Horse Health Checks: 12 Ways to Check Your Horse is Healthy

Lately, here at South Moor Equine Vets, we’ve chatted to many horse owners, old and new. Many are not confident about horse health checks and what they can monitor on their horse or how to make sure that they are healthy.

So, we have described some regular health checks you could be doing for your horse in order to stay informed and feel confident that your horse is in the best possible condition.

1. Your horse’s temperature

Why does my horse’s temperature matter?

Temperature spikes above the normal range can indicate fever, infection, or other health problems. A slightly elevated temperature could also be a response to stress or exertion, so monitor patterns over time for accurate assessment.

Body temperature is one of the most important horse health checks you can do as a gauge of how healthy your horse is. Also, if a horse spikes a temperature, it could be infectious to other horses, so early recognition could help prevent a disease outbreak on a yard.

The stated normal temperature for a horse is between 37.5°C and 38.5°C. In reality, we find that a ‘normal’ temperature of a horse is below 38.3°C.

How do I check my horse’s temperature?

Unless you have some reason to think your horse could be super cold (i.e. you have found them down in a ditch), don’t worry too much about the temperature being low: we find in normal horses that the temperature often reads below 37.5°C and the horse is perfectly healthy. Be sure to clean the thermometer after each use.

The best way to get an accurate reading is to use a digital thermometer: just a normal one from the chemist is fine; you don’t need anything special! BE VERY CAREFUL!!!

Always take the following safety precautions:

Don’t stand behind your horse.

Don’t stand directly behind them, but reach around to the side. Some horses take exception to having a thermometer put up their backside! You will be stood by their back legs and they can kick hard and fast, which could result in serious injury.

Wear protective equipment, including your riding hat.

Don’t be too proud to wear your riding hat while doing horse health checks such as this: these will help protect your head from a kick and are not just in case you fall off when riding. Make sure you have enough light to see what you are doing: wear a head torch if necessary.

Reassure your horse.

I am right-handed, so I stand on the left side of the horse and hold the tail to the far side with my left hand. Some horses will clamp their tails down hard, which can make it very challenging. I talk to the horse and pat them gently so they know where I am.

Always have a competent person holding the headcollar.

Make sure someone competent is holding the headcollar. I then insert the thermometer into the anus gently using my right hand, then hold it to the side a little so that it rests up against the lining of the rectum, rather than sitting in some poo in the middle and possibly under-reading the temperature.

Do the procedure regularly. 

You can repeat it a few times by just pressing the button again after it beeps and adjusting your position each time if you aren’t sure. By doing this horse health checks such as this procedure regularly (if it is safe to do so) and rewarding the horse for good behaviour, you will start to know what ‘normal’ is for your horse and it won’t be such a worrying job when you need to do it because you think your horse may be poorly.

horse health checks

2. How do I monitor my horse’s heart?

Why it Matters: A higher pulse at rest may suggest pain or sickness, while a pulse lower than 28 BPM can indicate potential heart issues. Check the pulse regularly to know what’s normal for your horse, and you will become more confident doing it if the worst happens and your horse gets sick.

Knowing the heart rate of a horse with colic is vital: your vet will always do this, but if you can monitor it before and after the vet is there, it will be super useful and reassuring for you and your vet.

Method for checking your horse’s pulse.

The resting heart rate for a healthy horse is typically 28 to 44 beats per minute (BPM). The pulse can be felt most easily under the jaw, but it can also be checked on the leg or chest.

This is most easily shown in person, but where the back part of the headcollar passes over the bone of the lower jaw is about where the artery is palpable to check the pulse.

If you gently run your fingers up and down over the jawbone at the point, you should feel what could be described as a ‘drinking straw’ just under the skin: if you gently place your fingers over this ‘drinking straw’, you should feel the pulse. Time the pulse over a minute (or 15 seconds and multiply by 4, or 30 seconds and times by 2, etc), and you should be able to know your horse’s heart rate.

3. Horse Health Checks: What is normal breathing for my horse?

Why it Matters: Faster or laboured breathing, especially at rest, may indicate respiratory infections, stress, or asthma.

Normal respiration should range between 8 and 16 breaths per minute.

To count, watch your horse’s flanks move in and out or place your hand near the nostrils. Time the number of times the horse takes a breath over a minute (or a shorter period of time and multiply to get breaths per minute). It is also worth getting used to how a horse breathes: some problems will make a horse breathe much deeper or using their abdominal muscles.

4. How can I use my horse’s coat and condition to assess health?

Why it Matters: A dull coat, flaky skin, or patches of hair loss could signal anything from poor nutrition to infections. Regular horse health checks should include checking the coat as it helps you catch issues like poorly fitting tack early on. Obesity can cause serious illness, and poor condition can indicate underlying health problems.

It can be difficult to gauge the degree of pink colouration if you aren’t used to it, so regular checks will get your eye in.

The coat should be shiny and smooth. Run your hands along the body to feel for lumps, bumps, or any areas of sensitivity. Skin conditions like ringworm, parasites, or allergic reactions may cause hair loss, bumps or scurfy skin.

Using a weigh tape may not provide an accurate measurement of your horse’s weight, but as long as you do it the same way each time, it should be able to tell you if your horse is gaining or losing weight. You can also give your horse a body condition score: there are lots of charts online to help with this.

5. What should my horse’s gums look like when it is healthy?

Why it Matters: Pale gums could mean anaemia. Bright red or blue gums may indicate circulatory problems/shock and severe sickness, which would need a vet as soon as possible. Gum checks are also an excellent way to gauge dehydration: they should be moist and not dry/tacky.

Healthy gums are pink and moist. Sometimes described as ‘salmon pink’ or pale pink. Lift your horse’s upper lip or lower lip to check what colour the gums are. You can also use the membranes around your horse’s eyes to check the colour.

6. Horse Health checks: I’ve heard of the ‘Capillary Refill Test’ – what is it and how do I do it?

Why it Matters: Delayed capillary refill suggests problems with circulation, dehydration, or shock. It can be difficult to interpret by itself, but if the horse is otherwise sick and has other abnormalities on your examination, it could represent a serious problem.

Press your finger against the gum to test capillary refill. This will blanch the gum and make it go a whiter colour. When released, the gum should return to normal colour in 1-2 seconds. Of all the horse health checks, this one is sometimes neglected.

7. Why should I regularly check my horse’s hooves?

Why it Matters: Hoof health is extremely important for soundness in the horse. Monitoring your horse’s feet might mean that you pick up problems such as laminitis or a foot abscess sooner. You can discuss any concerns you have with your farrier or vet.

The adage of ‘no foot, no horse’ is as true today as the day it was first stated decades ago. Your horse’s hooves should feel cool to the touch. Warm or hot hooves could signal inflammation, laminitis, or hoof abscesses. Regularly clean the hooves using a hoof pick to check for stones, dirt, or infections. This may not seem it but this is a vital part of your horse health checks.

You can check for a digital pulse as part of your routine management: this does take a little practice, and once you have it, you need to keep practising, or you will lose the knack! Don’t be embarrassed to get your vet to show you at the next visit. If you run your fingers from side to side over the skin on the inside and bottom of the fetlock (over the abaxial sesamoid bone on the inside), you should feel what could be described as a straw flicking under the skin. If you gently rest your fingers over this you can feel a pulse.

All horses should have a digital pulse, but if it feels much more obvious (often described as bounding) on one foot or both front feet, it can represent inflammation in the foot.

8. How do I inspect my horse’s Eyes, Ears, and Nose?

Why it Matters: Red or sore eyes and/or excessive discharge can indicate conditions such as conjunctivitis, corneal ulceration or uveitis. A nasal discharge can signify an infection: some of which can be infectious to other horses and very serious. If your horse has a nasal discharge a high temperature, they should be isolated from other horses immediately and your vet called. It is generally considered good advice to leave horse’s ears alone, but especially the inside of them: if you have any concerns speak to your vet.

What to look for.

Healthy eyes are clear and bright, with no discharge or redness. The nose should have no more than a slight, watery discharge, and the ears should be free of sensitivity or signs of infection.

9. How do I assess Movement and Balance my horse?

Why it Matters: Lameness, reluctance to move, wobbliness could be serious problems and early detection and treatment from a vet, could lead to better outcomes.

Watch your horse walk and trot to observe any signs of stiffness, limping, or uneven gait. Movement should be smooth and balanced. It can be really useful to spin your horse in a tight circle on a flat, hard surface: if they rock back onto their heels, it could indicate laminitis. They should not stand on their own feet or trip over: this could be a concern in terms of risk to a rider or handler of the horse is wobbly. Horse health checks should always include observing your horse’s movement.

10. What should I look for regarding Eating and Drinking Habits in my horse?

Why it Matters: Dehydration or loss of appetite can be serious. Always check water intake during hot weather or after heavy exercise, and if your horse refuses to eat, it may indicate sickness or dental pain.

Horses are tickle feeders, and healthy horses will eat and drink consistently. Sudden changes in appetite, slow eating, dropping food or leaving feed can be signs of dental issues or other clinical problems. Also, ensure they drink enough water—at least 5 gallons (23 litres) per day. Sometimes, when it gets very cold, horses can reduce their drinking as they don’t like the very cold water, which can lead to colic.

11. What about my horse’s poo?

Why it Matters: Consistent monitoring of droppings provides key insights into digestive health. Regular faecal worm egg counts should be part of your routine parasite management.

I’m sure you spend a lot of time picking up poo after your horse, whether it is in the stable or in the field, so you probably know exactly what is normal for your horse. If your horse hasn’t passed as many droppings overnight, for example, as you would routinely expect, it could be a sign of a problem. Similarly, a change in consistency of your horse’s dropping could be an early indicator of a problem.

Normal horse poo is formed but not hard.

12. What do Behavioural Changes mean in my horse?

Your horse’s mood and behaviour can offer subtle clues about its health. Lethargy, aggression, or anxious behaviour may indicate pain or discomfort. Clients often report behavioural changes to us. These can be challenging to interpret, but they can be very important indicators of an underlying problem.
Why it Matters: Horses are creatures of habit, so any sudden personality change can be a red flag. If your usually energetic horse becomes withdrawn, restless, or aggressive, it’s time to investigate and certainly monitoring this aspect is a vital part of your horse health checks.

By routinely monitoring these vital signs and behaviours, you can stand a better chance of avoiding potential health issues and ensure your horse remains happy, healthy, and comfortable. It’s always best to contact your vet for further guidance when in doubt.

If in doubt, contact South Moor Equine.

Never feel like a health situation has to be serious before you contact us or any good equine vet.  We are all delighted to support you in your desire to take the best possible care of your horse and do your horse health checks so we’ll be happy to help.