The Silent Killer in the Stable: Understanding Colic in Horses and How to Prevent It in Jordan

Colic is the leading cause of death in horses worldwide — above respiratory disease, above infections, above injury. It is not a single disease. It is an umbrella term for abdominal pain, and what makes it so dangerous is how quickly it can escalate: a horse that appears mildly uncomfortable in the morning can be in life-threatening crisis by the afternoon.

In Jordan, and across the Arab world's hot, dry, sandy environments, several of the most dangerous colic triggers are everyday realities: sand ingestion, dehydration, dry feed-heavy diets, sudden temperature swings, and limited access to large-animal emergency veterinary care outside major cities. A study of 115 colic cases at a facility in Abu Dhabi found the leading cause was insufficient water availability, followed by sand ingestion — two conditions that are equally common in Jordanian stables.

Yet in Arabic equestrian content, colic is rarely explained in depth. This article gives you what you need to recognise it fast, respond correctly, and — most importantly — prevent it.

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What Colic Actually Is

The word "colic" in equine medicine means abdominal pain — nothing more specific than that. The pain can originate from:

• The intestines (most commonly)
• The stomach
• The liver or kidneys (less common)
• The reproductive organs (in mares)

The horse's digestive system is anatomically unusual and inherently vulnerable. Unlike humans, horses cannot vomit — their cardiac sphincter (the valve between oesophagus and stomach) is extremely strong in one direction only. If the stomach overfills with gas or fluid, the pressure builds with nowhere to escape until the stomach ruptures — which is rapidly fatal.

The intestines are long (approximately 30 metres), coiled, and only loosely anchored in the abdomen. This means sections can shift, become impacted, or — in the worst cases — twist on themselves. A twisted intestine (volvulus) cuts off blood supply and causes tissue death within hours. This is a surgical emergency with a limited survival window.

The Main Types of Colic

1. Gas colic (Flatulent colic)

Gas accumulates in the intestines, causing distension and pain. Usually the mildest form, and often resolves with movement and time or a single veterinary visit. Still should never be dismissed, as gas pressure can occasionally cause a section of intestine to displace.

2. Impaction colic

Feed material, sand, or other matter forms a blockage — usually in the large colon. The blockage prevents normal movement of gut contents. This is common in sandy environments, in horses fed primarily dry hay with inadequate water, and in older horses with declining gut motility. Requires veterinary treatment; may need IV fluids, lubricants, or in severe cases, surgery.

3. Displacement and volvulus (Twisted gut)

A section of intestine shifts from its normal position, or rotates around itself. This is the most dangerous category. Signs are severe, onset is rapid, and surgery is often the only option. Without surgical intervention, a twisted gut is almost always fatal.

4. Sand colic

Sand accumulates in the large intestine over weeks or months of gradual ingestion. The weight of sand causes the intestine to stretch, motility decreases, and eventually an impaction or displacement results. In the Abu Dhabi study, sand ingestion was the second most common cause of colic — and the study noted that 61% of horses showed sand-eating behaviour, partly linked to mineral deficiencies in the diet.

5. Spasmodic colic

Painful intestinal spasms, often triggered by stress, diet changes, or weather changes. Usually responds quickly to antispasmodic medication. However, spasmodic colic and displacement can initially look identical to the owner.

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Recognising Colic: The Signs You Must Know

The challenge with colic is that early signs are subtle, and the window for easiest intervention closes faster than most owners realise. Know these signs, in order of escalating severity:

Early Signs (Act Now — Call Your Vet)

• Looking at or biting the flank — the horse turns its head toward its belly repeatedly
• Pawing the ground — rhythmic, persistent pawing with a front hoof
• Refusing feed — a horse that normally eats eagerly suddenly shows no interest
• Restlessness — unable to stand still, shifting weight, walking in circles
• Reduced or absent manure — normally a horse passes manure 6–12 times a day; a significant drop is a red flag
• Reduced gut sounds — place your ear or a stethoscope against the left and right flank; you should hear gurgling sounds; silence is alarming

Moderate Signs (Emergency — Vet Urgently)

• Attempting to lie down repeatedly — getting up and down, unable to find a comfortable position
• Sweating without exercise or heat exposure
• Elevated heart rate at rest — normal is 28–44 beats per minute; above 60 is a serious sign
• Stretching out — a stance as if trying to urinate, but producing nothing
• Visible abdominal distension — one or both sides of the abdomen look bloated

Severe Signs (Life-Threatening Emergency)

• Violent rolling — throwing itself to the ground, rolling repeatedly; this can worsen a displacement into a full twist
• Uncontrollable pain — cannot be distracted or calmed
• Pale or purple gums — press the gum and check capillary refill; if gums are any colour other than salmon-pink, or if refill takes over 2 seconds, this is critical
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Complete shutdown — horse becomes very quiet, stops trying to roll; this is NOT improvement; this is often shock

The most dangerous mistake an owner makes is waiting to see if it passes. With colic, the rule is: when in doubt, call the vet. A phone call costs nothing. A 6-hour delay can cost your horse's life.

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What To Do While Waiting for the Vet

Do:

• Remove all feed from the stable immediately
• Ensure fresh water is available (do not force drinking)
• Keep the horse calm and confined
• Walk the horse gently for 5–10 minutes at a time if it is trying to roll violently — walking can help mild gas colic and prevents rolling-induced injury
• Monitor vital signs: heart rate, gum colour, capillary refill, breathing rate
• Note the last time manure was passed and in what quantity
• Tell the vet all of this when you call

Do not:

• Do not administer painkillers without veterinary instruction. Pain is your diagnostic tool. Masking it with bute (phenylbutazone) or banamine before the vet arrives may hide the severity and delay correct diagnosis
• Do not force-walk the horse for long periods — exhausting a colicking horse makes the situation worse
• Do not offer bran mashes or laxative feeds without vet advice
• Do not assume it will pass on its own if signs do not improve within 30 minutes

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The Jordanian Risk Factors: Why Our Environment Matters

Sand Ingestion

This is the single most specific colic risk for horses in Jordan and the wider region. Horses that are fed on the ground in sandy paddocks, or that graze on sparse pasture with a sandy base, ingest sand gradually over weeks and months.

Sand does not digest. It settles in the large colon — particularly the large ventral colon — where it accumulates and increases in weight. The intestine stretches under the load, motility decreases, and eventually an impaction or displacement develops.

How to check: The "sand sedimentation test" — fill a plastic bag or bucket with fresh manure from your horse, add water, and let it settle for 15 minutes. If you find visible sand sediment at the bottom, your horse is ingesting sand in significant quantities.

Prevention:

• Feed from hay nets, mangers, or raised feeders — never directly from sandy ground
• Provide adequate fibre (hay) so horses are not driven to eat sand from boredom or hunger
• Consider psyllium husk supplementation (1–2 tablespoons daily, or weekly "psyllium purges") — psyllium is a soluble fibre that binds to sand and helps carry it out of the intestine
• Ensure the diet includes adequate salt and minerals; mineral deficiency is linked to sand-eating behaviour

Dehydration and Insufficient Water

The Abu Dhabi study identified low water availability as the leading colic risk factor in the Gulf climate — and Jordan shares this environment. A horse should drink 25–55 litres of water per day under normal conditions; in summer heat and after exercise, this can reach 70+ litres.

Horses that do not drink enough develop dry, sluggish gut contents — the perfect setup for impaction colic.

Practical risks in Jordanian stables:

• Water buckets that are dirty, algae-covered, or too warm to be palatable — horses will reduce drinking if water quality is poor
• Water troughs in full sun that heat to 40°C+ in summer — most horses prefer cooler water
• Automatic drinkers that malfunction without the owner noticing
• Insufficient water provision after transport or exercise

Prevention: Check water twice daily, clean containers regularly, provide shade over water sources in summer, and add a pinch of salt to daily feed to encourage drinking.

Abrupt Diet Changes

A horse's hindgut microbiome is exquisitely sensitive. The bacterial populations that ferment fibre need days to weeks to adapt to a new feed source. Switching suddenly from dry hay to fresh grass, from one hay type to another, or introducing large amounts of grain can cause rapid fermentation changes, gas production, and colic.

This is particularly relevant in Jordan when:

• Fresh alfalfa or green fodder becomes available seasonally and owners switch abruptly
• Horses are brought from pasture to stable feeding during summer
• Horses travel to competitions and receive different feed at the host facility

Rule: Any diet change should be made over a minimum of 10–14 days, gradually substituting the new feed for the old.

Reduced Movement

Wild horses move 16–20 hours per day. Their intestinal motility — the muscular contractions that push gut contents forward — is partly stimulated by movement. A horse confined to a small stable with minimal turnout has significantly reduced gut motility.

Many Jordanian stables, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas around Amman, keep horses in individual box stalls with limited paddock access. This is a direct colic risk.

Prevention: Maximise movement. Even 30–60 minutes of daily hand-walking or turnout significantly reduces colic risk in confined horses.

Temperature Fluctuations

Research confirms that temperature changes — particularly sudden drops — are associated with increased colic incidence. In Jordan, autumn and spring bring daily temperature swings of 15–20°C between day and night. These shifts affect water intake, gut motility, and stress levels.

Monitor your horse more closely during seasonal transitions, particularly October–November and March–April.

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Prevention: The Practical Checklist

Category	Action
Water	Fresh, clean water available at all times; check twice daily
Feeding	Feed from raised surfaces, not sandy ground
Sand	Run sand sedimentation test monthly; use psyllium if positive
Diet changes	Any change over 10–14 days minimum
Movement	Minimum 30–60 min daily turnout or exercise
Parasite control	Regular deworming programme with vet guidance
Dental care	Annual dental check; poor grinding = poor digestion = colic risk
Routine	Keep feeding times consistent; stress from irregular schedules increases risk
Veterinary relationship	Have your vet's number saved; establish a relationship before emergencies

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When Surgery Is the Only Answer

Some colic cases cannot be resolved medically. The decision to refer a horse for colic surgery is one of the hardest — and most time-sensitive — decisions an owner faces.

Signs that surgery is likely needed:

• Heart rate persistently above 60–80 bpm despite pain relief
• No response to medical treatment within 1–2 hours
• Nasogastric reflux (fluid coming back from the stomach when the vet passes a stomach tube) — indicates a small intestinal obstruction
• Evidence of a displacement or twist on rectal examination or ultrasound

The survival rate for colic surgery has improved significantly with modern veterinary techniques — many horses make full recoveries. But timing is critical. Every hour of delay with a volvulus reduces survival chances significantly due to progressive tissue death from lost blood supply.

The nearest equine surgical facility to most of Jordan is in Amman. If you are in the north (Irbid, Jerash, Ajloun) or south (Ma'an, Aqaba), factor in transport time when making decisions. Having this information before an emergency — not during one — can be the difference that saves your horse.

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Final Word

The Bedouin saying holds: "A horse's belly is its enemy." They knew — from centuries of observation without the benefit of modern veterinary science — that digestive crisis was the horse's greatest vulnerability. Today we understand the mechanisms better. We know what causes it, what accelerates it, what prevents it, and what treats it.

The horses in your care depend entirely on your knowledge and your response time. Learn the signs. Know your vet's number. Feed from raised surfaces. Keep water clean and available. And when something looks wrong — do not wait.

With colic, the horses that survive are almost always the ones whose owners acted early.