Traveling places significant stress on horses, and unfortunately, stress is a major factor contributing to colic—one of the most common and potentially serious health concerns in horses.
In this guide, we’ll cover what colic is, why travel raises the risk, and expert strategies to help prevent colic during travel.
What Is Colic in Horses?
Colic to abdominal pain, most commonly stemming from the horse's gastrointestinal tract. Colic can range from mild gas buildup to life-threatening intestinal twists that require surgery.
Signs of colic may commonly include:
- Pawing at the ground
- Looking at or biting the flank
- Rolling or attempting to roll
- Stretching as if to urinate without producing urine
- Reduced or absent manure output
Horses are particularly prone to colic due to the unique structure and function of their digestive system. Their gastrointestinal tract features a relatively small stomach, and an extensive, complex hindgut designed for microbial fermentation. This setup, along with a long, narrow colon, makes them vulnerable to gas buildup, feed blockages, impactions, and intestinal displacements.
Colic can take several forms, ranging from mild to life-threatening. While many cases resolve with prompt veterinary care, others may progress rapidly and require surgical intervention. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, more than 80% of colic cases can be successfully treated without surgery.
The most common types of colic include:
- Gas (Spasmodic) Colic – Caused by excessive gas buildup in the intestines, leading to cramping and discomfort. It’s often triggered by diet changes, stress, or increased gut motility.
- Impaction Colic – Occurs when feed material or dry matter forms a blockage in the intestine. Dehydration, dental problems, or low forage quality can commonly contribute to this type.
- Torsion or Strangulating Colic – Occurs when a segment of the intestine twists or becomes displaced in a way that cuts off blood supply (strangulation). Because the tissue rapidly becomes compromised, these cases are extremely severe and almost always require emergency surgery for a chance at survival.
Because colic can escalate quickly, early recognition and treatment are critical. Prevention strategies often include maintaining consistent feeding routines, ensuring proper hydration, reducing stress, and providing a diet rich in fiber. These core components support digestive health and minimize the risk of colic.
Why Travel Increases Colic Risk
Horses thrive on routine—such as predictable schedules and consistent feeding programs—all of which support their well-being.
Traveling to a show, clinic, or trail ride can disrupt their routine and lead to stress. The combination of transportation, stress, unfamiliar surroundings, and changes in eating and drinking habits can all increase a horse’s risk of colic.
While it’s impossible to eliminate all the stress and disruption that come with travel, proactive management steps can be taken to mitigate their impact and support digestive health on the road.
Equine management-related factors can significantly influence risk. According to research, these factors showed strong associations with increased colic risk:
- Poor body condition
- Abrupt dietary changes
- Feeding large or improperly timed high-concentrate grain meals (especially certain types)
- Feeding wheat bran
- Limited access to water/dehydration
- History of colic recurrence
- Lack of deworming program/presence of gastrointestinal parasites
- Stress
- Reduced movement (especially during long hauls)
A study in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science looked at how road travel affects the gut bacteria in a horse’s cecum, a key part of the hindgut where fiber is broken down. Researchers took samples before and after transport and found that even one trip caused noticeable changes in the gut's bacterial balance.
Specifically, the number of helpful, fiber-digesting bacteria decreased, while the number of less beneficial bacteria increased. These changes can upset digestion and may raise the risk of colic.
Preventing Horse Colic While Traveling
Research shows that protecting gut health during travel requires a proactive approach before, during, and after hauling.
The following tips can help reduce the risk of colic and keep your horse as healthy as possible while traveling.
Nutritional Support for Gut Health
Supporting the digestive system during travel starts with targeted nutritional strategies. One of the most effective tools is the use of probiotics—live microorganisms that help maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria.
These can be particularly helpful when dietary changes are unavoidable or during periods of stress. When choosing a probiotic, select one specifically developed for and tested in horses, as many products on the market are designed for other livestock species and may not be effective for equine digestion. It's also essential that the probiotic can survive both the manufacturing process and the acidic environment of the stomach to reach the hindgut intact, where it can have the most benefit.
For horses accustomed to full-time pasture turnout, introducing hay gradually in the week leading up to travel can also support gut health. This helps prepare the hindgut for the fiber sources they’ll rely on during the trip and at the destination.
Keeping horses at an ideal body condition and minimizing the use of high-starch feeds—especially right before hauling—can also reduce the risk of colic and digestive upset.
Feeding Management Before, During, and After Hauling
Consistency is crucial when feeding horses during travel, like sticking to their regular diet before and during the trip. If a feed change is necessary at your destination, bring enough familiar hay and grain to transition gradually over several days, minimizing digestive upset and colic risk.
Studies suggest that proper feeding management before a long haul may also influence oxidative balance in transported horses. Providing feed before travel could help boost plasma antioxidant levels and lower the risk of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), a condition in which horses develop ulcers in their stomach lining.
To support proper digestion and reduce travel-related digestive stress, opt for forage-based meals instead—such as soaked hay, which also helps reduce the risk of inhaling hay dust. High-starch feeds should be avoided just before transport, as diets high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) can disrupt the hindgut environment and increase the risk of colic.
When traveling for a competition or clinic, aim to arrive at least 4 hours before exercise begins to allow stress levels to normalize. Studies show that horses become more comfortable and engage in exploratory behavior about 4 hours after arrival in a new environment. To help horses adjust after being transported, provide immediate access to familiar forage and fresh water.
Body Condition
Maintaining an ideal body condition helps reduce a horse’s risk of colic, especially during travel, and can help horses cope better with the stresses of hauling.
Both overweight and underweight horses face increased colic risk. Obese horses are more prone to intestinal obstructions like lipomas and may face complications if surgery is needed. Underweight horses often have weakened immune systems and can struggle to handle stress, making them more susceptible to digestive problems during travel.
A Veterinary World study found that horses with poor body condition had significantly higher colic rates, particularly when combined with dehydration or low-quality feed.
Hydration Strategies
Hydration is essential for digestive health, especially during travel when horses may drink less. Dehydration can lead to weight loss and increase the risk of colic.
Ideally, offer water every four hours during long hauls—more often in hot weather—and bring water from home to encourage drinking. Flavoring agents and electrolytes can help with unfamiliar water but should be tested at home first.
Parasite Control
Routine deworming is a critical part of colic prevention. Parasite infestations—particularly from strongyles—can damage the intestinal lining, reduce gut motility, and contribute to impactions or gas colic.
Research shows horses without a regular deworming program are significantly more likely to develop colic. A fecal egg count-based deworming plan tailored to your horse helps prevent parasite-related colic during travel.
Heat and Humidity
Environmental extremes, especially high heat and humidity, increase the risk of dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and reduced gut motility—all of which can contribute to colic.
Horses traveling in hot weather may drink less, sweat more, and lose vital fluids as a result. To mitigate these risks, ensure frequent access to water, consider electrolyte supplementation, and allow for rest stops in shaded or well-ventilated areas during transport.
Immune System Support
Research shows that transport stress—especially during long hauls—can suppress a horse’s immune function. This becomes even more concerning when horses are introduced to environments with increased exposure to unfamiliar pathogens, such as those found in shared stabling at shows or clinics.
Adding a ration balancer as a top-dress during periods of stress can help provide essential nutrients that support immune health. Incorporating a ration balancer in the days leading up to travel and throughout the trip can be an effective way to increase the horse’s immune defenses during these higher-risk times.
Supporting Gut Health from the Horse Experts at Tribute Equine
At Tribute Equine Nutrition, supporting digestive health is at the core of every feed we formulate—and that becomes especially important when traveling.
Transport disrupts routine and increases stress, both of which can raise the risk of colic. That’s why several Tribute products feature innovative gut-supporting technologies, such as Uptake™ Technology and Constant Comfort®, designed to help promote digestive resilience during stressful periods.
Feeds with Constant Comfort® provide continuous buffering support to help maintain a healthy gastric environment, which is especially valuable for horses prone to ulcers or digestive upset during travel.
Uptake™ Technology enhances nutrient absorption and gut barrier function, further supporting overall GI health. These features are built into feeds like Kalm ‘N EZ®, Synergize®, and Senior Sport®, making them excellent choices for horses that haul frequently.
For added support, Constant Comfort supplement can be top-dressed over full-intake grain concentrates in the days leading up to, during, and after travel to help soothe and stabilize the digestive tract. Similarly, Constant Comfort® Paste can be administered before hauling to help support your horse’s digestive system. It delivers a targeted blend of aloe vera, glutamine, and lecithin to soothe the stomach and reinforce the stomach lining, along with seaweed-derived calcium to help maintain a healthy gastric pH.
Essential K® Ration Balancer can also be used to ensure the horse receives critical nutrients that support immune and overall health during times of stress.
With Tribute’s targeted nutrition strategies and a free personalized feed plan, you can potentially reduce colic risk and help your horse stay healthy—both at home and on the road.
References
- Erfiana, D. S., Wibawan, I. W. T., Suwarno, S., & Saputro, S. (2023). Colic incidence, risk factors, and therapeutic management in a working horse population in Tuban, Indonesia. Veterinary World, 16(5), 879–885. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11188878/
- Gonzalez, L. M., Navas de Solis, C., Chaffin, M. K., & Cohen, N. D. (2016). Retrospective evaluation of risk factors associated with development of colic after general anesthesia in horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 30(6), 1830–1836. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4693216/
- Harlow, B. E., Lawrence, L. M., Kutzler, M. A., Flythe, M. D., & McCann, J. C. (2018). Effect of road transport on the equine cecal microbiota. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 66, 12–20. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080617306949
- University of Minnesota Extension. (2023). Colic in your horse. Retrieved from https://extension.umn.edu/horse-health/colic-your-horse
- Cramer, M. C., Elzinga, S. E., Coverdale, J. A., & Wickersham, T. A. (2023). Effect of pre-transport diet and transport duration on cecal fermentation and digesta characteristics in horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 123, 104178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104178
