10/28/2026
Knowing how to perform a basic physical exam on your horse is an important tool for a horse owner. These skills are especially helpful when your horse is sick, showing signs of colic, coughing, has nasal discharge, or during an emergency.
Even more importantly, know what is normal for YOUR horse. Having a baseline makes it much easier to recognize when something isn’t right and gives your veterinarian valuable information when you call.
❤️ Normal heart rate for a typical horse: 28–44 beats/minute
There are two easy ways to check your horse’s heart rate:
With a stethoscope: Place the stethoscope on the left side of the chest, just behind the elbow. Listen for the familiar “lub-dub,” that counts as ONE heartbeat. Count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.
Using the mandibular artery: Run your fingers along the inside of the lower jaw until you feel a cord-like structure similar to a small piece of spaghetti. Apply light pressure until you feel the pulse, being careful not to press hard enough to collapse the artery. Count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.
💨 Normal respiratory rate for a typical horse: 8–16 breaths/minute
One breath consists of one complete inhale and exhale. You can watch the movement of your horse’s chest or flank, or use a stethoscope to listen over the trachea or lungs.
Count the number of breaths for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. Pay attention not only to the rate, but also to whether your horse appears to be working harder than normal to breathe.
🌡️ Normal temperature for a typical horse: approximately 99.5–101.5°F
Stand beside the hindquarters rather than directly behind the horse, let your horse know you are there, and carefully insert a thermometer into the re**um. Keep control of the thermometer throughout the process.
🩺 Gut sounds
The abdomen can be divided into four areas:
• Left upper
• Left lower
• Right upper
• Right lower
Use a stethoscope to listen to each area. Gut sounds can vary considerably, but knowing whether they are active, decreased, increased, or absent can provide useful information, especially in a horse showing signs of colic.
💧Mucous membrane and hydration
Lift your horse’s upper lip and look at the gums. Normal gums should generally be pink and moist.
Take note if they appear pale, very bright or dark pink/red, purple, or otherwise abnormal. Horses experiencing severe systemic illness may develop a dark red-to-purple “toxic line” along the gumline.
You can also feel the gums. Moist gums are normal, while dry or tacky/sticky gums may be associated with dehydration.
While you’re there, check capillary refill time (CRT): press firmly on the gum until it blanches white, release, and count how long it takes to return to pink. Normal CRT is generally 2 seconds or less.
🦵Digital pulse
Digital pulses can be felt by palpating the digital arteries along either side of the lower limb near the fetlock/pastern region. Use gentle pressure to to feel the pulse without compressing the artery completely.
A digital pulse may be palpable in a normal horse, but a strong or bounding digital pulse can indicate inflammation or pain within the foot and may be seen with conditions such as a hoof abscess or laminitis.
⚠️Why does all of this matter?
During an emergency, your veterinarian may ask:
“What is their temperature?”
“What is their heart rate?”
“Are you hearing gut sounds?”
“What color are their gums?”
“Do they have increased digital pulses?”
Being able to answer these questions can provide valuable information before your veterinarian even arrives.
**Normal values are general adult-horse reference ranges and can vary with age, exercise, excitement, environment, and individual circumstances. A home physical exam does not replace evaluation by your veterinarian.**
