AS temperatures drop and we begin to experience periods of harsh wintry conditions, veterinary practices up and down the country are seeing a sharp increase in the number of colic cases.

Colic is the veterinary term used to describe the behavioral signs associated with abdominal pain.

“As the weather turns colder, horses tend to be stabled for longer periods of time and often receive lower levels of exercise,” said Jonathon Dixon, a veterinary surgeon at Rainbow Equine Hospital in Old Malton. “The gastro-intestinal tract is related to limb movement and can slow down and become impacted.”

Not every rider has the facility of an indoor school but any exercise is better than none at all, even just a walk in-hand around the stable yard, arena or turnout paddock.

“It is advisable to try to get them out as much as possible as long as it is safe to do so,” said Jonathon.

The clinical signs to look out for may include some or all of the following: flank watching, restlessness, pawing at the ground, rolling, sweating and rapid breathing.

A horse with colic will show varying symptoms depending on the cause of the colic, the length of time it has been present and the stoicism of the patient.

The key to success is early diagnosis and treatment, so it is advisable to call your veterinary surgeon immediately if your horse is showing signs of colic.

The vet managing a horse with colic has to decide whether the horse needs medical treatment or surgical intervention. Ninety per cent of colic cases are resolved with the appropriate medical treatment, while ten percent will require surgery.

Gentle walking exercise may help to assist the dispersal of any trapped gas but this is not appropriate for all cases, so do not attempt to take the horse out of its stable unless advised to do so by your vet.

There are some practical actions that can be taken to help minimise the risk of colic: Be aware of the parasite status of your horses and use appropriate control measures. This isn’t simply a matter of using blanket worming techniques; diagnostic testing is worthwhile to assess whether worming treatment is required or not.

Regular dental care has been shown to reduce the risk of certain types of colic in horses and donkeys.

Horses are creatures of habit and any changes in routine or diet can be trigger factors for colic episodes.

Any dietary changes should be implemented gradually over several weeks and it is best to standardise diet even when the horse is away from home e.g. at a show.

Unfortunately there are some vices that can predispose a horse to colic, including crib biting and windsucking, and those horses that have had colic in the past are more likely to have colic again at some time in the future.