Kaydence Sports Medicine & Rehab

The Value of Hoof Radiographs

Radiographs have revolutionized medicine, veterinary or otherwise. In a little over a century, we have gained the ability to look inside a patient’s body and evaluate not just bony structures but also organs and soft tissues.

Veterinarians use radiology in their day-to-day practice. As an equine practitioner, I take radiographs on a very regular basis, with X rays of the hoof being the most common. In this article I’ll describe why hoof radiographs are important, how to use them, and the role they play in helping your horse feel and move better.

What’s in a Radiograph?
The outer part of the hoof capsule is made up of dense keratin, the same material that forms your fingernails. Inside you’ll find primarily the third phalanx (also known as the coffin or pedal bone) and some soft tissue structures. The coffin bone is attached to the hoof capsule by a network of laminae, a scaffolding of soft tissue between the wall and bone.

Radiographs of the hoof also include the second and first phalanx (the short and long pastern bone, respectively). If the horse is on the smaller side, you might see the fetlock joint on the same image.

Betsy Lordan, DVM, CJF, TE, a veterinary podiatrist with Lordan Equine Lameness and Podiatry, in Ipswich, Massachusetts, explains the usefulness of hoof radiographs for diagnosing issues and monitoring anatomy: “While we can determine a lot about horses looking at their gross conformation, things are not always what they seem. Using radiographs, we can improve upon those clinical exam findings and fine-tune details which are not as easy to manipulate on the outside of the hoof capsule. Some parameters we evaluate include bony column alignment, sole depth, palmar angle (the angle the bottom of the coffin bone makes with the ground), and evidence of diseases such as arthritis or navicular syndrome (podotrochlosis).”

Baseline Hoof Radiographs
More often than not, veterinarians recommend hoof radiographs because they have narrowed the cause of a clinical lameness to the foot, typically using diagnostic analgesia, or nerve blocks. They use radiographs to evaluate the bony column for pathology (disease or damage). Sometimes, however, clients ask for a baseline set of radiographs on a sound horse, often during a prepurchase exam or on a newly purchased mount.

“Baseline radiographs are very helpful because the hoof is not a static ­structure—it will morph and change over time and adapt to a variety of circumstances,” says Lordan. “If you’re lucky, you will buy a horse that never has a foot or lameness problem, but the odds are slim.”

Horses can have individual anatomic differences that might have varying clinical significance. Having a good set of baseline radiographs when the horse is sound can help your veterinarian distinguish whether those variations are relevant to a clinical condition, she says. They can also help your veterinarian track the progression of a condition and provide prognostic information.

“I’ve worked on many a white line disease case where the horse was completely sound, and severe hoof separation and capsular rotation were detected incidentally on radiographs,” Lordan says. “Those are the types of cases where the average person would never know there was a problem until the horse was in serious trouble.”

Cases That Warrant Radiographs
Veterinarians use radiographs to adequately diagnose a wide range of clinical cases, including:
Podotrochlosis
Also known as caudal heel pain, podotrochlosis is a chronic condition, usually a bilateral (affecting both sides) lameness of the forelimbs. Kendra Fake, VMD, associate veterinarian at Willow Creek Equine Veterinary Services, in Reading, Pennsylvania, says evidence of podotrochlosis is one of the biggest causes of lameness she finds when assessing hoof radiographs.

Affected horses can have heel pain in response to hoof testers, a choppy gait with their forelimbs, and a noticeable head bob on a circle. “A lameness that blocks to the heel, combined with radiographs that show degenerative navicular (bone) lesions, allows the veterinarian to make recommendations,” says Fake, which can range from corrective shoeing, shock wave therapy, pain management drugs, and joint therapies to further diagnostics such as MRI.

Osteoarthritis
While it can happen in any joint, osteoarthritis is a common finding in horses’ distal (lower) limbs. “The development of osteoarthritis between the coffin bone and the short pastern (the coffin joint) is colloquially known as ‘low ringbone,’ ” says Fake. Then there’s high ringbone, which occurs at the union of the short and long pastern bones, known as the pastern joint. Veterinarians take hoof radiographs to look for arthritis, sclerosis, and other bony changes in the affected joints before recommending treatment protocols, including joint therapies and systemic medications such as phenylbutazone (Bute) and firocoxib (Equioxx).

Subsolar abscess
Most owners have probably managed these localized ­bacterial infections in the sole of the hoof at some point. The bacteria produce gas that builds pressure in the capsule. This causes the horse immense pain that can easily be confused with a fractured limb.

Usually, these cases do not require diagnostic imaging. However, if a significant amount of time passes with no respite for the horse, the veterinarian might recommend radiographs. While abscesses aren’t always visible on X ray, gas pockets and tracts—formed as the hoof tissues try to relieve the pressure—often are. Your veterinarian can then go in and try to follow these tracts to the abscess, providing drainage and giving the horse instant relief. Radiographs can help ­ensure ­nothing more sinister (such as septic pedal osteitis, or infection of the coffin bone) is going on in the hoof.

Keratoma
Uncommonly, horses can develop keratomas. “These are benign tumors coming from the keratin-­producing layer of the hoof wall that can cause frequent abscesses and lameness,” says Fake. Generally, horses with keratomas develop several subsolar abscesses in the same spot within a few months. Radiographs can reveal the presence of a keratoma in the body of the coffin bone.

“While sometimes bulging of the hoof wall or distortion of the white line may be seen on visual examination, radiographs that show resorption (breakdown) of the coffin bone where the tumor is invading can be critical in this diagnosis,” she adds. “Once the problem is identified, we can direct the horse toward surgical debridement of the tumor and resolution of the lameness.”

Laminitis

Laminitis is the inflammation of the laminae that attach the coffin bone to the hoof capsule. It can be an incredibly painful and debilitating condition for the affected equid, with chronic inflammation leading to rotation of the coffin bone within the dorsal hoof capsule—sometimes penetrating the sole—or even sinking of the entire bony column.

When laminitis causes coffin bone displacement and/or becomes chronic disease, it’s also known as founder. Determining why a horse has developed laminitis is a priority because several conditions can incite it, and a veterinarian should be involved at the first sign of foot pain. Farriery is very important in keeping laminitic horses comfortable, either with trimming or shoeing.

“The horse’s clinical level of pain is not always correlated to what is going on in the foot,” says Lordan. “Radiographs allow you to assess the degree of the problem and monitor for further deterioration or improved hoof growth in the healing stages. Horses that have been affected by laminitis may continue to show clinical discomfort during the hoof regrowth process, and radiographs help us distinguish that from disease progression.”

A veterinarian’s radiographs are invaluable to the farrier caring for the affected horse’s hooves. “A laminitic horse is a serious situation no matter the age of the horse or cause of the laminitis,” says Tyler Fortier, a farrier servicing New ­Hampshire and Southern Maine. “Radiographs are critical here. They are basically a road map for how to approach shoeing or not shoeing the horse. It shows a lot of information about what’s going on with the hoof, such as sole depth and the amount of rotation, that’s very valuable in treating a foundered horse.”

Radiograph-Assisted Podiatry
Farriers use hoof radiographs regularly to better care for their patients’ feet. Farriers are often the first line of defense against hoof issues and are frequently on the ground faster than most veterinarians.

“I think radiographs are extremely helpful for me as a farrier,” says Fortier. “My job is to line up the horse’s bones inside the hoof capsule and balance their hooves to support their conformation. What we see from the outside isn’t always correct on the inside. I might feel that my trim is really good, but the radiographs may say something different.”

While some vets and farriers work independently, briefing one another over phone or email, simultaneous visits can benefit case progress greatly. Besides allowing the opportunity to correlate the trim’s gross appearance with on-screen images, Lordan says taking radiographs during shoeing “provides an additional comfort level for the farrier who is being asked to remove a lot of hoof or do something outside their comfort zone. They can gauge their safety window of short vs. too short much more easily. Using radiographs while shoeing allows us to adjust things by degrees, check our work, and make further adjustments as necessary. Taking a set of radiographs gives your farrier the ability to do their best work.”

“Working with a vet as a farrier gives us greater knowledge of the horse we are working on,” adds Fortier. “A good relationship between farrier and vet is when they can work on a lameness together, come up with a common goal, and be confident and respectful to bounce ideas off one another, because not every shoeing script works for every horse.”

Take-Home Message
Hoof health is vital to the horse’s overall health. Hoof radiographs are incredibly useful tools that allow both veterinarians and farriers to do their jobs properly and best treat the horse.

The Horse

6 Steps to Managing Horses With Hock Arthritis

might start with a slight tendency to deviate to the right or left or a bit of stiffness under saddle. The first sign you see could even be a sore back, and you’ll think a chiropractic session will do the trick. Whatever happens to prompt the lameness investigation, a diagnosis of hock arthritis leaves you with important management decisions to make with your veterinarian.

1. Know which hock joints and other structures are affected.
The hock is actually a complex of five joints including the tibiotarsal (tarsocrural), talocalcaneal, proximal intertarsal, distal intertarsal, and tarsometatarsal, comprising 12 interlocking bones, and usually sliding across each other during movement.

The upper joint, the tarsocrural, is very mobile and responsible for all of the of the flexion and extension of the hock during limb movement, says Michelle L. Delco, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, an assistant research professor in the Section of Large Animal Surgery at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, in Ithaca, New York.

By contrast, the lower joints move relatively little and mostly provide shock absorption. “They’re flat, stacked joints, and (they) take a lot of pounding,” Delco says.

Vets can pinpoint the hock as the source of hind-limb lameness through nerve and joint blocking. Most of the time, hock arthritis in sport horses occurs in the lower joints, in a condition commonly known as bone spavin. But arthritis can also occur in the upper joint, which has slightly different treatment options, so it’s important for vets to precisely identify the disease’s location within the hock through radiographs, she says.

Meanwhile, vets should run additional imaging to check for related issues, such as injuries to the upper sensory ligaments or osteochondrosis dissecans. These issues need treatment as well; the risk is that treatment for hock arthritis might mask their signs, resulting in them getting overlooked. “I always try to make sure we’ve ruled out problems that masquerade as low hock joint arthritis, the classic being high suspensory pain,” she says. “Lameness in these areas often overlap, and they are two of the most common problems in sport horses. The longer (we let) ligament and tendon injuries go undiagnosed and untreated, the less likely we are to get those horses sound for the long run.”

2. Treat pain and inflammation with NSAIDs and/or steroids.
Horses with arthritic hocks generally need pain relief. A first, basic step can be a week or two of oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like phenylbutazone (Bute), says Delco.

But NSAIDs come with side effects, and the pain will come back—often more pronounced—once treatment stops, she adds. For longer-lasting relief, corticosteroid injection into the joint is an option. Depending on the horse, the state of disease, and the choice of drug, the effects could last for weeks to months or even a full year.

“A single steroid injection is likely to be the most effective treatment for quieting down inflammation inside the joint and relieving pain; it’s hard to deny that,” she says. “I would expect that the horse would feel fantastic. He’ll feel like a new horse for months, if (hock arthritis) is all we’re dealing with.”

Depending on the client’s needs and training schedule, James Carmalt, MA, VetMB, MVetSc, PhD, FRCVS, Dipl. ABVP, AVDC, ACVSMR, ACVS, professor of equine dentistry, surgery, sport medicine & rehabilitation at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine, in Saskatoon, Canada recommends either fast-acting triamcinolone or methylprednisolone acetate, which tends to have a longer-lasting effect but “takes a little longer to kick in.” The fast-acting steroid could be a good solution for a horse with an event coming up in two weeks that’s then going on a two-month winter break, he says. The longer-lasting option would be better for those at the start or middle of their active working seasons.

But steroid injections come at a cost, Delco says. For one, they work so well, they could mask other injuries that continue to worsen without treatment—especially since steroids can suppress the immune system and “shut down healing,” she says.

And any time a joint is injected, there’s a risk—albeit slight—of joint infection, Carmalt says.

Most importantly, repeated steroids “hasten the breakdown” of cartilage and speed up arthritic degeneration, Delco explains. “We don’t like to inject steroids more than every six months,” she says. “We like to be as sparing as we can.”

To try to counteract the effects of the steroids, Delco says she usually also injects hyaluronic acid, mainly to promote cartilage health and the joint’s own lubrication properties, allowing it to glide more easily. That’s especially important for the high-movement upper hock joint, she explains. But she frequently uses hyaluronic acid in the lower joints as well because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

3. Consider orthobiologics.
When veterinarians inject platelet-rich plasma (PRP), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein, and other similar orthobiologics into an arthritic hock, the therapies can reduce inflammation and relieve pain, says Delco. Autologous protein solution (APS) and alpha 2 macroglobulin (A*M) are two other blood-based therapeutic products. “And there are many other ‘biologic’ therapies that have come onto the market recently,” she adds.

A big advantage of orthobiologics is that, unlike steroids, they have fewer side effects. “Rather than inhibiting healing and hastening the arthritic process, they can actually have pro-healing effects and be beneficial to joint health,” Delco says.

Treatment response, however, isn’t as predictable as it is for steroids. “I’ve found that some horses respond really well to certain therapies of this type, and others respond better to a different one,” she explains.

Treatment options also vary according to which joints are affected and the stage of disease, Delco adds. “Low hock joints are very small, which limits the volume we can inject,” she says. “As the joint breaks down, there is less and less space to put our treatment. So if you are going to try a biologic, start early, not as a last resort.”

4. Consider fusion therapy.
Arthritis is painful primarily because the bones in the joint grind together as they slide across one another due to a lack of cartilage. In the lower hock joints, however, the bones can function well without moving.

For that reason, veterinarians can fuse those lower hock joints together permanently so they don’t slide, without affecting horses’ leg movements or reducing their performance, says Carmalt. “So, no movement, no pain.”

This is not a viable option for the upper hock joint, given its movement functions, he says.

5. Slow disease progression and increase comfort.
Hock arthritis is usually diagnosed in middle-aged sport horses, generally when the disease is mild enough to be primarily a performance issue, Delco says. Over time, though, it will worsen, regardless of treatment. It can’t be healed or stopped.

“It’s the nature of the disease,” Carmalt says.

You might, however, be able to slow disease progression, says Delco. “Anecdotally, we believe certain treatments do help slow down arthritis,” she explains. “There’s just not great evidence yet that they actually work.”

Injecting hyaluronic acid into the joint might effectively offset the disease acceleration caused by steroid use, Delco says. “Lubricating that sliding motion of the cartilage against itself is really critical for slowing down that arthritis process.”

Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan works in a similar way to hyaluronic acid, she adds. As an intramuscular injection, it promotes good joint health and might help slow arthritis.

The most likely way to delay hock arthritis is to keep exercising, at least at a low level, Delco says. Muscular fitness helps stabilize the joints and has an important effect on the cartilage. Joint fluid takes over the role of blood vessels—which are essentially absent in cartilage—providing nutrients and taking out waste, she explains. Exercise pumps the fluid, keeping that exchange process active.

While studies in horses are lacking, research on human arthritis has shown that low-grade walking exercise every day is the only therapy proven to slow arthritis. “It’s better than any drug on the market,” Delco says.

The worst situation for horses with arthritic hocks is to leave them for long periods of rest and then work them hard, she adds. “Staying fit and in consistent work really makes a difference.”

Regular exercise can also help keep horses’ body weight down, which—even though the hind limbs only carry about 30% of the horse’s mass—can help relieve pressure on the joints, says Carmalt.

Unlike for soft tissue injuries, rest provides no real benefits for arthritis aside from relieving pain due to reduced effort on the joint, he explains. “Rest isn’t going to slow down the arthritic process to any massive degree,” he says.

Soft footing and bedding work like the “spongy” insoles humans sometimes wear when they have arthritis in their knees, Carmalt says. They might make the patient more comfortable, “but it won’t stop the progression of the arthritis.”

Finally, it’s important to resolve any other issues in the hock, such as bone chips, as these simultaneous disease processes can otherwise hasten arthritis, she says.

6. Recognize and keep track of subtle signs of discomfort.
When treatment wears off or the disease progresses enough, horses can start experiencing performance-limiting pain again. Jumping horses, for example, might “drift”—gradually displacing toward the left or right—over fences, Carmalt says. Reining horses might show sit-stand-sit sequences and even slight pivoting during slides. In barrel horses, classic signs include a reluctance to hug the barrel and increased pattern times.

When the intervals between treatments get too short, it’s time to change the plan, Delco says. “If you’re getting down to every four or five months, you’re nearing the end of the effectiveness of those injections.”

This might mean it’s time for owners to have an honest conversation with their vets—and themselves—to decide the next steps, says Carmalt. “I’m particularly blunt at talking to clients about this stuff,” he says. “And I’ll say, ‘Those expectations are unreasonable.’”

However, horses with advanced hock arthritis don’t necessarily need to retire, our sources agree. “A lot of these horses can be repurposed,” Carmalt says. “You’ve just got to reduce the workload in their jobs.”

Take-Home Message
When horses develop arthritis in their hocks, they need a management plan that corresponds to both the horse and the owner. As the disease progresses—as it inevitably will—owners might need to adjust that plan and eventually consider a lower workload. The key to success is a good working relationship with your veterinarian, says Delco. “It’s really important to work with a veterinarian, consistently, who knows you and knows your horse very well. That way, you can make the right decisions for you and your horse.”
The Horse

🐴 WE’RE HIRING! 🐴

Equine Veterinary Technician / Assistant
📍 Kaydence Sports Medicine & Rehab- Carthage, MO

We’re growing our team! With an upcoming maternity leave, we’re looking for a hardworking, dependable, and horse-savvy individual to join us and assist Dr. Sisk with equine appointments.

Our practice focuses on:
🐎 Equine Sports Medicine
🦷 Dentistry
🐴 Reproduction
🩺 General Wellness

✨ THE POSITION

* Full-time position with a 4-day work week!
* No weekend duties
* No weekend or evening on-call responsibilities
* Paid vacation, sick days & mental health days
* Employee discount
* Competitive compensation based on experience
* Hourly or salary options available

We do our best to maintain reasonable working hours, but equine medicine doesn’t always run on a 9–5 schedule! Early mornings and occasional late evenings are part of the job, so flexibility is a must.

🐎 WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Someone who:

* Has a strong work ethic and a positive, can-do attitude
* Is comfortable handling horses and understands equine behavior
* Is punctual, reliable, and detail-oriented
* Can follow instructions and work independently
* Is proactive and doesn’t need constant supervision
* Is a team player who takes pride in their work
* Can jog horses and safely lift at least 50 lbs

A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE: We’re looking for someone who is willing to work hard, take initiative, learn, and contribute to a positive team environment. A good attitude and strong work ethic go a LONG way around here! If you’re looking for a predictable 9–5, this probably isn’t the position for you.

📩 INTERESTED IN APPLYING?

PLEASE FOLLOW BOTH STEPS BELOW:

1️⃣ EMAIL YOUR RESUME TO:
[email protected]

2️⃣ TEXT THE CLINIC AT:
417-448-0131- Include your name and let us know that you’ve emailed your resume for review.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Both steps must be completed to be considered. We value attention to detail and the ability to follow instructions, so applications that don’t follow the process above will not be considered.

We’re looking forward to finding someone who will be a great addition to our team! ❤️

Please share with anyone who might be a good fit!

Spotting Signs of Colic in your Horse

Colic remains the leading cause of illness and death in horses, affecting an estimated four out of 100 horses each year. Researchers have also identified colic as the most common equine emergency. In one recent study Sarah Freeman, BVetMed, PhD, Cert.VA, Cert.VR, Cert.ES, Dipl. ECVS, FHEA, FRCVS, professor at the University of Nottingham’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Science, in the U.K., analyzed 2,600 emergency veterinary calls and found that colic accounted for 35% of after-hours emergency visits.

Freeman says horse owners typically notice the first signs of colic and must decide when to call a veterinarian. This can be challenging, but it is an essential skill because early treatment improves outcomes. Researchers on a 2022 study said common reasons for delayed response to clinical issues in horses include lack of understanding or knowledge of the subject and difficulty recognizing subtle signs of abdominal pain.

Know Your Horse’s Normal Vital Signs
Those findings echo a 2020 study in which Freeman and her colleagues surveyed 1,331 horse owners about their understanding of a “normal” versus a colicky horse and their general understanding of colic. One key finding was only 45% of owners correctly reported a horse’s normal resting heart rate. “An increased heart rate is a key measure of pain in horses,” says Freeman.

This means many owners are unfamiliar with their horse’s normal heart rate and, therefore, might not recognize an elevated heart rate in a colicky horse or call their veterinarian in a timely fashion. A normal resting heart rate in an adult horse ranges from 28 to 44 beats per minute.

In addition, owners need to familiarize themselves with other vital signs, including respiratory rate, re**al temperature, mucous membranes (the gums), capillary refill time, and gut sounds. “The respiratory rate is typically 10 to 24 breaths per minute,” says Sally DeNotta, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, clinical associate professor of large animal medicine at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in Gainesville. “The gums should be pink and moist with a capillary refill time of less than two seconds, and most horses will pass six to 10 piles of well-formed manure in 24 hours.”

The normal temperature for a horse is considered to be 99°F to 101°F, but it’s important to know your individual horse’s normal within that. Normal gut sounds should be gurgling, gaslike growls, “tinkling” sounds (fluid), and occasionally “roars”.

“Horse owners and managers are encouraged to routinely evaluate their horse’s normal physical exam parameters so they can quickly appreciate when something is abnormal and call their veterinarians with as many details as possible,” DeNotta adds.

Subtle Signs of Colic in Horses
Even in serious cases, colicky horses might not have very high heart rates, show intense pain, roll, or thrash. More subtle signs of colic owners should familiarize themselves with include:
* Frequently looking at their sides
* Little or no manure production, passing smaller than normal f***l balls, or passing dry or mucus-coated manure
* Changes in eating behavior, such as not finishing all their grain or hay
* Changes in drinking behavior, such as “sham” drinking (appearing to drink but not actually consuming water)

If you notice any of these signs in your horse, assess his vital signs and record them for your veterinarian.

Barriers to Approaching Colic and Calling the Veterinarian
In a follow-up study published earlier this year, Freeman and colleagues (Burrell et al., 2026) explored horse owners’ knowledge of colic in greater depth. The researchers provided owners with evidence-based data about misconceptions horse owners had when it came to making decisions in a colic emergency, and found some owners would not change their behaviors in ways that could benefit horses during an emergency.

Specifically, of the 984 respondents who reported they already knew how to take their horse’s vital signs, 435 said they would continue to monitor their horses’ heart rate as before, and 29% said they weren’t sure whether they would change their approach to routine health monitoring. “Sharing evidence-based information had limited impact on decision-making,” wrote the researchers.

“I also think it’s useful to look into some of the barriers to change,” says Freeman. “These barriers may include owners not being able to measure heart rate, being worried if the heart rate is high, and feeling anxious, preferring to make decisions on other advice or previous experience rather than evidence or having had a bad previous experience and thinking the next one will be similar.”

“As soon as your horse begins exhibiting signs of colic, call your veterinarian,” says DeNotta.

Again, in the 2020 survey Freeman and colleagues showed that while owners reported being confident in their ability to recognize colic, only 20% of survey respondents correctly defined colic (i.e., abdominal pain). “Further, when given three different colic scenarios, few survey respondents were confident in recognizing the cases with milder signs,” says Freeman. “This finding suggests that owners may be less able to recognize colic than they believe.”

Henrique da Silveira Costa et al. (2022)echo these results: “Common reasons for delayed response are the lack of knowledge of colic and difficulty in recognizing subtle signs of abdominal pain.”

Delays in Equine Colic Treatment
“The best thing a horse owner can do to prepare themselves to successfully handle a colic episode is to know their horse’s individual vital parameters and behavior patterns so they can recognize a subtle deviation from the (normal),” says DeNotta.

If the colic episode proves to be more severe than can be handled at the farm, quickly transporting the horse to the local emergency hospital might be the next step, says DeNotta. “Some of the most substantial, and most preventable, delays we observe are related to arranging trailering and getting horses loaded,” she says. “My advice to all horse owners is to have a transport plan in place, keep trucks and trailers in good running condition, and use them regularly

“Maybe most importantly, teach your horses to load,” she adds. “You don’t want to be troubleshooting any of these tasks in a time of medical emergency, and we can’t treat your horse if you can’t get to the hospital.”

Future Colic Research
“An owner’s ability to recognize colic and seek assistance is a critical first step in determining case outcome,” says Freeman, adding, “We know this is hard!”

Future Colic Research
“An owner’s ability to recognize colic and seek assistance is a critical first step in determining case outcome,” says Freeman, adding, “We know this is hard!”

Freeman says she is working with an AI company to develop an algorithm that would detect behaviors associated with colic and alert owners, prompting them to check the horse and review video footage. “I am super excited for how this will help by continuously watching when an owner can’t be, and also picking up early changes in behavior,” she says.

Take-Home Message
Successful colic outcomes depend on preparation and prompt action. Know your horse’s normal vital signs and behavior, recognize even subtle signs of abdominal pain, call your veterinarian early, and have a reliable transport plan ready before an emergency occurs.

The Horse