Can Weather Changes Trigger Colic in Horses?

By Dr Duncan Houston

Many horse owners swear their horses colic when the weather changes.

A storm rolls in, the temperature drops, the wind shifts, the barometer falls, and suddenly someone in the yard is watching a horse paw, look at its flank, go off feed, or lie down more than usual.

The truth is more nuanced than “barometric pressure causes colic.” Colic is abdominal pain, not one single disease, and it can be caused by gas, impaction, displacement, enteritis, sand, feed changes, dehydration, ulcers, strangulation, and many other problems. Weather may be part of the risk picture, but it is rarely the whole explanation. (Veterinary Extension)

The practical takeaway is simple: big weather changes should make you monitor high-risk horses more carefully, especially if the change also affects water intake, turnout, exercise, feeding routine, or forage type.

Quick Answer

Weather changes may increase colic risk indirectly, but barometric pressure alone is not proven to be a consistent direct cause. An earlier University of Delaware thesis using University of Pennsylvania field-service data reported that a barometric pressure drop within 12 hours was associated with higher colic odds, but a later peer-reviewed study using similar records did not find barometric pressure changes statistically associated with colic. The safest approach is to treat pressure drops, storms, cold snaps, and seasonal shifts as times to tighten hydration, feeding consistency, turnout, manure monitoring, and early colic detection. (UDSpace)

What Is Barometric Pressure?

Barometric pressure is the weight of the air pressing down on the earth. When weather systems move through, pressure can rise or fall.

A falling barometer is often associated with incoming low-pressure systems, storms, wind, rain, snow, or rapid changes in temperature. Horse owners often notice colic episodes around these changes, but the difficult part is separating the pressure itself from everything that changes around it: water temperature, drinking behaviour, turnout, exercise, feeding schedules, hay intake, stress, and stable management.

That is why the better question is not only, “Did the barometer drop?” It is, “What changed for the horse during that weather event?”

What Does the Research Really Say?

The research is mixed.

An earlier University of Delaware senior thesis used University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center field-service data from 2005 to 2016 and reported that barometric pressure change within 12 hours of a colic event was associated with colic. That analysis reported that for every unit decrease in barometric pressure, the odds of colic increased by about 2.5 times. (UDSpace)

However, a later peer-reviewed study using University of Pennsylvania Field Service medical records from 2005 to 2017, including 3,108 medical events and National Weather Service data, found that barometric pressure values and changes were not statistically associated with a colic diagnosis. That same study did find that colic diagnosis was more likely with increasing latitude and was more common in fall, spring, and summer compared with winter. (PubMed)

So the clinically honest answer is this:

A pressure drop may be a useful warning cue, but it should not be treated as a proven standalone cause of colic.

In practice, weather changes matter because they often change the horse’s hydration, movement, forage intake, stress level, and daily routine. Those are well-recognised colic risk factors.

Why Weather Changes May Still Increase Colic Risk

Even if barometric pressure itself is not the direct cause, weather fronts can set up the conditions for colic.

Common weather-related risks include:

University of Minnesota Extension notes that horses without water for one to two hours had increased colic risk, and that the risk increased tenfold in horses over six years old. It also notes that horses drink more in colder weather when water is warm, and that water sources must remain free-flowing in winter. (University of Minnesota Extension)

Feed and routine changes matter too. Colic risk increases within two weeks after changes in exercise, stabling, or diet, and even changing the hay batch can increase risk. (University of Minnesota Extension)

That is the real-world link: the storm is not always the villain. The management disruption around the storm often is.

Which Horses Need Extra Monitoring?

Some horses deserve closer watching during major weather swings.

Higher-risk horses include:

• Horses with a previous colic history

• Older horses

• Horses with poor water intake

• Horses on mostly dry forage

• Horses recently changed to a new hay batch

• Horses recently changed in feed, turnout, or exercise

• Horses on stall rest

• Horses with dental problems

• Horses with sand exposure

• Horses receiving high grain or concentrate diets

• Horses with reduced pasture access

• Horses recently transported

• Horses recovering from illness or surgery

• Broodmares after foaling

University of Minnesota Extension highlights several relevant risk factors, including water access, feed changes, round bale feeding, sand ingestion, grain and pelleted feed intake, dental care, parasite control, prior colic, and close monitoring of horses with previous illness or colic. (University of Minnesota Extension)

If a horse has colicked before during weather changes, treat that pattern seriously. You do not need to prove the barometer caused it before making prevention smarter.

What Does Weather-Related Colic Usually Look Like?

Weather-associated colic often shows up as mild to moderate abdominal discomfort, especially if hydration and forage patterns have changed.

Common signs include:

• Pawing

• Looking at the flank

• Stretching out

• Lying down more than usual

• Getting up and down

• Reduced appetite

• Reduced manure output

• Dry or small manure

• Restlessness

• Kicking at the belly

• Rolling

• Depression

• Sweating

• Bloated appearance

The University of Florida’s horse owner colic guide lists common signs such as poor appetite, decreased manure production, lip curling, depression, lying down more than normal, pawing, stretching out, flank watching, teeth grinding, bloated abdomen, kicking at the abdomen, rolling, and getting up and down. (Veterinary Extension)

The signs matter more than the weather. A horse with persistent colic signs needs veterinary advice whether the pressure dropped or not.

Severity Guide: How Worried Should You Be?

A mild gas colic may pass. A strangulating lesion, displacement, severe impaction, enteritis, or twist will not be fixed by waiting for the weather to improve.

What Else Can Cause Colic During Weather Changes?

Not every colic that happens during a storm is caused by the storm.

Important causes to consider include:

Impaction colic
More likely when horses eat dry forage, drink less, have poor dental function, reduce movement, or become dehydrated. The University of Florida notes that horses at higher risk for impaction include those that do not drink enough water, become dehydrated, eat poor quality hay, ingest excessive sand, or have dental problems that affect chewing. (Veterinary Extension)

Gas or spasmodic colic
Can occur with changes in fermentation, diet, pasture, or stress. Gas colic may resolve, but gas can also contribute to displacement in some horses. (University of Minnesota Extension)

Large colon displacement or twist
These are more serious and may cause severe or persistent pain. The University of Minnesota notes that a colon twist can damage or kill colon tissue by stopping blood flow, and this type of colic requires emergency surgery. (University of Minnesota Extension)

Sand colic
More likely where horses eat hay or grain from sandy ground.

Enteritis or colitis
Inflammation of the gut may cause colic, fever, diarrhea, depression, and dehydration.

Ulcers
May cause intermittent appetite changes, girthiness, poor performance, and mild colic-like signs.

Non-intestinal causes
Kidney, liver, reproductive, urinary, muscle, or chest problems can sometimes mimic colic. The University of Florida guide notes that colic is abdominal pain and can come from organs beyond the gastrointestinal tract. (Veterinary Extension)

The practical point is that weather may be a clue, but it is not a diagnosis.

When Is This an Emergency?

Call your vet immediately if your horse shows:

• Persistent colic signs lasting more than 30 to 60 minutes

• Repeated rolling

• Violent rolling or thrashing

• Sweating

• Depression or weakness

• Refusal to eat

• No manure production

• Severe bloating

• Repeated attempts to lie down

• Pain that returns after brief improvement

• Pale, dark, purple, or tacky gums

• Fast heart rate

• Fever

• Diarrhea

• Signs of dehydration

• Colic after a recent feed change, travel, surgery, foaling, illness, or medication

• Colic in a horse with previous severe colic or surgery

Do not keep walking a horse that is violently painful, exhausted, weak, or unsafe to handle. University of Minnesota Extension notes that walking may help with early cramps or mild colic, but if a horse is uncontrollably thrashing, the safer approach is to stay out of the way. It also notes that some diseases that mimic colic, such as laminitis, pleuritis, or tying up, can be worsened by walking. (University of Minnesota Extension)

What Should You Do During a Major Weather Change?

1. Check water before the front arrives

Water is the biggest practical lever.

Before storms, cold snaps, or pressure changes:

• Check automatic waterers

• Break ice

• Confirm troughs are flowing

• Offer warmed water in cold weather

• Clean buckets and troughs

• Watch whether the horse is actually drinking

• Provide water with every meal

University of Minnesota Extension notes that horses drink more in cold weather if the water is warm and that free-flowing water is essential in winter. (University of Minnesota Extension)

2. Keep forage consistent

Do not make sudden hay or feed changes because a storm is coming.

Avoid sudden changes in:

• Hay batch

• Hay type

• Grain amount

• Concentrates

• Pellets

• Pasture access

• Feeding schedule

If a change is unavoidable, transition gradually. University of Minnesota Extension recommends gradual feed changes and notes that colic risk increases within two weeks after changes in exercise, stabling, or diet. (University of Minnesota Extension)

3. Encourage movement where safe

Turnout and movement support gut motility. If weather forces stall confinement, increase monitoring.

For horses stuck inside:

• Hand walk if safe and appropriate

• Offer frequent small forage meals

• Use slow feeders where suitable

• Keep water close and accessible

• Monitor manure output closely

Do not turn horses out in dangerous footing, lightning, flying debris, or unsafe storm conditions. Safety still wins.

4. Monitor manure

During weather changes, check:

• Number of manure piles

• Size of manure balls

• Moisture level

• Dryness

• Mucus

• Diarrhea

• No manure

The University of Florida guide notes that most horses pass about 6 to 10 piles of well-formed manure in 24 hours, although normal varies between horses. (Veterinary Extension)

A change from your horse’s normal pattern matters more than a textbook number.

5. Know your horse’s normal vitals

If you can safely check them, learn your horse’s normal:

• Temperature

• Heart rate

• Respiratory rate

• Gum colour

• Capillary refill time

• Manure pattern

The University of Florida guide lists general adult horse values of 99 to 101.5°F for temperature, 24 to 48 beats per minute for heart rate, 10 to 24 breaths per minute for respiratory rate, pink moist gums, capillary refill time under two seconds, and 6 to 10 manure piles per day. (Veterinary Extension)

These numbers help your vet decide how urgent the situation is.

What To Do If Your Horse Shows Colic Signs

1. Remove feed

Take away grain and rich feed until you have spoken with your vet. Leave water available.

2. Call your vet early

Do not wait for severe pain. Describe:

• What signs you see

• When they started

• Whether the horse ate normally

• Manure output

• Water intake

• Recent weather changes

• Recent feed, hay, turnout, or exercise changes

• Heart rate, temperature, gum colour, if safely checked

• Whether the horse has colicked before

3. Keep the horse safe

If the horse is mildly uncomfortable and safe to handle, gentle walking may be reasonable while waiting for advice.

If the horse is thrashing, collapsing, repeatedly throwing itself down, or dangerous to handle, stay safe and wait for veterinary help.

4. Do not give medication unless your vet advises it

Pain relief can mask signs and make assessment harder. It can also be unsafe in dehydrated horses or horses with certain underlying problems.

5. Watch for progression

A horse that improves and stays comfortable is different from a horse that improves briefly and then becomes painful again.

Recurring pain is a red flag.

Common Mistakes Owners Make

Blaming the barometer and missing the basics

Pressure changes may be a warning cue, but water, forage, movement, and routine are usually more actionable.

Waiting because “it happens every time the weather changes”

A recurring pattern should make you act earlier, not later.

Forgetting frozen or cold water

Reduced water intake is one of the biggest practical risks during cold weather.

Changing feed suddenly before storms

A sudden hay or grain change may create more gut disruption than the weather itself.

Walking a severely painful horse endlessly

Gentle walking may help some mild cases, but a violently painful or exhausted horse needs veterinary care, not hours of forced walking.

Giving pain relief before calling the vet

Medication may be appropriate, but it should be guided by your vet.

Missing subtle colic in older horses

Older horses and horses with previous colic deserve closer monitoring during weather and routine changes.

How To Reduce Colic Risk During Weather Swings

You cannot prevent every colic, but you can reduce avoidable risk.

Useful steps include:

• Keep fresh water available at all times

• Warm water in cold weather if intake drops

• Check automatic waterers daily

• Avoid sudden hay, grain, turnout, or exercise changes

• Transition feed gradually

• Feed from mats, tubs, or racks in sandy areas

• Maintain regular dental care

• Use a vet-directed parasite control plan

• Reduce high grain intake where possible

• Maintain turnout and movement when safe

• Monitor high-risk horses during the 12 to 24 hours after major weather shifts

• Watch horses especially closely for two weeks after feed, housing, or exercise changes

• Know your horse’s normal manure pattern and appetite

The University of Minnesota prevention guidance highlights fresh water, gradual diet and management changes, avoiding sand ingestion, dental care, parasite control, and close monitoring of horses with previous colic or illness as important ways to reduce colic risk. (University of Minnesota Extension)

Will My Horse Be Okay?

Many colic episodes are mild and resolve with veterinary treatment on the farm. Gas colic, spasmodic colic, and some impactions may respond well when recognised early. The University of Florida guide notes that gas and spasmodic colics can often be treated medically and usually respond to farm treatment. (Veterinary Extension)

The outcome depends on the cause, severity, duration, hydration status, gut involvement, and how quickly veterinary care starts.

A horse with mild discomfort, normal vitals, and early treatment has a much better outlook than a horse with severe unrelenting pain, abnormal gum colour, high heart rate, dehydration, or shock.

Weather changes are a reminder to watch more closely. They are not a reason to delay.

FAQs

Can a drop in barometric pressure cause colic in horses?

It may be associated with colic in some observations, but the evidence is mixed. An earlier thesis reported an association between pressure drops and colic, while a later peer-reviewed study did not find barometric pressure statistically associated with colic. Use pressure drops as a monitoring cue, not a confirmed diagnosis. (UDSpace)

Why do horses colic more during weather changes?

Weather changes can alter water intake, forage intake, turnout, exercise, stress, and feeding routine. Those factors can affect hydration, gut motility, fermentation, and impaction risk.

Should I give my horse electrolytes before a storm?

Electrolytes may help some horses drink more, but they should be used sensibly and with plain water always available. For horses with poor drinking, recurrent impactions, kidney concerns, or medical problems, ask your vet for a plan.

How long after a weather change should I monitor for colic?

Monitor closely during the weather shift and for at least the next 12 to 24 hours. Also remember that colic risk can increase within two weeks after changes in diet, housing, or exercise. (University of Minnesota Extension)

When should I call a vet for colic?

Call immediately if pain persists, worsens, returns after improvement, or is accompanied by sweating, rolling, depression, no manure, bloating, abnormal gums, high heart rate, fever, diarrhea, or signs of dehydration.

Final Thoughts

Weather changes can matter, but not always in the simple way people imagine.

Barometric pressure may be part of the pattern for some horses, but the stronger everyday risks are often hydration, feed changes, reduced movement, cold water, stress, and management disruption. The best use of a falling barometer is not panic. It is preparation.

Check the water. Keep forage consistent. Avoid sudden routine changes. Watch manure. Know your horse’s normal. Pay extra attention to older horses and those with a previous colic history.

If your horse shows colic signs during a weather shift, do not assume it is “just the front passing through.” Colic is a symptom, and some causes are time-critical.

Weather can be unpredictable. Your response does not have to be.

If you are unsure whether your horse’s discomfort is mild gas, impaction, weather-related stress, or an urgent colic episode, ASK A VET™ can help you work through the signs and decide what to do next.