Horse Health Care Sitemap

Foreword - When I undertook to produce this book I did so with a light heart, having the greatest confidence in the technical knowledge and literary ability of my friend and collaborator, Colonel Hugh Jagger.

One day we made out our list of contents; a few days later—quite suddenly—he died. This, I am convinced, was the only unkind thing he ever did in his life.

1. Stable Management - Horses confined in stables are being kept under artificial conditions, and in consequence skill is required to maintain them in good health. Living under natural conditions the horse eats grass; he eats for a very considerable number of hours each day and during the night ; he feeds in small quantities at frequent intervals, and he drinks whenever he feels inclined. He has a very small stomach for his size.

2. Lameness - It is not always an easy matter to locate lameness or even to tell which leg is the cause of the trouble.

The horse should first be examined in the stable, and the box should be entered quietly so as to disturb him as little as possible.

A sound horse frequently rests one hind leg, but normally has his weight distributed equally on both forelegs, except in the case of a very tired horse, when he may rest the alternate foreleg as well.

3. Injuries - Tetanus is a disease caused by Bacillus tetani and is included in this chapter as it is through a wound that this bacillus gains entry to the horse.

This disease is more prevalent in some districts than in others.

Symptoms. The temperature rises to between 1030 and 1050 F.

The first symptom is a general stiffening of the limbs, and the animal will stand with nose and tail stretched out.

4. Skin Diseases - In this chapter it is intended to take the contagious diseases first as being the more important.

Parasitic mange is a disease scheduled under the Diseases of Animals Acts, and any suspicion of its existence must be reported to the local authorities immediately.

There are three forms:

(1) Sarcoptic.
(2) Soroptic.
(3) Symbiotic.

The sarcoptic or follicular form is far the most serious. If once it gets a hold it is extremely difficult to eradicate and it does not yield readily to treatment.

5. Internal Diseases - This is similar to a cold in human beings, and is brought about by exposure or infection. A cold in itself is not a serious complaint, but it is most important that it should be noticed in its early stages and that the horse should be rested.

Serious complications such as pneumonia frequently follow when a horse has been worked with a cold.

Symptoms. Sneezing is often one of the first symptoms and the horse appears dull and lethargic.

6. Wind and Eye - It must be remembered that "whistling" and "roaring" are different degrees of the same complaint, namely, an affection of the larynx or throat due to paralysis of the left vocal cord.

Broken wind is a different disease affecting the lungs only.

In a "whistler"the left vocal cord is partially paralysed and in a "roarer"it is completely out of action.

In effect, such paralysis decreases the available area of inhalation, and the actual noise is caused by the forcible passage of air through a restricted aperture.

7. Teeth - The teeth of the horse are divided into two main groups:

(1) Molars or grinding teeth.

(2) Incisors or biting teeth.

There are also the tushes or canine teeth, which are two in number on each jaw and would appear to be of no use in the horse.

Tushes are usually entirely absent in mares, and in geldings are cut at about four and a half years old. They occupy a position between the incisors and the molars.

8. Breeding - It is not intended, and indeed it would be impossible in a book of this size, to deal completely with the many complicated theories connected with this subject, but my intention is rather to assist the amateur who is desirous of breeding a foal or two annually.

Is the first consideration and is of great importance, the idea that "any old
mare will do" being entirely incorrect.

The mare should be roomy, have good conformation, plenty of bone, a good temperament and be free from any congenital defects, a list of which is given below.

Appendix - In a case of serious illness it may be taken that the best conditions obtainable are no more than good enough. Place the patient, therefore, in the roomiest, airiest box available, ensuring that ventilation is not confused with draughts.

Bed down with short straw (and plenty of it) to ensure freedom of movement without working the bedding into a heap.

THE END