Colic is a word that has the tendency to strike fear in the hearts of horse owners—and for good reason. Known as the number 1 killer of horses after old age, it is clearly a serious condition. 

However, by understanding what colic is and what the proven risk factors for colic are in horses, you can better prevent colic from happening in the first place.

In this article, you’ll gain a better understanding of how colic affects horses, what increases the risk of colic, and how you can use this knowledge to keep your horse as healthy as possible to fight potential colic risks.

What is Colic in Horses and How Common Is It?

To put it simply, colic is abdominal pain which can come from several causes.

Colic is unfortunately quite common, and out of 100 horses, up to 10 of those are expected to get colic in a year (1).

The most common forms of colic in horses include:

• Impaction colic. With this condition, forage and partially digested feed build up in the large intestine. Things like worms, sand, etc. can also cause intestinal blockages. When feed and other foreign substances can no longer pass through the digestive tract, this causes an impaction, leading to abdominal pain and complications. 
• Gas, or spasmodic, colic. This is one of the most painful types of colic a horse can get, because, as the name suggests, the muscle lining in the digestive tract spasms. This type of colic typically involves stretching of the digestive tract as it expands with gas, and can be caused by risk factors like stress, diet changes, drinking large quantities of cold water, sudden heavy physical activity, recent deworming, or intestinal parasite buildup.
• “Twisted gut,” or large colon volvulus, occurs when the colon twists back on itself, causing a blockage. A buildup of gas can commonly cause the colon to twist. Postpartum mares can also get this type of colic due to the sudden, extra room in their abdomen causing displacement.

While colic is common, it is the risk factors that will ultimately determine how predisposed an individual horse will truly be.

So, What Can Increase the Risk of Colic?

Colic risk factors can be categorized as internal or external factors.

Internal Factors 

Breed, age, and even some rare genetic factors are examples of how internal factors play a part in how high a horse’s risk of colic might be.

The most impactful and proven internal risk is a horse with a past history of colic. 

Unfortunately, a horse that has had colic in the past is also at a higher internal risk for future bouts of colic, compared to horses that have never had colic before. Horses that have had a previous episode of colic are three times more likely to have another colic episode.

External Factors

Because a horse’s digestive system is both complex and sensitive, external risk factors are typically related to quick changes of any kind. 

First and foremost, quick changes in hay account for the number 1 proven risk factor for colic in horses. Since hay makes up the largest percentage of a horse’s diet, any quick changes can cause massive disruption to the gut microbiome, and may lead to problems. If a horse gets into hay they should not eat, or consumes a lot of forage that is coarse, dry, or hard to digest, they can be at greater risk for impaction colic. 

Similarly, changes in grain also increase risk. If a horse eats too much grain at once due to an accident or mishap, or if the type of grain changes quickly, their gut often takes the hit. 

Lack of water and dehydration can also increase colic risk, as it makes impaction more likely. One thing to note is that grain diets decrease the amount of water in the colon and increase gas production, which may lead to more intestinal displacements. This is not to say that you can’t feed grain, just be aware of your horse’s drinking, and do what you can to stimulate thirst.  

Increased stall time has also been shown to impact colic cases. For example, horses who were brought in from the pasture to be fed grain and then left in their stall for part or the rest of the day were at a higher risk of colic than those who were turned back out to pasture after eating grain. On the flip side, colic risk decreased, when horses were turned out to pasture after being fed grain or in horses who were turned out 24 hours a day.

Sudden changes in activity level also impact the horse’s gut. Fast decreases in activity, due to stall rest or significant reductions in regular exercise or turnout can increase risk for colic. Horses are naturally ambulant animals, so changes in schedule, whether due to travel, new environments, new training programs, or weather, can all add stress. Remember, the horse's body thrives with consistency, especially when it comes to feed and routine.

Finally, an increase in intestinal parasites can contribute to impaction and are an added risk factor for colic. 

How to Decrease Colic Risk in Horses

While there is no one magic trick to prevent colic completely, you can make a huge dent in decreasing colic risk factors, especially from a management perspective. 

1. One of the easiest and most important things horse owners can do to prevent certain types of colic is to feed horses in a way that aligns with their natural digestive system. Feed small meals throughout the day instead of two large and dry meals and provide constant access to long-stem forage.
2. Make any feed or activity changes slowly, over a period of 10 to 14 days. Horses are highly adaptable, but do best when given ample time to adjust. Research has shown that gut microbes do not like to be shocked. Slow changes keep the gut microbes in a healthy state.  
3. Increase turnout. If you can turnout after feeding grain, and increase turnout in general, you may set your horse up for a happier gut. 
4. Help your horse stay hydrated. Lack of water in the digestive tract does not do your horse well. Consider electrolytes, which can stimulate drinking. 
5. Prioritize regular deworming and fecal testing to reduce and control intestinal parasite loads. This will reduce the risk of impaction from worms overtime.
6. To decrease risk of ingesting foreign material such as sand, feed horses off the ground whenever possible, and keep water troughs and buckets clean and free of any debris. Good pasture management and feeding forage consistently are some management strategies that can also help minimize colic risk.
7. When horses will be experiencing external or internal factors that could increase the risk of colic, such as travel, transport, feed or schedule changes, getting older, being prone to GI upset, or for those who have had colic before, adding a comprehensive gut health supplement can also be useful in decreasing future risks.

Proactive Equine Digestive Support Through Supplementation

The Four Sixes Complete Gut Protection supplement features the complete gut package, and has been scientifically formulated by equine veterinarians and nutritionists. It includes the ideal balance of pre-, post-, and probiotics, glutamine, and oat beta glucan for optimal horse gut health, from stomach to hindgut.

These ingredients were hand-selected to help keep the gut microbiome balanced, and ultimately keep your horse feeling his best, no matter the season.

Now that you understand colic on a practical level, it’s not quite as scary, right? Maybe it’s still a fear, but by following these tips, you will have set your horse up for much higher rates of gut health success. 

Learn more from the Four Sixes Equine Supplements experts Here!

Read More:

1. Colic Prevalence: Risk Factors and Prevention
2. First Signs of Colic in Horses
3. Colicky Horse? Take These Steps First