My 3 year old quarter horse possibly has a mild case of colic from over feeding her high nutrient foods ( oops : ( ) She is no longer laying down, shes eating small amounts grass little hay, shes drinking water and passing small stool. When she was really bad she wasn't biting at her tummy, just laying down getting up, stetching her legs in front of her and stretching kneck when laying down. Also hind legs were really sore, I assumed from laying on them? But she is getting more sensitive to touch at her tummy. It seems the pain is spreading all over her tummy rather then just on the bottom? First horse First time, I have faith, but not sure why her tummy would be getting worse when signs of getting better are happening?

Call your vet.

Now.

any other ideas of what may be happening? we have talked to the vet, when first signs, we fed her too much grain and pellets, the vet said sounds she has really bad stomach ache, as she was not showing any signs of severe colic, although all horses are different i guess

also she is much more active and alert

Why hasn't the vet been out to see this horse if she's laid out in the stall with obvious stomach pain?

Nobody over the internet can tell you what's wrong with your horse. You need to get a vet out there ASAP.

she is not laid out anymore, she is up and active. she was up and down for one day, now she is fairly normal just sensitive tummy. The vet has came out, and I have talked to her twice, but thanks for the snappy rude comments, this forum thing is great ; )

Speed racer's comments weren't rude, IMO, albeit 'snappy' but this is because colic is a potential emergency, can cause death and this is an internet forum, not a vet's surgery able to examine the horse. I would get the vet back out(or a good equine vet, if the first isn't that) if she's still hurting.

Hopefully the vet is knowledgeable about, and has explained to you about equine digestion & feeding, so you know about the dangers of feeding starchy/sugary feeds & understand to feed little & often, high fibre, etc. It's not 'high nutrient foods' but high starch/sugar especially in large &/or infrequent meals that is the maini issue.

Actually some of what was said, was deleted some how? Anyways yes my vet has been contacted several times. Thanks for the concern! I am very aware of the different forms of colic and what they can be caused by and I know exactly how she got her mild form! I just assumed I would get different tips on what can help her recover nicely as this is what I thought peeps on these forums would do. I understood colic can be deadly! very aware! also if someone possibly can not afford a vet, advice would be nice ! My vet has been out and she is wonderfull : )

This is what we did for anyone interested. We walked her, let her lay down for comfort as she was not internally twisted or in severe pain! Let her drink water, after 24 hours she was walking around and eating small amounts of green grass , we allowed her a leaf of hay and bute! she is now up and in spirits not having to lay down or no more pawing : ) But still sensitive as this will probably be sore for a few more days. We are going to up her hay again, and in a week start her slowly on her recomended feeding, (which I did overdose at first) of grain, alfalfa cubes, as this years hay was not up to standards (in BC) ... being a young horse she needs more high nutrient foods.
I did assume this was going to be advice from experienced horse people, as many folks with experience have gone through this many times and sometimes have wonderfull advice.

Yes, the way I understand it, not feeding her is a precaution just in case she has to be operated on. It's not good for a horse's system to go hungry for any length of time though, so if your vet has deemed she's on the mend & not needing an op, definitely give her more hay as soon as she's allowed. If she is the type to gorge on it though, little & often may be safer than free choice, while her system's still fragile. I'd also be giving her a probiotic, to get her digestive system off to a good start again & also help counter the bute.

Yeah, being a domestic horse, young or otherwise, pasture/hay is not likely to give her balanced nutrition, so she will indeed benefit from a good quality nutritional supp. Alfalfa is good for supplying extra energy that may be needed as well as nutrients such as calcium and protein. If she's in hard work, she may need more extra energy, but generally there are safer alternatives to grain & other high starch/sugar feeds.

If you are going to feed high starch/sugar for some reason, it is extra important that it is introduced gradually, over a week or 2 and the horse is fed little & often - the 'high GI' ingredients mixed in with lots of roughage - chaff, beet pulp or such, fed in small meals over at least 3 feeds daily, pref more. Grain should also be processed - cooked, mironised, etc. This will help her be able to cope better with these feeds and reduce the risk & severity of problems that can arise from this feed.