THE HEALTH BASICS

Horses may be big tough creatures, but they are very sensitive on the inside.
The slightest change in a horses vital signs can indicate current or upcoming problems, from minor to life threatening. So it is good to know, what is ‘normal’ for your horse. Here are some simple vital sign checks that everyone should do, not only when your horse is ‘off’ but also when he is feeling fine, so that you know when even a slight change has occurred.

Pulse - the pulse rate for an adult horse at rest should be 26-40 beats per minute. For younger horses it is faster, foals 70-90 bpm, yearlings 45-60 bpm, 2 year olds 40-50 bpm. To measure a horses pulse, the pulse can be found near the front left jawbone, under the jawbone there is a major artery, use your forefinger on it to feel the pulse.

Temperature - a horses temperature should be between 37.5 - 38.5 degrees C. For some horses, a lower or slightly higher temperature is normal. Horses are very temperature sensitive, and in some cases a change on half or one degree can mean trouble. Keep in mind before measuring that the weather and exercise can affect temperature of a horse.

Respiration - An adult horse at rest should have 8-16 breaths per minute - keep in mind to only count the inhale OR the exhale, or count when the ribcage expands.

Gums, Eyelids and Capillary Refill - both are mucous membranes and should be pink. You can check capillary refill by pressing your thumb against the upper lip for 2 seconds until it is white, the pink coloration should return within 1-2 seconds.
Moist Pink: Healthy normal circulation.
Very Pale Pink: Capillaries contracted, indicates fever, blood loss or anemia.
Bright Red: Capillaries enlarged, indicates toxicity or mild shock.
Gray or Blue: Severe shock, depression and illness.
Bright Yellow: Associated with liver problems.
Also, any odd odors coming from the mouth could indicate a tooth infection or other problem.

Dehydration - you can test a horses level of hydration by simply pinching the skin on his neck, the skin should flatten back to it’s normal level within a second, anything longer means the horse is dehydrated.

Gut Sounds - In general, with horses you should be more concerned if there are no gut sounds, rather than excessive gut sounds. Gut sounds should always be present, and their absence may indicate colic. You can best hear your horses gut by placing your ear against the barrel just behind the last rib. Check both sides and if you have a stethoscope use it.

Appetite - You likely feed your horse and watch him eat everyday, so a noticeable change in his appetite means there could be something wrong with him. A horse with less appetite than usual should be watched closely, as well as his water consumption. If he does not regain appetite soon, there is likely something wrong and a vet should be called.

Behavior - a noticeable change in a horses behavior is often an indicator of a problem. All horses are different and have different dispositions, so use discretion. But if you know your horse is spirited and he is acting lethargic, or if your quiet horse is suddenly acting rank, there is likely something going on. Keep in mind factors that could affect behavior, like change of location, feed, weather etc...


It is always good to know what is normal & natural for your horse, and even if you don’t check vitals regularly, keep in mind a healthy horse should have a nice coat, bright eyes, and alert ears to greet you with everyday.