Colic is dreadful. My opinion get a vet as soon as possible. My horse more than 10 years ago had colic - it wasn't even that obvious he had it. The groom at the stables who is also a close friend phoned to say that my horse had pulled down the banks of his bedding in his stable overnight which is very unlike him so the vet was phoned. He was given injection and thought he would be fine. Horse wasn't thrashing around just circling every now and then. Vet was called again and this idiot came, he tubed which invovled the horsepulling up the yard and may I add he was a very well behaved horse - VERY well behaved horse so he must have been in a bit of distress as the vet couldn't tube him, a friend who was at front holding him got covered in blood as the vet really couldn't get the tube up his nose. Eventualy did then left. Myself and mum slept outside his stable all night. In the morning vet called again, told us to take him out to see if he would eat grass - which he didn't(he thought it could have been grass sickness). In the end we suggested if he could be reffered to the university hospital which he agreed to - although he should have suggested it.

The hospital was a 3 hour drive away. We got him there and he was examined straight away. He had 2 blockages(vet at home didn't pick up) and he had built up so much with gases. Vet said he had to be in surgery within 30 minutes or he would have literally blown up as so much presssure with gases. He was operated on and the vet actually let us see his insides - obviously werent allowed on theatre floor but he took us to door to look in and he had to remove some of the bowel as about a third of the tissue had died, the rest was borderline. We were told to go home as he would take ages to come round. we were only an hour down the road and they phoned to say he was up and couldn't believe it.

We went to see him next day and was told he is worse than he looked - you would normally get told the other way. He seemed ok in himself but had no colour in his gums. We went for something to eat and were going back before heading home. When we went back 2 vets were waiting - he had died. I was 17 at the time and till this day I can't think about it without crying.

So please always get a vet - although in my opinion my horse would have survived if we had not got that idiot vet - at least he was drugs that may have eased the pain. ANd if in doubt ask for a referrel - the vets at the royal dick vet in Edinburgh were absolutely 100% amazing even although the outcome was not as we hoped