Plan a healthy year with your horse! Part 1: The yearly essentials

By Harriet Linton

Seasonal guides

09 December 2008 09:00

Planning your horse’s healthcare in advance gives you the confidence to know you’re well prepared for the year ahead. Grab your calendar and plot in the following important dates to keep your horse healthy through 2009…

Annual tetanus and flu vaccinations – both vaccines can be given together. It’s suggested no heavy work is done a couple of days after a flu vaccine, so bear this in mind if you’ve got a competition planned. Remember to keep your proof of vaccinations and take it with you if you are planning to compete at affiliated competitions or some other events (such as some sponsored rides).

Back checks – your horse’s back should be checked every six months by a vet or equine chiropractor. Also, get his saddle checked by a qualified saddle fitter on average every six months as his shape may change with workload and age. This is particularly important in winter and summer when weight changes are most pronounced.

Teeth rasping – teeth should be checked at least once a year by a qualified equine dental technician. If there is any sign of a problem – including evasion of the bit, abnormal head carriage or quidding (when food, after being chewed, is dropped from the mouth) – you should call him or a vet out straight away. Young horses should be checked every six to 12 months and older horses may need more frequent attention, as their teeth can wear, which may lead to chewing problems affecting their nutrition.

Hoof care – on average, your horse will need shoeing every six weeks, but take advice from your farrier. As young horses’ feet grow more quickly (foals’ hooves grow about 15mm per month compared to 9mm growth in adult horses) trimming usually starts between four and six weeks of age, trimming monthly up until the end of the first year. If your horse is going barefoot, his feet will still need regular attention every six to eight weeks. All horses are individuals and yours may need shoeing more or less frequently than the usual six weeks.

Worming – plan ahead so horses grazing together are wormed at the same time with the same product. Keeping paddocks manure-free, rotating fields and preventing over-grazing can help reduce worm burdens. Your vet will be able to give you advice on an effective worming schedule. 

Know your horse’s rates
If your horse is healthy now then check on all his rates and observe his normal behaviour. That way you have a better chance of spotting when he’s ill. Your horse’s pulse rate at rest should be between 36-42 beats per minute, his respiration at rest should be around 12-16 breaths per minute and normal temperature is 37.8-38.3 degrees C (100-101 degrees F).

Click here to read our guide to yearly health essentials
Click here to read our guide to Winter health
Click here to read our guide to Spring health
Click here to read our guide to Summer health
Click here to read our guide to Autumn health