Listed a few numbers, facts, and approximations to guide you through assessing your horse’s health.
- RECTAL TEMPERATURE 99-100.8 degrees F
- HEART RATE 25-48 beats/minute (resting)
- RESPIRATORY BEATS 10-24 beats/minute (resting)
- MUCOUS MEMBRANES pink to pale pink (gums)
- CAPILLARY REFILL TIME less than 2 seconds(push on gums with finger – this is amount of time that it takes to return the color to pink)
- HYDRATION STATUS pinch a flap of skin above the shoulder and it should spring right back
- INTESTINAL GUT SOUNDS gurgling and growling in all 4 areas/quadrants of the abdomen
- DIGITAL PULSE IN THE FEET you should not be able to feel a pulse between the fetlock and hoof
- HOOF WALL TEMPERATURE the hoof walls should be cool to the touch
- AMOUT OF HAY EATEN IN A DAY a 1,000 lb horse should eat 15-20 lbs. hay/day
- WATER INTAKE PER DAY a horse should drink 1 gallon of water for every 100 lbs. body weight
- DAILY URINE VOLUME a horse should urinate 2.5 gallons/day for the average 1000 lb. horse