Symptoms That Warn You That Your Pony Is Sick
For equestrian hopefuls perhaps the very first thing they should need to know is the simplest way to tell a superbly healthy pony from one that isn’t. Before horse riding or sport and dressage competitions, an equestrian first needs to identify a sickness or developing illness properly. Besides, you will have to be well placed to notice the difference when owning a pony for the first time.
Healthy Horses
A wonderfully healthy horse both in body and mind would exhibit the following healthy signs:
-She will stand on all 4 feet squarely, without the need to rest forefeet. Her hind feet she’ll relax every now and then when bored.
-Her coat should be soft, shiny, and smooth.
-Her eyes should be open and you can see a flicker of salmon color inside. This colour would also be present in the nostrils and gums of the horse.
-Limbs and joints shouldn’t be swelling or hot to the touch.
-She ought to have a normal appetite and would be glad to munch on grass hay.
-The skin of the healthy horse is moist, although not sweaty.
-Her breathing, even if asleep, should be quiet, and her heart beat steady at roughly 33 to 40 bpm (mares and geldings), to 28 to 32 bpm (stallions). The younger the horse, the quicker the heartbeat.
-Bowel movements come regularly, 4 to 8 times each day. The movement should be free of odour as well as worms or mucus.
-She will urinate anywhere between five to 8 times in a 24 hour period; pee should be light yellowish.
-Place your ear next to her flank and you ought to be hearing her gut sounds.
Not-So-Healthy Horses
While horses sick enough to manifest serious symptoms stand out like a throbbing thumb among their herd, there are subtle signs of being ill that you as an equestrian need to take note of “pony can be good for leisurely horse riding even when they are feeling a bit under the weather. So watch out for:
-An unusual attitude: lying in peculiar positions and at wierd times. A colic-stricken pony may lie down on its back. Sitting very like a dog is not uncommon in horses that have advanced laminitis.
– Coat could be lifeless and hairs won’t lie down if a horse is sick.
-Mucous surfaces that have discolorations, or their colors aren’t their regular tint. Colours are telling: blue-red suggests circulation or heart issues; pale is most probably anemic; dark-red frequently accompanies fever; a hint of yellow is linked to liver issues.
-Appetite irregularities. A pony might not care about what feed you give her and not eat at all. If this is the case, double check if her skin feels rather tight and she is profusely sweating. Look for fever temperatures, a low one would be around 102.5 degrees. Breathing problems “from being too slow or too quick, being loud and shallow “may accompany heartbeat irregularity.
-Horse excrement could be inconsistent in color or texture
-Not hearing stomach sounds might indicate bowel problems.
-Urine can at times be too little or too much, and could be of unusual consistency, color, or both.
-Swelling or too much heat in the legs might be indicative of infection.
When a healthy pony manifests a sick horse’s symptoms, it’s best to observe and contact a vet immediately when the symptoms endure.
Horses are Heather Toms passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of articles with other horse lovers, like all things about equestrian wear
