Checklist for a Healthy Horse

Posted by Doug Stewart

Before buying or choosing a new horse, it is important to check its health. Although it is impossible to be 100% certain that a horse is completely healthy, there are a number of tests which can identify most potential health risks. Following is a checklist.

The first indication is the general appearance. It should have a shinny, even and flat coat. The body should be well muscled, neither fat nor skinny. When standing, it should spread its weight evenly on all four legs, with each hoof pointing straight ahead. While normal to rest a leg from time to time, it should not be for long periods or always the same leg, as this would indicate an injury or weakness.

The legs should be free from swellings, bumps or hot spots. Slowly run your hands over the entire length of the legs, with special attention to the lower parts. The outside of the hooves should be smooth, even and free of cracks.

Lift a hoof and examine the sole to ensure that there are no marks or indications of previous injury and that it is correctly shaped. Repeat with the other hooves. The angle and tilt of all four hooves should be correct and identical. If the horse is reluctant to lift one of its feet, this may be because it does not want to lift a good leg and put more weight on a bad one.

The gums should be shinny, moist and pink. If one presses on the gums with a finger, they will turn white, but should return to pink within two seconds of removing your finger.

Check the teeth (you may want to use the services of a horse dentist) for spurs, unevenness or excessive wear. Try feeding the horse hay and watch how it eats. It should use both sides of its jaw equally and eat steadily. Dropping hay or leaving hay partly chewed indicates a problem either with the teeth or the jaw joints.

Check the droppings of the horse. They should not be loose or sloppy (not like a cow’s). The odor should be mild and inoffensive. The color will depend on the diet. If a horse is under nervous stress (e.g. during transport) it is normal for the droppings to become more liquid but this should correct itself as soon as the horse is returned to normal conditions.

The horse should look happy, alert and interested in what is happening. Its ears should stand up and should move alertly in response to sounds. It should be interested in what is happening around it, but not nervous.

Have someone ride the horse in an exercise ring while you watch. They should gradually take it through a walk, trot and gallop; going first in one direction and then in the other. At all times the horse should display an easy, smooth movement with strides of consistent length, carrying its weight evenly on all four legs.

It should not start to sweat (unless the weather is hot) until it has been worked for some time as a fast gait. Likewise, its respiration should not be fast unless worked hard, although a gradual increase in respiration as the gait speeds up is normal. After working the horse fast for a while, gradually slow down, spending some time in each gait. As the gait reduces, the respiration should quickly reduce as well. Once the horse stops exercising, its respiration and pulse should rapidly return to normal. Any sign of pain, limping or discomfort during or after exercise should be carefully investigated. Failure to meet any of these criteria may indicate a health issue. Alternatively, they may simply mean that the horse has not received regular conditioning exercise.

One should also ask the current owner about the medical history and ask permission to discuss the horse with its regular vet. Ask to see the inoculation and medical records for the horse. Ask if it has every had any illness, in particular colic or laminitis. Be concerned about any incomplete or evasive answers.

Various Horse Care articles such as the above are authored by Doug Stewart, the owner of Horses for Sale.