Equine colic is a general term for any painful condition associated with the abdomen of the horse. Conditions associated with any segment of the gastrointestinal tract may result in colic, and clinical signs indicate that the degree of pain can vary from mild to severe. Causes of colic include ulcers, inappropriate diet, such as overload of grain or concentrate; infection; obstruction due to parasites or foreign bodies; impaction of feed or foreign materials, such as sand; twist segments of intestine; and alterations in intestinal motility. Management, including parasite control, proper diet, access to water, and attention to environmental hazards, is helpful in preventing the incidence of colic. Some causes of colic can be readily treated medically, but others causes threaten life and require prompt surgery.