Is your horse healthy?
Is it fat, thin, or have chronic lameness issues? When turned out in to the pasture does it run and play, or saunter out slowly, without any lust for life? Does your horse have any vices? Does he, or she, fuss when being groomed or saddled? Does its coat have dapples? Surprisingly most people do not know what are the signs of a healthy horse, and worse still, they do not know how to maintain their horses health.
A healthy horse is bright and alert, it interacts with other horses and enjoys a good run every now and then. A healthy horse is not one that is prone to lameness, and does not show signs of stress. A healthy horse is not over or underweight, and is a joy to be around. Dapples on a horses coat are often a sign of excellent health.
Normal horse temperature is 99 - 101 F, with a respiration rate of about 8 - 15 breaths per minute. They drink about 5 gallons of water a day. Of course most owners do not take their horses temperature regularly, but if you see a sign of a health concern these are two things to check before calling your veterinarian so you can give them the information over the phone.
If you want to keep your horse healthy there are some very basic things you should do.
1. Start with a healthy horse. When buying your horse, have it checked by a veterinarian of your choice.
2. Maintain regular veterinarian checks, deworming, and vaccinations. Do not forget to have the vet check your mounts teeth too! If a horse is experiencing painful teeth, it will fuss when being bridled and will not work well in the bridle.
3. Maintain a regular farrier routine. Did you know some health problems will show up in the foot? I refer to founder, which is common in ponies but occurs in all breeds of horses. Additionally over grown feet can result in leg problems. Clean out your horses hooves daily.
4. Have the horse on a good feeding program. Moldy hay is NOT suitable for equines. Too many oats will lead to founder. Poor quality, or dusty, hay will have its own list of problems. Some areas produce hay lacking in certain minerals, so find out if this is a problem in your area. Mineral supplements are available for horses, and they should have a salt lick. Bran mashes will help your horse have a regular digestive system.
5. Regular exercise is a must. Riding a horse hard for one day then leaving it for a week before riding it again is very hard on a horse.
6. Do not forget "Mental Health". A bored horse will show signs of stress or depression, they will develop vices such as weaving or cribbing. Horses get bored if they are stabled too much or if their riding routine is dull and without purpose or variety. A barrel racer, for example, will enjoy a, occasional trail ride rather than just running barrels day after day.
7. Regular grooming has three benefits, it keeps your horses skin and coat healthy. It helps you bond with your horse, and if your horse has injured itself, you will quickly notice any swelling or tender spots. Regular grooming includes sheath cleaning if you own a gelding or stallion.
8. Horses benefit from having a friend, they are herd animals. If you cannot have a second horse, even the company of a donkey, goat, or llama, will help your horse to be healthier, both mentally, and physically. A horse will exercise more with a companion.
9. Horses require shelter from the wind, rain, heat, and snow. Even a small stand of trees is better than nothing, but a proper shelter is better than that. If you stable your horse, make sure the stall is safe and bedded correctly. Fencing should be in good repair, and checked regularly. The pasture should neither be muddy nor rock hard. If the horse is stabled, the stall should be kept well bedded, and dry.
10. Finally, the best way to keep your horse as healthy as a horse, is by spending a lot of time with it. Knowing what your horses normal behavior is, will alert you quickly to problems.
Prevention of problems is the best way of saving yourself a lot of worry and expense. Acting quickly when there is a problem is the second best thing an owner can do to help keep their equine friend happy and healthy.