Horse Health, Condition and First Aid
Normal first, then abnormal
You cannot recognise illness without knowing normal values. A resting adult horse has a temperature around 37.5-38.5 degrees Celsius, a pulse of roughly 28-44 beats per minute, and 8-16 breaths per minute. Gut sounds should be present in all four quadrants. Capillary refill time under two seconds, pink gums and a moist muzzle indicate good perfusion. Know how to take a temperature safely and how to assess hydration with a skin pinch.
Condition scoring and common conditions
Body condition is scored on a standard scale, typically 1 to 9 or 1 to 5, assessing the neck, withers, ribs, tailhead and rump. Learn to recognise colic, laminitis, tying-up, choke, dehydration, heat stress, wounds, abscesses and lameness. Colic is a sign, not a diagnosis: signs include pawing, flank watching, rolling, reduced gut sounds and inappetence. Laminitis signs include a rocked-back stance and heat in the hoof. Choke involves feed material in the oesophagus, not the airway.
First aid principles
Assess safety, then the horse, then call the veterinarian. Control bleeding with direct pressure, cool wounds with clean water, immobilise suspected fractures, and do not remove penetrating objects. Keep a stocked first aid kit and a record of treatments.
Traps to watch
- Confusing choke with airway obstruction.
- Treating colic by walking the horse for hours rather than seeking veterinary advice.
- Forgetting that a normal temperature does not rule out pain.
- Removing a nail or splinter from a hoof or wound.
Rule of thumb
"Signs, not diagnosis." Describe what you observe, record it, and escalate to the veterinarian rather than naming a disease.
Worked example: A horse is sweating, has a heart rate over 60 and is pawing at its flank. Correct action: remove feed, keep it calm and safe, monitor vital signs, call the vet. Do not force exercise or administer medication.