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<h1>Quick Check Your Horses Health</h1>

Do you check your horse&#8217;s general condition on a regular
basis? Do you know what to look for to make sure your horses health
is where it should be? This is something you should make a habit of
doing on a daily basis. And once you know what you are doing it
should not take you very long. This will prevent something minor
turning into something major.
First, each day when you go out to visit your horse, whether at
your home or if you board your horse at a farm, think about what
your overall impression of her. Does she look well, does she have a
healthy appearance? What are your first thoughts? Below are major
areas to observe.
Mobility &#8211; Does your horse move with comfort, on or off
the halter and lead. Is her coordination good, is she reluctant to
move, stiff or seem to be in pain when she walks.
Posture &#8211; When you look at your horse at a stand still, is
she standing squarely on all four legs or balancing on three legs
with the fourth hind leg in an easy resting position? Alternating
the resting hind leg is a sign of a sound horse; they should not
always rest the same hind leg.
Expressiveness &#8211; A horse, like most animals, facial
expressions show that they are not feeling normal, from a small
ache to a large pain, there facial expressions will show you how
they are feeling, sometimes they may even act out with anger if you
accidentally touch the area that is hurting, the horse may try to
lash out and bite or kick you. Keep an eye out for glassy stares or
an anxious pre-occupied appearance.
Reaction to Your Visit &#8211; As your horse gets to know you,
she will definitely respond to your presence, either with a whinny
or other time of reaction. Learn how your horse reacts, if she does
not react to your presence when she normally reacts this is a big
red flag that something may be going on and that she does not feel
well.
Hydration &#8211; If you are familiar with the skin pinch test,
this will show you if you horse is hydrated. If you don&#8217;t
know this procedure, just pinch a small amount of skin on the
horses neck, it should return to its normal place, if the skin
stays up the horse is dehydrating or already dehydrated. A very fit
horses skin may be a bit thinner and take longer to return to its
normal position, this does not mean they are dehydrated, so you may
want to also perform the capillary refill test where you use your
thumb to pressure blanch a spot on their gums just above the corner
incisor, then remove your thumb quickly and count the seconds it
takes for the color to return. The capillary refill time is a
measure of blood pressure and volume.
You should also check and monitor your horse&#8217;s vital
signs. This includes her pulse, respiratory rate, temperature and
the capillary refill time. First, stand beside your horses rear
end, on her left side if you are right handed and vice versa for
left. Stand close to avoid getting kicked. Drape the arm closest to
your horse over her rump and gently grasp her tail. Have a
lubricated thermometer ready in your other hand. Lift her tail
gently, if she clamps down, gently wiggle her tailbone to assist in
relaxation. Gently insert the thermometer into her anus, taking
care to hold the end of it gently with your thumb and index finger,
keeping the thermometer in place for the recommended
manufacturer&#8217;s time limit. Remove and read. It&#8217;s that
simple, just be cautious the first few times you take her
temperature.
Most importantly, if you are unsure or have any signs that
something is not normal with your horse, check with your
veterinarian or veterinary staff at your barn and have her checked
out, a simple problem can be corrected quickly, but some things
that are let go, may turn into a serious life threatening illness,
so pay very close attention to your horse and her health.

<div>Author Info 
Nanette Hughston is a freelance writer from the southern United
States Region. She has a bachelor&#8217;s degree in finance. She
rides dressage with Grand Prix Level Trainer, Tracy Masterson at
Highlife Farms, Orlando, FL. For more information and articles
please see her website at 
<a target="_new" href="http://www.dressageamerica.com">http://www.dressageamerica.com</a>
and to visit her training site, please visit 
<a target="_new" href="http://www.highlifefarms.com">http://www.highlifefarms.com</a>
for dressage and hunter/ jumper information. Permission for reprint
is granted with full bio remaining intact.
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