Appearance and behaviour of healthy and unhealthy horses

Demeanour

Healthy:

• energetic

• alert

• responsive to surroundings

• ears moving

• interacting

• willing to work

• watching

• listening

• calling

• > shows normal behaviour patterns, unique to every horse

Unhealthy:

• different to usual behaviour

• listless (no energy)

• anxious, nervous, restless

• stands away from other horses

• unwilling to work

• unresponsive to surroundings

• ears appear “droppy”

• one eye half closed

Appetite

Healthy

• eats all of its feed

• hungry

• drinks water

Unhealthy

• not interested in food

• does not finish feed

• drops food or dribbles

• will not drink, or drinks excessively

Coat and Skin

Healthy

• Shiny and bright

• appropriate to the climate

• free of skin conditions

Unhealthy

• dull

• hairy or coarse

• could have external parasites, fungi, wounds, abrasions

• sores on skin

• sweating

• bald patches

Eyes

Health

• bright

• clear

• fully open

Unhealthy

• dull

• discharge

• half shut

• eyelashes pointing down

Condition

Healthy

• round and toned muscles

• ribs can’t be seen, but can be felt

Unhealthy

• excessively (very) fat

• skinny with bony points

• muscle wasting (decrease in the size of the muscle)

Manure

Healthy

• regular (8 times a day)

• varies depending on diet

• typically brown colour

• when fed on fresh spring grass - firm, green coloured balls, that break easily

Unhealthy

• irregular or not defecating (passing manure)

• very loose with bad smell

• hard and dark

Urine

Healthy

• clear, pale yellow colour

• take note of smell to know if it is normal for horse

• should be passed 2 to 3 times a day

Unhealthy

• difficulty urinating

• cloudy, dark or blood in urine

• smell might be stronger than normal

• urinating more or less than normal

• urinating more frequently can be a sign a mare is in season

Hooves

Healthy

• dark and shiny

• about 1cm Growth per month

• should feel cool

• frog should be firm but elastic

• sole clean and hard

Unhealthy

• dull

• cracked and brittle

• slow grow or faster than normal

• warm to touch, but not from sunlight

• lameness

• smelly discharge from frog or sole

Legs and tendons

Healthy

• cool and hard

• tight

• free from cuts, lumps, bumps

Unhealthy

• swelling or bumbs

• warm to touch

• puffiness

• appear painful

• cuts or abrasions

Mucous membranes (insides eyelids and gums)

Healthy

• healthy light, pink colour

Unhealthy

• very pale pink: capillaries contracted, indicates fever, blood loss, anaemia

• bright red: capillaries enlarged, indicates toxicity or mild shock

• grey or blue: severe shock, depression, illness

• bright yellow: associated with liver problems

Nostrils and breathing

Healthy

• clear

• Breathing at rest should be quiet, regular and slow

Unhealthy

• discharge - mucous, clear or bloody

• Breathing - fast noisy, heavy or laboured (horse is struggling to breathe)

• Coughing

• Sneezing

Stance

Healthy

• head up

• Stands square

Unhealthy

• head held low

• Stance tucked up, hunched or stretched out

• Rests a foreleg or a hind unusually

• Pawing

Movement

Healthy

• should move soundly, with perfect level, even stride

Unhealthy

• lame, short or uneven stride

• Bearing more weight on another leg

• Moving stiffly

Rest

Healthy

• lying down for short periods and rolling occasionally, usually after exercise

• Bedding for stable looks normal for the horse

• Standing normally

Unhealthy

• Lying down for several hours on end

• Rolling frequently has disturbed bedding and rugs

• Has made scuff marks on stable walls or on hooves