Colic is the word every horse owner fears. It is the most common equine emergency, and it can range from a mild tummy ache that passes on its own to a life-threatening twisted gut that requires emergency surgery within hours. The good news is that most cases are mild and many are preventable. The key is knowing the signs, acting quickly, and understanding what causes colic in the first place. Here is a practical guide for pony owners.
What is colic?
Colic is not a single disease — it is the word for abdominal pain, and it has many possible causes. The pony's digestive system is a long, complex tube designed for continuous trickle-feeding of roughage. When something disrupts that system — a blockage, a gas build-up, a twist, or inflammation — the pony feels pain in its gut and shows it through behaviour.
The main types of colic, from mildest to most severe:
- Spasmodic colic: the gut muscle goes into painful spasms. Often caused by stress, weather changes or mild dietary upset. Usually resolves with pain relief. The most common and mildest form.
- Gas colic: excessive gas builds up in the gut. Can be uncomfortable but usually resolves with treatment.
- Impaction colic: a blockage of firmly packed food material, often in the large colon. Common in winter when ponies drink less water and eat drier feed. Usually treated medically but can be serious.
- Displacement or twisted gut: the intestine moves out of position or twists on itself. This is a surgical emergency — the blood supply is cut off and the gut tissue dies. Without surgery within hours, it is fatal.
The signs: how to recognise colic
Colic signs range from subtle to dramatic. Learn all of them — early recognition saves lives.
Mild signs
- The pony seems off-colour or quiet — less interested in food or surroundings.
- Pawing at the ground repeatedly.
- Looking at the flanks — turning the head back toward the belly.
- Restlessness — pacing, circling, getting up and down.
- Reduced or absent droppings — check the stable for fresh droppings.
- Stretching out as if to urinate, but not producing much.
Moderate to severe signs
- Rolling — lying down and rolling repeatedly, often violently.
- Sweating — patchy or overall sweat without exercise.
- Raised heart rate — above 50 bpm is concerning; above 60 is serious. Learn to take your pony's pulse.
- Reduced or absent gut sounds — place a stethoscope (or your ear) against the flank on both sides. A normal gut rumbles and gurgles; a silent gut is a warning sign.
- Refusing food completely.
- Kicking or biting at the belly.
- Unable to stay standing — the pony keeps going down and struggles to rise.
If you suspect colic, call your vet immediately. Do not wait to see if it passes. Do not give painkillers unless the vet instructs you to — masking the pain makes it harder for the vet to assess severity. It is always better to call and be told it is mild than to wait and discover it is serious.
What to do while waiting for the vet
- Call the vet — say you suspect colic and describe the signs.
- Remove all food — no hay, no hard feed, no grass. Leave water available.
- Keep the pony safe — if it is rolling violently in a stable with hard walls, it may injure itself. A deeply bedded stable or a flat, grassy area is safest. Use your judgement.
- Walk the pony gently if it is not rolling — 10–15 minutes of walking can help gut motility. Do not exhaust the pony. If it wants to lie down quietly, let it.
- Do not let the pony roll if you can safely prevent it — but do not put yourself at risk. A rolling pony can injure a person.
- Take the pulse if you know how, and note the time you first noticed signs.
- Check for droppings — note whether any have been passed and what they look like.
What causes colic in ponies?
Understanding the causes is the key to prevention:
- Sudden dietary changes — the most common cause. The gut bacteria need time to adapt. Any change in feed (new hay, new hard feed, different batch) should be made gradually over 7–14 days.
- Inadequate water intake — especially in winter. Ponies drink less when water is ice-cold, leading to impaction colic. Provide warm water or break ice twice daily. Read our winter care guide.
- Rich grass — spring grass surges can cause gas and spasmodic colic, particularly in native ponies. See our grazing management guide.
- Poor dental care — if a pony cannot chew properly, long stems of unchewed forage can cause impactions. Read our dental care guide.
- Mouldy feed or hay — never feed mouldy hay or haylage. It can cause colic and respiratory disease.
- Sand ingestion — ponies grazing on sandy soil can accumulate sand in the gut. Less common in the UK but worth knowing.
- Stress — travel, competition, yard moves or changes in routine can trigger spasmodic colic.
- Lack of turnout — ponies stabled for long periods are more prone to colic than those with plenty of turnout. Movement keeps the gut moving.
- Parasite damage — heavy worm burdens, particularly from encysted redworm, can cause colic. Read our worming guide.
How colic is treated
Treatment depends on the type and severity:
- Mild/spasmodic colic: the vet administers pain relief (usually an anti-spasmodic and/or anti-inflammatory) and the pony usually recovers within hours. Walking and monitoring are important.
- Impaction colic: the vet may give pain relief, fluids via a stomach tube, and sometimes intravenous fluids. The impaction usually resolves with medical treatment over 1–3 days.
- Twisted gut / displacement: this is a surgical emergency. The pony must be transported to an equine hospital for surgery under general anaesthetic. Surgery is expensive (£5,000–£10,000+) and time-critical — the chances of survival drop sharply after a few hours. This is exactly why pony insurance with vet-fee cover matters.
Preventing colic: the daily habits that matter
Most colic cases are preventable. These habits will dramatically reduce your pony's risk:
- Make dietary changes gradually — over 7–14 days, mixing old and new feed in increasing proportions.
- Provide clean, unfrozen water at all times — warm it in winter. A pony that does not drink will impaction colic.
- Feed forage-first — at least 1.5% of bodyweight in forage daily. Forage keeps the gut healthy and moving. Read our feeding guide.
- Maximise turnout — movement is medicine for the gut. A pony that lives out, or has long turnout hours, is less likely to colic than one standing in a stable.
- Maintain regular dental care — so food is chewed properly. See our dental guide.
- Stick to a routine — ponies are creatures of habit. Feed at the same times, turn out at the same times. Sudden routine changes can trigger colic.
- Keep up worming and worm egg counts — parasite damage is a preventable cause of colic.
- Never feed mouldy feed — check hay and haylage carefully. If in doubt, throw it out.
- Use a stomach tube for medications only when needed — some oral medications can irritate the gut if given incorrectly.
Colic and insurance
A colic surgery can cost £5,000–£10,000 or more. Without insurance, most families face an agonising decision. With vet-fee cover, the financial burden is manageable. If you do not have insurance, consider at least a policy that covers colic surgery specifically — some insurers offer a "surgical colic only" option at a lower premium. Read our insurance guide for the full picture.
Next steps
- Learn to take your pony's pulse and listen for gut sounds — these are basic skills every owner should have. See our guide on when to call the vet.
- Keep a first-aid kit stocked and your vet's number saved in your phone.
- Understand the costs of emergency care — read pony insurance explained.
Know the signs, act fast, and keep the basics right — gradual dietary changes, plenty of water, lots of turnout, and regular dental and worming care. That is the best protection you can give your pony against the most common emergency in equine care.