Colic can escalate quickly, particularly overnight or when you're not around. In many cases, the earlier behavioural changes are recognised, the higher the chance of early intervention & improved outcomes.

This Horse Manager Report outlines a real HorseSafe monitoring incident involved a 7-year-old Warmblood, where behavioural abnormalities consistent with developing colic were detected. The early alert enabled rapid vet intervention before the condition escalated into a severe surgical colic event. 

Incident Summary – Early Colic Intervention

Horse: Choccy
Age: 7 year old Warmblood
Date: 17 July 2025
Incident Type: Behavioural anomaly consistent with colic
Outcome: Early intervention successful – surgery avoided

Incident Overview

On the evening of 17 July, Choccy’s owner brought him into the stable during a cold, wet, and stormy evening.

The stable had been fully prepared with:

• Hay
• Fresh water
• Bedding
• Shelter from the weather

At the time, Choccy appeared completely normal.

The owner then returned inside to put the children to bed and, under normal circumstances, would not have checked Choccy again until the following morning — approximately 12 hours later.

Fortunately, Choccy was wearing a HorseSafe monitor.

Within the hour, HorseSafe detected multiple abnormal behavioural changes significantly outside Choccy’s normal baseline patterns and automatically sent an escalation alert to the owner.

The owner immediately returned to check Choccy and found him displaying clear signs of abdominal discomfort and colic behaviour.

Veterinary treatment was sought early, allowing intervention before the condition progressed into a severe surgical colic event.

The veterinarian later advised that the early intervention likely avoided a major colic surgery estimated at approximately $15,000.

Behavioural Changes Detected

HorseSafe identified several escalating behavioural indicators commonly associated with abdominal discomfort and colic.

Key Behaviours Detected

• High flank watching behaviour
• Increased rolling activity
• Elevated lip curling behaviour
• Restlessness and unsettled movement

Timeline of Events

Behavioural Graph Examples

Horse Manager Notes

Assessment

HorseSafe identified a combination of behavioural changes strongly outside Choccy’s normal behaviour profile.

The combination of:

• repeated rolling,
• elevated flank watching,
• increased lip curling,
• and unsettled movement

indicated a potentially serious developing colic event.

Outcome

Because the alert occurred early — within approximately one hour of the horse being stabled — the owner was able to intervene rapidly.

Without HorseSafe, the horse may not have been checked again for approximately 12 hours.

Early veterinary treatment significantly improved the outcome and likely prevented progression to a surgical colic case.

Estimated Financial Impact

Estimated avoided surgical colic costs: Approximately $15,000+

Recommendations to Choccy's Horse Owner

• Continue close monitoring over the next 24–48 hours
• Follow veterinarian treatment plan
• Maintain hydration and feed observations
• Review any recent feed or management changes
• Keep HorseSafe alerts active for ongoing behavioural monitoring