What are signs of a healthy horse?

Answer 1

A healthy horse should be alert and recognize what's going on around him. His eyes should be clear, and have nothing oozing from them. He should be able to open and close his eyes easily. His nostrils should be clear and free of discharge. His ears should move around, to wherever he hears something interesting. His ears shouldn't have mites or warts inside them. (Gross!) You should be able to feel his ribs when touching his barrel but you shouldn't see them. If you can see his ribs clearly he is too skinny! If you touch any part of their body, including legs, the horse shouldn't flinch. His legs should not be hot or swelling. When walked in-hand the horse should have his weight all four legs evenly, and shouldn't be limping or dragging any feet. His coat, mane and tail should be shiny and even. You can tell a horse's health not only by looking at him and touching him, but also by observing. A healty horse will eat and drink willingly. (They don't have to drain the bucket, but they should be drinking.) If he shows no interest in what's going on around him, he may be sick. One of the best ways to tell if a horse is sick is to remember how he acts usually (eg., how much he drinks, how energetic he is, ect.) and then compare it to how he is acting on any particular day. There are many different signs as to how you can tell a horse is healty. I suggest getting a book (I've heard "All Horse Systems Go" is a good one) to make sure that your horse isn't experiencing symptoms of anything.