Unhappy horse; Tell-Tail Signs to watch out for & when to call the experts

When it comes to your horse and their physical well-being, it is important to have them checked out by all the relevant experts to make sure that they are okay, not in pain and able to perform at their maximum capabilities. Just like us human, it is difficult to do anything if we have a pain or a sore somewhere! We chatted to Ronnie Healy who gave us some tips and suggestions to help you and your horse with your wellness journey.

Below are some recommended time frames for your horse to be seen by the different equine professionals.

• The Farrier should come and attend to your horse’s feet every 4-5 weeks.
• Your horse should be seen by the vet a minimum of once a year for a checkup, and as needed throughout the year for annual vaccines (such as the Equine Influenza vaccine and the African Horse Sickness vaccine).
• The dentist should come out every 6 months (twice per year) to check and do your horse’s teeth.
• Throughout the course of a year, a horse’s shape and confirmation may change due to the amount and type of work the horse may endure. Being an animal, which cannot communicate with us, horses may pick up injuries from day-to-day activities leading to them becoming sore or lame. It is a good idea to often have your saddle checked by your qualified saddle fitters to make sure that as your horse grows and its confirmation changes, the saddle is not obstructing their ability to move and grow muscle. The saddle must also not put any pressure on their backs where not needed or cause any unnecessary pressure points.
• Physio, chiro, acupuncture etc. are all performance level dependent services. If your horse is performing more regularly and in higher graded competition levels, it may be beneficial to get additional rehab therapies to help them recover quicker and to aid with sustaining their performance level and ability.

*Please note these are only recommendations and not mandatory time frames. If your horse has an obvious pain, ailment or is sore, contact your preferred professional as soon as possible to help and assist.

There are many different signs that horses can exhibit to show that they are uncomfortable, in pain or feeling under the weather. Here are some tell-tale signs which you can look out for:

• Ears that are pinned back
• A horse which has stopped eating their food or drinking their water
• A horse which has started losing weight unexpectedly, have their show performance decrease or show a decrease in their coat condition
• A horse that exhibits muscle shaking, quivers or body discomfort when having pressure applied to its’ body e.g., feeling down the back or the hindquarters

Remember to chat to your stable manager/yard owner if you notice anything unusual about your horse’s performance or behaviour so that they can contact the relevant equine practitioner needed.