If you actually value your horse's health, and you must, you should make it a bit of a habit of giving him a mini health check up every day. It need not be a long and difficult affair, it takes just one or two minutes, however it tells lots of stories about your horse's health. You should really know the easiest way to distinguish the good stories from the bad ones. The list of queries and answers given below will be of real help to you in keeping your horse in top condition.
What is your horse's standing posture like?
Relaxed horses regularly stand with lowered heads and one hind leg resting loosely. While this is an usual equine standing position, you want to get alert if your pony is standing with one foreleg resting. Trot him out to test and see if there are any signs of lameness. If you can't make up your mind, call your vet for a more definitive and professional examination. Horses typically should not be standing with their forelegs resting.
What expression is he showing?
Your horse's expression is quite frequently a reliable giveaway of his state of health. You should be well used to your horse's standard countenance. If he is usually a ray of sunshine and you see him looking like an eclipsed moon, you would be right to think something wrong. Specific signs to watch out for are dull eyes, ears laid forward and drooping instead of hanging head, Keep a watch, and if he doesn't improve within a reasonable period, call your vet.
What is your horse's lying down posture like?
Horses lie down now and then. Sometimes they nap, occasionally they just like to bask in the sunshine. If your horse looks to be doing some relaxing together with the remainder of his herd, you have no cause for alarm. If he rolls with a feeling of happiness, you again need feel no fear. If he is rolling jerkily and restlessly or with agitation, you will have to do some further investigation. That sort of rolling is a probable symptom of upset gut or perhaps colic. Keep watching, and if your pony doesn't cease soon, it is time for the vet.
Are your horse's feet in fine fettle?
An exhaustive check of the legs is something that you should do every day without exception, even if your horse hasn't been ridden since the last check. A horse could cause injury to his legs anywhere, even in the pasture and in the stalls, and for several reasons. Run a hand down each one of the legs in turn, and keep a sharp eye out for swelling, temperature, injuries and bumps. Though you may take a while, you'll soon be so used to his normal leg temperatures that you will be able to sense abnormalities. If you do detect anything, take him out for a small trot and seek symptoms of lameness. Call your vet if he seems to be stiff or limps, or if he bobs his head while moving.
Does he have a healthy appetite?
Keep an eye open for his appetite. Horses usually are large eaters, and if your pony is typical, it's time to go to red alert if he is ignoring his feed. Any pony that is not feeding normally is also sure to stop drinking water. If you see that your horse skips more than one meal times, get the vet over.
Does he excrete normally?
Another item you should keep an eye out for is dung. Horse excreta provides a good sign of pony health. You should be familiar with the general texture of horse manure: the piles are well formed and are simply breakable in half. If your pony's excreta does not appear to be normal, you can tell some things depending on what the abnormality is. Dry and hard dung tells you your horse has not been drinking enough water. Loose dung means either that your pony is consuming excessively rich feed or he's got a bug or other problem which has caused diarrhea.
And always stay on red alert for worms! The presence of worms in the manure tells you it is time for a pretty serious deworming session. Some parasites can be intensely dangerous.
What is your horse's standing posture like?
Relaxed horses regularly stand with lowered heads and one hind leg resting loosely. While this is an usual equine standing position, you want to get alert if your pony is standing with one foreleg resting. Trot him out to test and see if there are any signs of lameness. If you can't make up your mind, call your vet for a more definitive and professional examination. Horses typically should not be standing with their forelegs resting.
What expression is he showing?
Your horse's expression is quite frequently a reliable giveaway of his state of health. You should be well used to your horse's standard countenance. If he is usually a ray of sunshine and you see him looking like an eclipsed moon, you would be right to think something wrong. Specific signs to watch out for are dull eyes, ears laid forward and drooping instead of hanging head, Keep a watch, and if he doesn't improve within a reasonable period, call your vet.
What is your horse's lying down posture like?
Horses lie down now and then. Sometimes they nap, occasionally they just like to bask in the sunshine. If your horse looks to be doing some relaxing together with the remainder of his herd, you have no cause for alarm. If he rolls with a feeling of happiness, you again need feel no fear. If he is rolling jerkily and restlessly or with agitation, you will have to do some further investigation. That sort of rolling is a probable symptom of upset gut or perhaps colic. Keep watching, and if your pony doesn't cease soon, it is time for the vet.
Are your horse's feet in fine fettle?
An exhaustive check of the legs is something that you should do every day without exception, even if your horse hasn't been ridden since the last check. A horse could cause injury to his legs anywhere, even in the pasture and in the stalls, and for several reasons. Run a hand down each one of the legs in turn, and keep a sharp eye out for swelling, temperature, injuries and bumps. Though you may take a while, you'll soon be so used to his normal leg temperatures that you will be able to sense abnormalities. If you do detect anything, take him out for a small trot and seek symptoms of lameness. Call your vet if he seems to be stiff or limps, or if he bobs his head while moving.
Does he have a healthy appetite?
Keep an eye open for his appetite. Horses usually are large eaters, and if your pony is typical, it's time to go to red alert if he is ignoring his feed. Any pony that is not feeding normally is also sure to stop drinking water. If you see that your horse skips more than one meal times, get the vet over.
Does he excrete normally?
Another item you should keep an eye out for is dung. Horse excreta provides a good sign of pony health. You should be familiar with the general texture of horse manure: the piles are well formed and are simply breakable in half. If your pony's excreta does not appear to be normal, you can tell some things depending on what the abnormality is. Dry and hard dung tells you your horse has not been drinking enough water. Loose dung means either that your pony is consuming excessively rich feed or he's got a bug or other problem which has caused diarrhea.
And always stay on red alert for worms! The presence of worms in the manure tells you it is time for a pretty serious deworming session. Some parasites can be intensely dangerous.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers visit HorseHorses
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers visit HorseHorses
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