GettingtoKnowYour

Just like people, each horse is an individual. The most important thing you can do for your horse is understand what is normal for him or her. By knowing him as well as possible, you'll be able to recognize when something is wrong right away and be able to react to it quickly. What could be dismissed as a minor problem might be an indication of a life threatening condition, if you do not know what is normal for your horse. If you must call your veterinarian, the more information you can give him or her, the quicker they'll be able to help you reach a diagnosis and begin treatment.

1. Record your horse's normal vital signs for future reference: temperature, resting heart rate, resting respiration, capillary refill time. Get in the habit of checking your horse(s) routinely so you'll know what is normal and what is not. It is also a good idea to get them used to having vital signs checked so they are cooperative in an emergency. Every horse owner should be able to check his or her horse's vital signs! If you do not know how, please ask your veterinarian to show you on his next visit.

2. What are his normal eating habits? Does your horse normally empty his bowl right away or does he pick at it throughout the day? Refusing feed can be the first symptom of many horse illnesses.

3. What are his normal drinking habits? Does your horse drink small amounts frequently or only visit the water trough once a day? How much does he drink per day? If your horse stops drinking water you may either: a.) have something in the water trough (a dead mouse for example) b.) have a sick horse or c.) have a horse that is getting ready to collick. It's important to take notice of daily water intake and it's easy to keep track of if you are providing fresh water at least twice per day.

4. What are his resting habits? Is he a heavy sleeper who normally lays down to sleep or does he only lay down when he's sick? We've all had our heart stop at the site of our horse reclining flat on his side in the pasture. Knowing your yearling filling normally lays down thoughout the day could save a vet bill. On the other hand, a horse that refuses to get up can indicate an emergency.

5. What is his health history? It's important to know as much history as possible about your horse, such as, has he ever been lame? What was the cause of the lameless? Has he ever collicked? What illnesses, if any has he had? Get as much information about your horse from the previous owners as you can.

7. When was he last trimmed? Also note whether or not he was lame in the days following. Do your horse's feet get sore from putting on shoes or removing shoes or from trimming?

8. Is your horse is sensitive to hard or soft ground surfaces? (For example pavement, frozen ground or drought affected areas = hard ground. Beach or mud = soft ground) Make note of the footing conditions prior to your horse going lame. If you can establish a pattern of lameness following certain footing conditions, you might save yourself a vet bill.

9. Run your hands over your horse routinely. Note blemishes, scars, and lumps, especially on the legs. If you horse is lame, it's important to know whether "that bump" was there before he went lame or if it is something new. Routinely feel legs for heat so you know what feels normal for your horse. The sooner you can detect heat and treat it, the less likely you'll end up with permanent damage. Pay attention to any painful reaction that wasn't there the last time you ran your hands over your horse. You might be able to pick up on soreness being cause by an ill fitting saddle before a problem develops, for example.

10. When were your horse's teeth last checked? An often overlooked cause of illness, pay attention to indications of teeth problems. Does grain normally spill out of your horses mouth when he eats? Does he normally drool? This can be normal behavior for an older horse, but might indicate a problem if your horse doesn't normally do it. You can carefully feel the outside of the molars yourself for sharp edges. By regularly checking them, once again, you'll know what is normal for your horse. You'll also be able to tell if your horse's mouth is sensitive to touch, which might indicate the beginning of a tooth and/or bitting problem.

* This is provided as a guideline for horse owners to determine what is normal for their horse. It is not intended to replace veterinary advice. As always, please consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions about your horse's health.