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Step 1
Be aware of your horse's normal behavior and all of his individual quirks. The more familiar you are with your horse, the better you can tell if he is acting in a way that indicates colic or another health condition.
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Step 2
Pay attention to behavior changes, especially if your horse becomes highly restless and paces in her stall or pasture, or if she becomes apathetic and doesn't respond to what is going on around her. A horse with colic may also repeatedly paw at the ground.
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Step 3
Look for any attention that your horse pays to his abdomen. A horse with colic will often try to get at the source of the pain by repeatedly biting at his flanks or kicking his abdomen.
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Step 4
Notice how your horse rolls. A healthy horse rolls on the ground to scratch an itch or give herself a massage, and she shakes off afterward. A horse with colic is trying to stop the pain through rolling, and will generally roll repeatedly and then stand up without shaking the dust off, looking as if she is physically uncomfortable.
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Step 5
Watch for any signs of a change in both appetite and digestion. A horse with colic will generally show a lack of appetite, and will produce little to no manure.
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Step 6
Check your horse's vital signs. A horse with colic will generally sweat, exhibit a temperature over 100 degrees F, show an increased heart rate and either an increased or decreased respiratory rate.
