General information only. Every horse is different. For health concerns, always speak with your veterinarian, farrier or equine nutritionist.
01The five-minute check
A quick, consistent daily look is the single best way to catch problems early. Do it at the same time each day so changes stand out.
- Watch from a distance. Is your horse alert, bearing weight evenly, and behaving normally with its paddock neighbours? Note any horse standing apart or reluctant to move.
- Appetite and manure. Has feed been eaten? Are droppings a normal amount and consistency? Fewer droppings or no interest in feed can be early colic signs.
- Eyes and nose. Eyes should be clear and open; nostrils free of thick or coloured discharge.
- Legs. Run your hands down each leg. Look for heat, swelling, cuts or new lumps, and compare left with right.
- Hooves. Pick out each foot, check for stones, a strong smell (thrush), cracks or loose shoes.
- Skin and coat. Check for rubs under rugs, scabs on the lower legs (mud fever), bites or swellings.
- Water. Make sure the trough is clean, working and being used.
02Normal vital signs
These are typical ranges for a healthy adult horse at rest. Individual horses vary, so learn your own horse's normal.
| Sign | Normal adult range | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 37.2–38.3°C | Lubricated digital thermometer, rectally, standing to the side. |
| Pulse / heart rate | 28–44 beats per minute | Under the jaw bone, or stethoscope behind the left elbow. Count for 15 seconds × 4. |
| Respiration | 10–24 breaths per minute | Watch the flank rise and fall; one in-and-out is one breath. |
| Capillary refill | 2 seconds or less | Press the gum until pale; colour should return quickly. |
| Hydration | Skin returns in 1–2 seconds | Pinch a fold of skin on the neck or shoulder and release. |
| Gut sounds | Gurgles and rumbles on both sides | Ear or stethoscope on each flank. Prolonged silence is a concern. |
Know their normalTake and record your horse's temperature, pulse and respiration a few times when calm and well. A baseline makes it much easier for you — and your vet — to judge what's abnormal.
03How to take TPR safely
- Tie your horse up or have a helper hold them in a quiet spot.
- Take the temperature first, standing close beside the hindquarters, never directly behind.
- Find the pulse on the inside of the lower jaw with two fingers — not your thumb.
- Count breaths by watching the flank or feeling breath on your hand near the nostril.
- Write the numbers down with the time and share them when you call the vet.
04When to call the vet
Call your vet promptly if you notice
- Resting vital signs outside the normal ranges
- Signs of colic: pawing, rolling, looking at the flank, sweating, no droppings
- Sudden or severe lameness, or a strong, bounding pulse in the feet
- Coloured nasal discharge, a cloudy or closed eye, or swelling around the eye
- Wounds near joints, puncture wounds, or heavy bleeding
- A horse that won't eat or drink, or is unusually dull
If you're unsure, call. Vets would rather hear early than too late.