Taking Equine Vitals

When on your way to becoming an equestrian, it is important to learn how to take your horse's vital signs. Learning your horses vitals can help you spot health issues early and communicate important information to your veterinarian: 

• Communicate with your veterinarian

  In an emergency, being able to take your horse's vital signs can help you communicate important information to your veterinarian. 

• Establish a baseline

  Regularly taking your horse's vital signs can help you establish baseline measurements and monitor your horse's overall health. 

• Desensitize your horse

  Regularly practicing taking your horse's vital signs can help you become comfortable with the tasks and help you and your horse form a bond.

Some key vital signs to assess include: 

• Temperature

  A normal adult horse's rectal temperature should be 99-101°F (37.2-38.3°C). 

• Respiration rate

  A normal respiration rate for a horse is 8 to 16 breaths per minute. 

• Heart rate

  You can listen to your horse's heart rate for 15 seconds and then multiply by four to get the value in per minute measurements. a resting adult horse should range ~ 38-40 bpm.

• Gut sounds

  A healthy horse's digestive tract is constantly moving and gurgling. You can listen to your horse's gut sounds by placing your stethoscope against the sides of the abdomen. 

          During our Sept 21st session of our Saddle Up in September class, students worked hands on to fill out a equine exam form. During a wellness exam, the students examine the horse and look for potential issues. They will listen to the animal's heart and lungs and examine the abdomen and other parts of the body. The vet will take the horse's temperature, and examine the eyes, lymph nodes, limbs, and joints for overall wellbeing. 

Students worked hands on to carefully take their horses vitals, height, and weight.