Winter colic in horses is something many owners worry about – and you’ll often see advice flying around online at this time of year. In this guide, we’ll explain why winter can increase colic risk, what signs to watch for, and the simple day-to-day steps that can help keep your horse drinking and their gut moving.

During cold weather, many horses drink less than they do in summer. This matters because water plays a vital role in keeping feed moving smoothly through the digestive system. When gut contents become too dry, the risk of impaction colic increases.

Colic is a general term for abdominal pain in horses, and it can range from mild, short-lived discomfort to a serious emergency. Because horses can deteriorate quickly, it’s always safest to take any suspected colic seriously and contact your vet for advice.

As a result, winter horse care often comes down to one unglamorous but essential factor: adequate water intake.

Can a horse colic from cold weather?

Cold weather does not directly cause colic. However, winter conditions can create the perfect storm of risk factors that make colic more likely.

A simple way to think about it is: if your horse drinks less, the digestive system has less water to work with. That can make gut contents drier and slower-moving, which is where problems can start.

In winter:

• Horses may drink less when water is very cold, icy, or partially frozen
• Reduced drinking can lead to dehydration
• Dehydration can cause gut contents to become drier and slower-moving
• This increases the risk of impaction colic

Petplan Equine notes that horses store large amounts of water in their gastrointestinal tract and if the contents become too dry, this can contribute to impaction colic.

Can horses get colic from frost?

Not from frost itself, but frost often goes hand-in-hand with practical issues that reduce hydration.

The key point is that even if water is “there”, it may not be drinkable (or your horse may not want it) if it’s iced over or bitterly cold.

• Troughs icing over overnight
• Buckets freezing in stables
• Horses avoiding very cold water

So while frost is not a direct cause, it can indirectly increase risk by limiting access to drinkable water.

Why horses often drink less in winter

In the UK winter, drinking patterns can change for perfectly normal reasons – but it’s worth knowing what to look out for so you can step in early.

Several everyday management factors commonly reduce water consumption during the winter:

• Cold water temperature (some horses actively avoid icy water)
• Frozen troughs or iced buckets limiting access
• Reduced sweating, leading owners to assume water needs are lower
• Increased hay or haylage and reduced grass intake (hay is much drier)
• Changes in routine, including increased stabling or reduced turnout

Winter colic risk factors that can stack up

Winter colic is rarely caused by just one thing. It’s usually a few small changes happening at once – and together they can increase the chance of digestive upset.

Reduced water intake is a major risk factor, but it is rarely the only one. Winter colic risk increases when low drinking combines with:

• Sudden increases in hay or haylage
• Reduced movement or exercise
• Stress from weather, routine changes, box rest or transport
• Dental problems that reduce chewing efficiency and fibre breakdown

Signs your horse may not be drinking enough

Some horses are very good at hiding early signs, so it helps to focus on the little day-to-day clues (especially droppings and stable wet patches).

Reduced water intake is not always obvious, especially in horses that drink little and often. Watch for:

• Smaller, drier droppings
• Fewer droppings or longer gaps between mucking out
• Dullness, reduced appetite or “not quite right” behaviour
• Darker urine or fewer wet patches in the stable
• Mild signs of abdominal discomfort, such as pawing or flank-watching

If you suspect colic, always treat it as urgent.

Colic warning signs: when to call the vet

If your horse is showing signs of colic, it’s always better to call your vet sooner rather than later. Waiting to see if it “passes” can waste valuable time.

Contact your vet immediately if you see any of the following:

• Repeated rolling or attempts to lie down
• Persistent pawing, flank-watching or kicking at the abdomen
• Sweating, rapid breathing or an elevated heart rate
• No droppings, or signs that worsen over time

Colic can escalate quickly, and early veterinary assessment is always the safest option.

How to prevent winter colic in horses

The good news is that a few small management tweaks can make a big difference. The aim is simple: keep water easy to access, appealing to drink, and support steady gut movement.

Small management changes can significantly improve winter water intake and reduce risk:

1. Keep water ice-free and accessible: Check troughs and buckets several times daily during freezing conditions.
2. Offer slightly warmed water: Many horses drink more readily when water is cool rather than icy-cold.
3. Provide multiple water sources: Some horses prefer buckets, others troughs – offering both can help.
4. Increase water intake through feed
   • Add water to hard feed
   • Use soaked feeds where appropriate
   • Feed soaked hay if advised by your vet, particularly for horses with a history of impaction colic
5. Maintain turnout and movement: Regular movement supports gut motility and reduces colic risk.
6. Keep salt available: A salt lick or small amounts of salt added to feed (only where appropriate for your horse’s health and diet) can help encourage drinking.

How much water should a horse drink?

There isn’t one perfect number for every horse, and winter can make it harder to judge. What matters most is knowing what’s normal for your horse and spotting changes early.

Water requirements vary depending on size, diet, workload and health. If you are unsure what is normal for your horse, measure water intake over several days using marked buckets and discuss any concerns with your vet.

Quick winter hydration checklist

If you want a simple routine to follow on cold days, use this as your quick check.

• Water available 24/7 (not frozen)
• Buckets/troughs checked morning and evening (more in hard frost)
• Consider offering a bucket of slightly warmed water
• Add water to feed where suitable
• Maintain turnout/movement where safe
• Monitor droppings and stable wet patches

The bottom line

During winter, one of the simplest and most effective colic prevention strategies is often overlooked: making drinking easy.

Keeping water available, palatable and unfrozen, alongside consistent forage, dental care and regular movement, can significantly reduce the risk of dehydration-related digestive problems.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. If you suspect colic, contact your vet immediately.