When deciding on a new horse, a key factor is its health. Although one cannot be 100% certain that a horse is absolutely healthy, there are some basic checks.
One begins with the general external appearance. The coat should be even, shinny and lie flat. The body should be well filled out, with well toned muscle. It should not be overweight or underweight. It should stand evenly on all four legs, with all four hooves pointing straight ahead. It is normal to rest a hind leg (but not a front leg), provided that it is not always the same leg which is rested.
The legs should be free from swellings, bumps or hot spots. Slowly run your hands over the entire length of the legs, with special attention to the lower parts. The outside of the hooves should be smooth, even and free of cracks.
Lift a hoof and check the sole for correct shape and any indications of previous injury; then repeat with the other three hooves. The angle and tilt of all four hooves should be correct and identical. If the horse is reluctant to lift a foot, it could just be lack of training, but may well be that it does not want to put more weight on another hoof, which would indicate an injury (to hoof, leg or spine). If you are unsure on any of these points, ask a professional farrier or blacksmith to perform the examination.
The gums should be shinny, moist and pink. If one presses on the gums with a finger, they will turn white, but should return to pink within two seconds of removing your finger.
Check the teeth (you may want to use the services of a horse dentist) for spurs, unevenness or excessive wear. Try feeding the horse hay and watch how it eats. It should use both sides of its jaw equally and eat steadily. Dropping hay or leaving hay partly chewed indicates a problem either with the teeth or the jaw joints.
Examine the horse's droppings. They should consist of firm balls, with a mild and inoffensive odor.
The horse should appear alert, interested in its surroundings and happy. The ears should be perked up and should move in response to sounds. It should appear relaxed rather than nervous.
Have the horse taken to an exercise ring and exercised at all gaits (e.g. walk, trot, and gallop). It should take easy, smooth strides of equal length and with the weight evenly spread on all four legs. It should not favor any leg. Circle the horse in both directions (left inside and right inside) to make sure that it performs equally well in both directions.
It should not sweat (except during hot weather) until it has been worked for some time at speed. Its respiration should gradually increase as the gait picks up but it should not breathe hard except at a fast gait. As the gait is reduced, its respiration should quickly reduce. Once the horse stops, its breathing and pulse should quickly return to resting normal. Neither during nor after exercise should the horse shown any sign of discomfort, pain or limping.
Ask the current owner about the horse's medical history. Ask if he will give you permission to talk with the horse's regular vet. Ask to see the medical records and inoculations book for the horse. In particular, ask if the horse has ever had colic, laminitis or any other illness. Be wary of any incomplete or evasive responses. Ask what the horse's normal diet is (horses fed a natural diet of grass, supplemented by hay, are less likely to have digestive problems than horses fed large on grains and feeds). Finally, ask the seller as to what written guarantee they provide in the event that a problem is found after sale, as this is an indication of the confidence they have in the horse's health. - 29953
One begins with the general external appearance. The coat should be even, shinny and lie flat. The body should be well filled out, with well toned muscle. It should not be overweight or underweight. It should stand evenly on all four legs, with all four hooves pointing straight ahead. It is normal to rest a hind leg (but not a front leg), provided that it is not always the same leg which is rested.
The legs should be free from swellings, bumps or hot spots. Slowly run your hands over the entire length of the legs, with special attention to the lower parts. The outside of the hooves should be smooth, even and free of cracks.
Lift a hoof and check the sole for correct shape and any indications of previous injury; then repeat with the other three hooves. The angle and tilt of all four hooves should be correct and identical. If the horse is reluctant to lift a foot, it could just be lack of training, but may well be that it does not want to put more weight on another hoof, which would indicate an injury (to hoof, leg or spine). If you are unsure on any of these points, ask a professional farrier or blacksmith to perform the examination.
The gums should be shinny, moist and pink. If one presses on the gums with a finger, they will turn white, but should return to pink within two seconds of removing your finger.
Check the teeth (you may want to use the services of a horse dentist) for spurs, unevenness or excessive wear. Try feeding the horse hay and watch how it eats. It should use both sides of its jaw equally and eat steadily. Dropping hay or leaving hay partly chewed indicates a problem either with the teeth or the jaw joints.
Examine the horse's droppings. They should consist of firm balls, with a mild and inoffensive odor.
The horse should appear alert, interested in its surroundings and happy. The ears should be perked up and should move in response to sounds. It should appear relaxed rather than nervous.
Have the horse taken to an exercise ring and exercised at all gaits (e.g. walk, trot, and gallop). It should take easy, smooth strides of equal length and with the weight evenly spread on all four legs. It should not favor any leg. Circle the horse in both directions (left inside and right inside) to make sure that it performs equally well in both directions.
It should not sweat (except during hot weather) until it has been worked for some time at speed. Its respiration should gradually increase as the gait picks up but it should not breathe hard except at a fast gait. As the gait is reduced, its respiration should quickly reduce. Once the horse stops, its breathing and pulse should quickly return to resting normal. Neither during nor after exercise should the horse shown any sign of discomfort, pain or limping.
Ask the current owner about the horse's medical history. Ask if he will give you permission to talk with the horse's regular vet. Ask to see the medical records and inoculations book for the horse. In particular, ask if the horse has ever had colic, laminitis or any other illness. Be wary of any incomplete or evasive responses. Ask what the horse's normal diet is (horses fed a natural diet of grass, supplemented by hay, are less likely to have digestive problems than horses fed large on grains and feeds). Finally, ask the seller as to what written guarantee they provide in the event that a problem is found after sale, as this is an indication of the confidence they have in the horse's health. - 29953
