❄️ Decreasing Horse Colic in Winter: Practical Prevention for 2025 🐴💧

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

As temperatures drop in 2025, one of the most common equine emergencies becomes a bigger concern: winter-related colic. Colic cases spike in the colder months—not just from extreme cold, but from sudden weather shifts, decreased water intake, and stalled digestive function. Here’s how to keep your horse’s gut moving smoothly this winter. 🧠🐎

🥶 Why Colic Increases in Cold Weather

Even in regions with mild winters like Texas, fluctuating temperatures can be more stressful than consistent cold. Horses are sensitive to:

• 🌡️ Dramatic changes in temperature (e.g. 70°F to 30°F overnight)
• 💧 Lower water intake due to cold weather
• 🌾 Dry hay replacing moisture-rich pasture
• 🚫 Less turnout and movement during stalled periods

These factors contribute to impaction colic—the most common type of winter colic. 💥

💧 Water Intake Is the #1 Issue

Horses drink less in cold weather—not because they don't need water, but because:

• ❄️ Cold water is unappealing
• 🥶 Ice forms in buckets or troughs
• 🧠 Horses may not feel “thirsty” due to cooler temperatures

Without adequate hydration, the gut contents dry out, leading to impaction. 🪵

🔥 How to Encourage Water Intake

To keep things flowing in the gut, try these vet-approved tricks:

• 🔥 Provide warm water (45–65°F) 2–3 times daily
• 💡 Use heated buckets or troughs to prevent freezing
• 🌾 Soak hay for 15–30 minutes before feeding
• 🥣 Add water to grain or soaked beet pulp to increase moisture intake

Bonus: Many horses will drink more if water is flavored with a splash of apple juice or electrolytes. 🍏💧

🏇 Keep Them Moving

Digestion slows when horses are confined. To prevent winter impaction:

• 🌤️ Keep horses turned out as much as possible
• 🚶 Walk stalled horses daily
• 🏠 Minimize stall confinement, especially for easy keepers

Movement = motility. A horse that walks is a horse that digests better. ✅

🌾 Increase Hay, Not Grain

In winter, many owners feed more to meet energy needs. However:

• 📉 Sudden increases in grain can upset the gut
• 🌿 Instead, increase hay intake to generate warmth and stimulate digestion

Hay contains fiber that fuels the horse’s internal “fermentation heater” and keeps the GI tract moving. 🔥

🚫 Avoid Poor-Quality Hay

Low-quality hay is:

• 🪨 Less digestible
• 🧱 Can block the colon more easily

Always inspect hay for stemminess, dust, and mold. Choose soft, leafy, green hay when possible. 🟩

📲 Ask A Vet for Winter Feeding Help

Worried about colic this season? Visit AskAVet.com or use the Ask A Vet App to get tailored hydration plans, hay evaluations, and movement guidelines. 📱🐴

Dr Duncan Houston and the team can help you create a winter-proof feeding and management plan. 💬🧠

🏁 Final Thoughts

In 2025, preventing colic in winter means hydrating, moving, and feeding smart. Don’t wait for signs of trouble—be proactive with warm water, soaked hay, and increased turnout. Your horse’s gut will thank you. ❤️🐎

Need a winter colic prevention checklist? Visit AskAVet.com to download it today ❄️🐴