Colic in horses Colic in horses When babies get colic, the result is often lots of crying and discomfort for the baby and lots of sleepless nights and pacing for the parent. But with a little patience and ingenuity, the baby soon outgrows its bout with colic and the unpleasantness becomes a distant memory. In horses, the outcome is not always so predictable or pleasant. In fact, colic is known as the number one cause of equine death. This is a scary statistic, but if you know what to do to prevent the affliction as well as the common symptoms, the danger is less severe.
Most horses can survive if they get the proper help soon enough.
Colic can be defined simply as abdominal pain. It is especially common in horses because of the design of their gastrointestinal tracts, which includes numerous bends, or flexures for food to pass through. There are some general guidelines to follow to help reduce the risk of colic. One involves feeding. Horses should be kept on a regular feeding schedule, and at least half of the diet should be hay or forage.