This blog is to encourage you to know what some basic vital signs are for horses, how to take them and encourage you to listen to your "horsetuition". No one knows your fuzzy baby better than you, when something feels wrong, it most likely is. Also, proper medical care for these fragile, amazing creatures is not cheap. You can get a horse for next to nothing, even free. But you must be prepared and able to shell out some serious money in the event your baby gets sick or have a very, very tough heart which I don't think many do that include horses as part of their family.
Allie had become "pokey", one of the reasons I chose her was because she was so responsive to leg cues. My trainers response was "shes being lazy". Not having the faith in my "horsetuition" I brought the crop out and tapped her on the butt (please know I don't whip, I actually don't even whop, in fact, my trainer laughs because I am one of those that taps, but that is all she needs) When she was struggling to get up to a fast trot, and struggling to transition into a canter, I knew something was not right. I ended the session immediately and brought her in. Tacked down and put her in her stall. Her head was low and she just seemed "tired." I was worried, but she was eating, drinking water, she just seemed down.
I checked on her the next day and she just hung her head. No nicker, she barely raised her head when I walked up to her stall. I was scared. I berated myself for not listening to the voice in my head yesterday and called the vet. Of course, it was one of those days where there are a million emergencies and so Allie and I waited while I stroked her head and tried to get her to eat. She refused, I remembered in the recesses of my mind something about "keep a horse moving if they have colic" I wasn't sure if she was colic, but keeping her moving and me moving kept my eyes off my watch so we walked. I was a little encouraged by her dives for grass now and then, but could see that she just wasn't herself.
As I willed the vet to transport herself to us, I kept walking and loving her. Letting her eat grass when she wanted to, walking up to her water bucket trying to convince her she wanted to drink the water. I finally got a text the vet was 20 minutes away. I put her in her stall to rest and waited at the end of the drive to be sure they didn't miss the driveway. This is where I share what I wish someone would have told me earlier:
1) The vet is going to ask you if the horse is running a temperature. Have a thermometer, know how to use it. It isn't as simple as it seems, its not hard, but trying to take the temp when you are stressed out makes it even harder. Practice it when your horse is fine.
2) They are going to ask how their pulse is
3) They are going to ask if they are breathing normally.
4) Gum color, practice looking at your horses gums while they aren't feeling sick so when you try to look when they aren't feeling well, it isn't something that stresses them out
5) Time it takes for capillaries in the gums to return to pink after being pressed with a finger
6) BUY A STETHOSCOPE - they really aren't expensive, it will save you some grey hairs, especially if your horse has had a colic episode. I cant tell you how many days I spent with my ear to my horses sides after she was sick.
Here is a link with all of the above normal range vitals. Print it out, keep it in a notebook in your tack box. Write down what is "normal" for your horse.
Horse Vitals
Allie ended up going to Pilchuck, this is the equivalent to a human trauma center. Good news, she is fine (knock on wood). I'll go into more details around what she was diagnosed with and my learnings from that in another blog.
Happy Riding!
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