HEALTHY HORSE

Once you get to know your horses well, it gets easier to observe how is he feeling. For more unknown horses you can use the following checkpoints:

In the stable

-       He looks happy and alert, but relaxed (overall well-being)

-       His eyes are bright and nostrils clean, he doesn’t cough (respiratory system)

-       His breathing is regular and steady (respiratory system)

-       He stands evenly on all four legs and has no difficulties to back from the door if asked to do so (posture and movement co-ordination)

-       He is quite still in his stable; no constant walking, pawing, swaying or head-tossing (physical pain, stress)

-       His stable (box) is generally clean – no more disturbed than others, bedding not over- or under-wet, his droppings are normal both in quality and quantity and he drinks normally (colic, kidney function)

-       He eats normally, both off the floor and from the bowl (teeth, back or neck pain)

-       He is happy to lift his limbs and let his feet be picked up (balance, joints)

-       He doesn’t mind touching, blanketing or brushing and his coat is shiny (trust, skin condition)

-       He lies down easily and gets up without difficulties or pauses (the functional mobility of his spine and pelvis, balance)

-       He has occasional rolls and shakes himself after rolling (the functional mobility of his spine and pelvis, balance)

-       He has cool and clean limbs and no visibly cuts (bruises, tendons)

-       When leaded, he walks in and out his stable door willingly but relaxed (coping with restricted areas, body control and body position)

In the field you can also check that

-       He moves evenly and fluently and has three clear paces (lameness, mobility and co-ordination)

-       He mixes well socially with others (social behavior, temperament)

-       He lets willingly himself to be caught (the attitude towards human and work)

The vital signs

A healthy adult horse

-       Has 28-42 heart beats per minute

-       Has body temperature between 37,5 -38,5 C`

-       Breaths 8-12 times per minute

-       Takes little naps while standing up

-       Sleeps deeply for few hours in every 24 hours. That means lying down on his side, so the head and neck are also on the ground

-       His manure should be a pile of roughly spherical shaped droppings. There should be around 10 piles in a day.

2016 – 1 – LV01-KA202 – 022652

This project is funded

by the European Union