Level One Diploma in Land-based Studies- Horse Care Unit 134 – Maintain the Health of Horses.

Aims – Identify signs of good and poor health Objectives – State at least five signs of good health – Describe a horse that is unwell – Know when to call a vet for a horse that is unwell.

Horses vary enormously, but there are signs of general good health that apply to them all. With careful management and monitoring, you can spot variations in horse health, and know when to call the vet.

Task One- How healthy is this horse?

Task two – Signs of poor health

Indications of good health Posture and behaviour Standing and behaving normally; a confident and alert look A horse in poor health..... Lying down Pawing the ground Depressed

Indications of good health coat and skin Coat sleek and lying flat. Skin loose and supple to the touch and easily moved over the underlying bones. At rest, no visible signs of sweating except in very hot weather. Signs of poor health... Starey coat Skin lacking elasticity Dry, scaling skin Hair loss

Indications of good health eyes, nose and membranes Eyes wide open and bright. Membranes salmon pink in colour. Signs of poor health... Discharge from eyes or nose. Membranes very pale in colour.

Indications of good health Eating and drinking Eating up well and chewing normally Signs of poor health... Foul smell from mouth or nostrils. Not eating. Quidding their food. Swelling on the face.

Indications of good health Condition Body well filled out but not gross Condition scoring – 1-5 – 1 is thin – 5 is obese – (see worksheet) Signs of poor health... Thin Fat

Indications of good health Limbs Limbs free from swellings or heat (cool to the touch). Standing evenly on all four feet. Resting a hind leg (but not a foreleg) is quite normal. Sound in action; taking strides of equal length. Signs of poor health... Swellings Shifting weight regularly Nodding head/ Dropping hip Sores/ Scabs

Indications of good health Urine and faeces Urine fairly thick and either colourless or pale yellow and passed several times a day. Droppings, which will vary in colour with the diet, passed approximately eight times daily, in the form of damp balls that break on hitting the ground. Their smell should be inoffensive. Signs of poor health... Urine dark brown Droppings very smelly Droppings hard/ wet

Indications of good health Temperature, pulse and respiration Temperature – 37.5 – 38.5  C Pulse – beats per minute Respiration – inhalations per minute Signs of poor health... Increase in T,P,R can indicate pain, virus or stress. Decrease in T,P,R can indicate shock or illness.

Maintaining Good Health The horse must be watered and fed correctly. Type and amount of exercise should be correct for the horse. – What does the type and amount of exercise depend upon? ‘No foot, no horse’. – Regular attention from a qualified farrier to keep the horse’s feet in balance. Intelligent worming. – Egg counting Inoculations. – Tetanus – Influenza Teeth checked. If your horse is not thriving seek expert advice.

Know when to call a vet Severe bleed Raised T,P,R Colic Severe lameness Choke Continuous cough Discharge green/ yellow in colour

Task three Complete the worksheet

Aims – Identify signs of good and poor health Objectives – State at least five signs of good health – Describe a horse that is unwell – Know when to call a vet for a horse that is unwell