Normal Equine Vitals
Temperature: 99.0-101.5° Fahrenheit
Heart Rate: 28-44 beats per minute
Respiratory Rate: 10-24 breaths per minute
Gums: moist and healthy pink
Capillary Refill Time: press on your horse’s gums firmly with one finger then release. Point of pressure should return to pink in less than 2 seconds.
Gut sounds: gurgling, gas-like roars and growls, tinkling
Manure and urination: Horse will pass manure 8-12 times in 24 hours. Urine should be lightly yellow and can be clear or cloudy.
Drinking: The average-sized horse drinks between 5-10 gallons of water daily
Legs and Feet:Horse should stand squarely with its weight evenly distributed. Taking the weight off a hind leg is normal but not for a front leg. There should be no increase in warmth in the feet.
First Aid Kit
- Clean, labeled plastic tote or container with a good fitting lid
- Working thermometer
- Working flashlight/headlamp
- Phone numbers of vet and contact info of someone with a horse trailer if you don’t have one
- Saline eye flush
- Soaking boot
- Baby diapers
- Epsom salts
- Mild liquid soap, like Ivory
- Roll cotton
- Vetrap or large self-adhesive bandage
- Scissors
- Pillow leg wrap (quilted leg wrap with standing leg wrap)
- Non-stick bandage pads/large sanitary pads
- Duct tape
- Exam gloves
- Clean hand towels