Know your horse

There are certain health checks every horse owner should know, and must conduct regularly in order to be alert to when a horse is off colour

BEING able to undertake basic horse health checks in order to monitor your horse’s vital signs and recognising typical indications of illness early are skills that every horse owner should have.

TAKING A HORSE’S TEMPERATURE

THE average healthy horse’s temperature is in the range of 37–38°C or 98.5–100.5°F. An increase in temperature is typically an early sign that your horse’s health is not as it should be, so it is recommended that all horses have regular temperature readings taken. This allows you to identify what is normal for each individual horse so that changes can be picked up easily.

Daily monitoring of horses’ temperatures is common practice in many top competition and racing yards. It is hugely beneficial if horses can be trained to have their temperature taken as part of normal routine, just like grooming and picking out the feet.

• A horse’s temperature is taken rectally, ideally with a digital thermometer but an old-fashioned mercury thermometer can also be used. If the horse is unfamiliar with this procedure someone should hold them while it takes place.

• A mercury thermometer should be shaken vigorously until the mercury is below the temperature scale. Digital thermometers just need to be turned on.

• Lubricate the end of the thermometer with petroleum jelly or a similar substance.