Establish a Baseline
Before you buy a horse, it is a good idea to have a vet check performed on the horse you want to purchase. The results of this exam can provide a baseline with which to begin to know your horse's health.
The prepurchase exam should include a temperature, respiration, and pulse report, which you can use as a standard if the horse was well at the time. At some point, you'll need to know how to perform these simple procedures yourself so you can do them when your horse is ill. Ask your veterinarian or stable manager to show you how. Practice so you feel confident in doing them and also so your horse becomes accustomed to these checks if he isn't already.
Here are four important vital signs to know about the horse:
Normal temperature: between 99 and 101 degrees Fahrenheit
Normal pulse: thirty to forty beats per minute
Normal respiration: eight to twenty breaths per minute
Capillary Refill Time (CRT): one to two seconds for blood to return to blanched tissue
While these statistics are average for the mature horse, they may vary slightly in some individuals. That's why you should establish a baseline for your horse.
