- January–February top the colic statistics
Colic occurs most often in autumn and during the coldest winter weather. The cause is not always found, or there may be an underlying predisposing condition, but everyday routines—such as feeding, exercise, and ensuring adequate water intake—can help reduce the risk of colic.
A horse’s digestive system has evolved to eat small amounts of grasses throughout the day and night. In the Nordic countries, grazing is only possible for a relatively short part of the year, and for the rest of the time we live in the so-called indoor-feeding season, meaning dried hay fed in controlled amounts. In paddocks, movement—which stimulates digestive function—is also typically less than during grazing. Many cases of colic are linked to changes in the gut microbiome caused by feeding changes, and for this reason colic—especially gas colic—occurs more often in autumn when horses transition from pasture life to the paddock season.
In winter, the challenge is drinking enough
In winter, colic is most often connected to insufficient water intake. Horses reduce their intake of cold water, which predisposes them to impaction colic.
According to statistics compiled by the Swedish insurer Agria¹, the number of colic cases is highest in January and February. During this period, thousands of colic cases are recorded in Sweden, while the total for the entire year is around 4,500. In Finland, OP Pohjola Insurance² reports that the most commonly compensated incidents in horses include colic and gastric ulcers, which may require treatment—or in the worst cases, lead to euthanasia.
According to Agria’s report, the biggest contributing factors are reduced movement due to cold weather and insufficient water intake caused by poor access to water. To avoid winter colic, it is important that horses have continuous access to clean, unfrozen water at all times, including in paddocks. Horses drink more if the water is not ice-cold but lukewarm. For this reason, a heated or insulated water container in the paddock can be a practical solution to prevent freezing.
“Horses drink more if they have access to fresh, lukewarm water—and ideally it should be available continuously. Reduced water intake is a significant predisposing factor for colic,” says veterinarian Anette Graf.
The temperature of the water offered affects how much horses drink in cold weather. In a U.S. study³, ponies were offered water either from heated waterers (average water temperature about +19°C) or from containers where the water temperature was close to freezing (near 0°C). The study was conducted in January, when the air temperature ranged from -20°C to +5°C. The results showed that ponies drank about 40% more warm water per day than water near freezing. In addition, ponies drank an average of 38% more water when warm water was added to their water containers twice daily than when the available water stayed near freezing throughout the day. The ponies were observed to drink the most within three hours of feeding, regardless of whether the water was warm or cold. Based on these findings, it would be advisable to use heated waterers in winter paddocks—or add warm water to other water containers as soon as possible after hay is fed—in order to increase water intake in cold weather.
Indoors, buckets are a good option because they make it easy to monitor how much a horse is drinking. In addition, different types of mash and soaked porridges or gruels are a good way to increase water intake. A resting horse should drink about five liters of water per 100 kg of body weight per day. This means a 500 kg horse should drink about 50 liters of water daily. Water needs are influenced by factors such as the amount and intensity of exercise, the horse’s size, and the dry matter content of the feed.
How to reduce the risk:
- Regular feeding times
- Feed in small amounts, divided into frequent meals
- Match feeding to workload
- Make feeding changes slowly
- Use hygienic, good-quality feeds
- Daily exercise
- Adequate drinking and continuous access to water
- Deworming and regular dental checks support overall well-being and reduce digestive disturbances
Sources:
1 Agria, Varning för kolik i januari!
2 OP Media https://www.op-media.fi/omat-rahat/hevosille-sattuvat-vahingot-ovat-kalliita/
3 Kristula, M.A.; McDonnell, S.M. (1994) Drinking water temperature affects consumption of water during cold weather in ponies. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 41: 155–160.
