Daily Health Checks - Your Horse & Health Tips

You are responsible for your horse s health and it is important to monitor and check their well being on a daily basis. It only takes a few minutes and you can easily put your horse s health check into your daily routine.

You want to observe your horse s body language. You want to make sure their eyes appear bright and alert and they should be standing with a normal posture. When walking the horse it should bear weight equally on each limb and not appear uncomfortable.

If your horse is laying down more than usual or rolling repeatedly this could be a sign of colic. Look around at the whole stable and if his bedding is unusually messy then he may have been showing signs of colic before you arrived. Another thing to watch for is signs of sweating when at rest and the weather is not especially warm.

You should check your horse s legs for any wounds, bumps, heat or swelling. You can also check the condition of the hooves and make sure that all four shoes are intact and in good shape. You should also check his eyes to make sure they appear normal and there is no swelling or discharge around them. Also note any coughing or nasal discharge. You will also want to examine his coat for lumps, scabs or rubbed areas. The horse s coat should appear shiny and healthy.

Another thing to be on the lookout for is if your horse seems to have a loss of appetite. If your horse has left his feed and isn t eating his hay you should contact your vet. You should also observe your horse when he is chewing to see if he shows any signs of discomfort. You want to also monitor his water intake and if the horse is drinking unusually little or large amounts you may want to check with your vet.

If you monitor and observe your horse on a daily basis you will be able to determine when something may be wrong with them.

When you first think about buying a horse, pony or donkey think about the insurance company that you wish to go through. It is one of the most important purchases you will make.

Do you have a comment or advice you would like to share with our horse insurance customers? We are always looking for your feedback and if you have great tips and advice to share with others please submit them right here by commenting on on this blog posting. Thank you and enjoy the blogs