesta
Horses were not designed to eat at chest height.
Hard Pellets and Dense Concentrates
Highly compacted feeds:
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Reduce chewing time
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Reduce saliva production
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Increase choke risk
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Deliver rapid starch loads
Rapid starch reaching the hindgut destabilizes the microbiome. That is where gas colic begins.
Abrupt Feed Changes
The hindgut microbiota require adaptation time. A sudden feed switch can disrupt microbial balance within 24 hours. That instability can trigger gas accumulation, altered motility, and inflammation.
Consistency is not a convenience. It is physiology.
4. Water, Temperature, and Movement
Colic risk rises when:
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Water intake drops
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Horses are confined
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Weather turns cold
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Exercise decreases
Cold weather reduces thirst response. Reduced water intake increases risk of impaction. Large cold-adapted breeds with massive hindguts are particularly dependent on high fiber hydration.
Movement stimulates gut motility. Confinement slows it.
A stalled horse on dry feed with marginal water intake is a predictable impaction candidate.
5. Early Warning Signs
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Reduced manure output
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Dullness
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Repeated stretching
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Pawing
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Looking at flank
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Lying down and getting up repeatedly
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Rolling
The earlier intervention begins, the better the outcome.
6. Prevention Is Not Complicated
True prevention is management discipline:
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Feed primarily forage
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Avoid heavy starch meals
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Introduce changes gradually
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Feed at ground level in a wide, flat tub
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Ensure constant access to clean water
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Encourage movement
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Avoid long fasting periods
Colic is rarely random. It is often a consequence of management decisions stacking up.
7. The Hard Truth
Most impactions are preventable.
Most gas colics are predictable.
Many emergency surgeries originate from small daily compromises.
The horse’s gut has not changed in 50 million years.
Modern feeding practices have changed dramatically in 50.
That mismatch is where colic lives.