How to Check Your Horse’s Vitals

Knowing how to check your horse’s vital signs is one of the most useful skills any horse owner, rider or carer can learn.

It does not replace a vet — and if you are worried, you should always call one — but it does help you notice changes early, communicate clearly in an emergency and understand what is normal for your horse.

At Racing Hearts McIntyre Centre, we believe good horsemanship is about more than riding. It is about observation, care, awareness and learning to notice the small changes before they become big problems.

A horse’s vital signs are often called TPR, which stands for temperature, pulse and respiration. Alongside those, it is also helpful to check gum colour, moisture, capillary refill time, hydration and general behaviour. Normal adult horse ranges vary slightly between sources, but commonly sit around 37–38.5°C for temperature, 28–44 beats per minute for heart rate, and roughly 8–24 breaths per minute for respiration, depending on the horse, environment, fitness and situation.

Why checking vitals matters

Horses are prey animals, which means they are very good at hiding discomfort. A horse may appear “a bit quiet” or “not quite right” long before they show obvious signs of illness or pain. Knowing how to check basic vitals gives you a clearer picture. It can help you identify fever, pain, stress, dehydration, colic signs, heat stress, respiratory difficulty or recovery issues after exercise.

It also means that when you call your vet, you can provide helpful information instead of simply saying, “Something seems wrong.” That information can help your vet assess urgency and guide you on what to do next.

What you’ll need to check your horse's vitals

A basic horse first-aid kit should include:

A digital thermometer, preferably with a string or clip attached

A stethoscope, if you have one

A watch or phone timer

A notebook or phone notes app to record your horse’s normal readings

Safe handling equipment, such as a halter and lead rope

The most important thing is safety. If your horse is distressed, in pain, difficult to handle or unsafe, do not put yourself at risk trying to take vitals. Call your vet and get help.

1. Temperature

A horse’s temperature is taken rectally using a digital thermometer. Apply lubricant, stand safely to the side of the horse — not directly behind — and gently insert the thermometer. Wait until it beeps, then record the reading.

A healthy adult horse’s temperature is generally around 37–38.5°C, although it can vary slightly depending on age, weather, stress, exercise and individual normal.

A raised temperature can suggest infection, inflammation, heat stress or another health concern. A very low temperature can also be serious, particularly if the horse is unwell, shocked or compromised.

2. Pulse / heart rate

A horse’s pulse tells you how many times the heart is beating per minute.

You can check it in a few ways:

You can use a stethoscope just behind the horse’s left elbow, around the girth area. You can also feel for a pulse under the jaw, where the facial artery crosses the lower edge of the mandible.

Count the beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by four. Or, for a more accurate reading, count for a full 60 seconds.

A normal adult horse heart rate is commonly listed around 28–44 beats per minute, though individual horses may sit slightly differently, especially depending on fitness, stress, pain, excitement or recent exercise.

A heart rate that is unusually high at rest can be a warning sign, especially if paired with sweating, pawing, dullness, colic signs, laboured breathing or abnormal gum colour.

3. Respiration / breathing rate

Respiration means how many breaths your horse takes per minute. Stand quietly and watch the horse’s flank or ribcage rise and fall. One inhale and one exhale equals one breath. Count for 30 seconds and double it, or count for a full minute.

Resting respiratory rates are commonly listed around 8–24 breaths per minute, with some veterinary references giving narrower ranges such as 10–14 or 8–15 breaths per minute.

Breathing rate can increase after exercise, in hot weather, with stress, pain or illness. What matters is whether the breathing is appropriate for the situation and whether the horse returns to normal.

Watch not only the number of breaths, but also the effort. Flaring nostrils, heaving sides, noisy breathing, coughing or extended recovery after exercise should be taken seriously.

4. Gum colour and moisture

Your horse’s gums can tell you a lot about circulation, hydration and overall condition.

Gently lift the upper lip and look at the gums above the teeth. Healthy gums should usually be pink and moist.

Pale, white, grey, bright red, purple, blue or very dry/tacky gums can all be signs that something is not right. Gum colour should always be interpreted alongside the horse’s overall behaviour and other vitals.

5. Capillary refill time

Capillary refill time, often called CRT, checks how quickly blood returns to the gums after pressure is applied. Press your finger gently on the gum until the area blanches pale, then release. The colour should return quickly — usually within about two seconds.

A slow refill time can suggest dehydration, poor circulation, shock or other serious concerns. If you see slow CRT along with dullness, colic signs, sweating, abnormal heart rate or abnormal gum colour, call your vet.

6. Hydration and general signs

Vitals are not just numbers. They should always be considered alongside the whole horse. Look at your horse’s attitude, appetite, water intake, manure output, posture, movement, sweating, coat condition and interest in their surroundings. A horse who is usually bright and food-motivated but suddenly quiet, tucked up or uninterested in feed deserves attention.

You can also do a basic skin tent test by gently pinching the skin on the neck or shoulder and seeing how quickly it returns to normal. Slow return may suggest dehydration, but it is not perfect and should not be used on its own.

What is normal for your horse?

The best time to learn your horse’s vitals is when they are healthy and relaxed. Take their temperature, pulse and respiration at rest over a few different days. Record the results. This gives you a baseline, which is far more useful than only relying on general textbook ranges.

Some horses naturally sit at the lower or higher end of normal. Fitness, age, weather, stress, pain, medications and recent exercise can all affect readings. Knowing your horse’s usual range makes it easier to notice when something has changed.

When should you call the vet?

Call your vet if your horse’s readings are outside their normal range and you are concerned, or if abnormal vitals are paired with signs such as:

Colic symptoms

Not eating or drinking

Lethargy or depression

Excessive sweating

Laboured breathing

Persistent coughing

Abnormal gum colour

Slow capillary refill time

Fever

Diarrhoea

Lameness or signs of pain

A horse that is simply “not right”

You do not need to wait until a situation becomes dramatic. Early advice is often the safest option.

Final thoughts

Checking your horse’s vitals is a simple skill, but it can make a big difference. It helps you become more observant, more confident and more prepared. It also encourages one of the most important parts of good horsemanship: knowing your horse well enough to notice when something changes.

At Racing Hearts McIntyre Centre, we teach horse care as part of the bigger picture — because a good horse person is not just someone who can ride. It is someone who can listen, observe, respond and care.