Vet Guide: How to Decrease Winter Colic in Horses 2025 ❄️🐴
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Vet Guide: How to Decrease Winter Colic in Horses 2025 ❄️🐴
By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc
When cold weather sets in, colic cases often spike—especially in climates like Texas where dramatic temperature swings are common. One day it's 70°F, the next it's 30°F, and horses struggle to adjust. But with smart management, most winter colic episodes can be avoided. ❄️🐎
In this 2025 winter health guide, Dr Duncan Houston shares the top causes of cold-weather colic and provides practical steps to help you keep your horse healthy and hydrated all season long. 💧🧠
1. Why Colic Is More Common in Winter 📈
Colic is a general term for abdominal pain, often related to gastrointestinal upset. In winter, colic cases—particularly impaction colic—increase due to:
- 💧 Reduced water intake
- 🌾 Switch from moist grass to dry hay
- 📉 Less turnout and movement
- 🥶 Cold weather slowing gut motility
In Texas, unpredictable weather may pose a greater risk than steady cold. Fluctuations confuse the horse’s body, leading to changes in drinking, appetite, and gut function. 🌡️↕️
2. The Hydration Problem 💧🐴
The biggest trigger for winter colic is a drop in water consumption. Why?
- 🥶 Cold water is less appealing
- 🚱 Horses are less thirsty in winter
- 🍂 Hay contains far less moisture than fresh grass
Dry feed + dry weather = dry intestines = impaction risk. 🚫🌾
3. Simple Ways to Boost Water Intake ✅
🔸 Offer Warm Water:
- 🔥 Use heated buckets or troughs
- 🥤 Bring out warm water multiple times a day
🔸 Soak Hay or Feed:
- 💧 Soak hay for 30–60 minutes
- 🥣 Add warm water to beet pulp or mashes
🔸 Use Electrolytes:
- 🧂 Add to feed or water if approved by vet
- 🧪 Stimulates thirst and water intake
Make sure horses have access to clean, unfrozen water 24/7. ❄️💦
4. Feed Smart in Cold Weather 🍽️
In winter, horses need more calories to stay warm. But how you provide those calories matters:
- ✅ Increase hay (fiber produces more heat during digestion)
- ⚠️ Avoid rapid increases in grain—can upset gut microbes
- 🧪 Choose quality hay—poor hay is harder to digest
Tip: Feed more forage, not more concentrates. Roughage stimulates gut movement and keeps digestion flowing. 🌾🌀
5. Turnout and Movement Matter 🚶♂️
Movement is essential for gut motility. Horses kept in stalls all winter are more prone to impaction colic. Try to:
- 🟢 Provide daily pasture turnout—even in cold weather
- 🏇 Lunge or walk if turnout isn’t possible
- 🌞 Let horses walk and graze freely during daylight hours
Remember: A moving horse is a digesting horse. 🔄
6. Watch for Colic Warning Signs 🚨
Be extra observant during cold snaps. Call your vet if you notice:
- 😬 Pawing, rolling, or restlessness
- 🛑 Reduced manure output
- 🍽️ Loss of appetite
- 🛌 Lying down more than usual
- 💩 Dry, hard, or small manure balls
Colic is an emergency—don’t wait if you see early signs. 🩺
7. Summary Table: Preventing Winter Colic 📋
| Prevention Tip | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Warm water or heated buckets | Increases water intake |
| Soaked hay or wet mashes | Adds moisture to diet |
| Increase hay, not grain | Supports gut function |
| Turnout and exercise | Stimulates gut motility |
| Quality hay | Easier to digest, less risk of impaction |
8. Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston 💬
Winter colic is preventable with smart, proactive care. Keep your horse moving, hydrated, and properly fed—and monitor closely during sudden weather shifts. In climates like Texas, it’s the change in temperature, not just the cold, that creates risk. ❄️📉
Need help creating a winter colic prevention plan? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app 📲 for 24/7 access to trusted equine veterinarians and seasonal care tips.
— Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc
