By the time a horse is refusing food, biting its sides, or rolling in pain, you already have serious problem. At that point, you’re in crisis mode working to minimize the damage. But what if you could recognize a horse at risk for colic and address the issue before it progressed that far?

There are a variety of signs that will indicate that your horse could be at risk for a colic episode. First and foremost, get to know your horse! Know its habits, including how it eats and how often and where it manures. Know its attitudes and responses and personality. These will be the earliest warning signs that something is off. Also, be familiar with the outward behaviors that signal a serious issue.