Colic

Friesians anecdotally are more prone to gas, impaction, and tortion colic, stomach rupture, and Mesocolic Rente colic (when the horse colics and the intestines twist and go through the hole in the mesentary, get stuck, and the tissue dies.) Several vets have commented that there is a general belief in the vet world that Friesians have less dorsal body wall attachments than other breeds, making them more prone to tortion colic. This information comes from surgeons who have performed colic surgeries on Friesians. Specified feeding, turnout management and worming can help prevent colic incidence in Friesians.