| The skin of a healthy stabled horse should be | | | | The colour of the mucus membranes of the |
| elastic, smooth, clean and slightly warm. The coat | | | | eyes, gums and tongues is also used as a guide |
| should be fine, smooth, glossy and clean and give | | | | to health; the membranes should be a salmon pink |
| the horse a sleek appearance. Horses at grass | | | | colour and may be pale if the horse is anaemic or |
| build up a layer of protective grease which should | | | | red if the horse is fevered. |
| not be removed by grooming as it helps them | | | | Other more obvious signs of disease include |
| withstand cold and wet conditions. It is normal and | | | | wounds, heat, pain, swelling, bruising, blisters, |
| healthy for a grass-kept horse to have a more | | | | ulcers, abscesses and scabs. These signs may be |
| greasy skin and coat and to have a longer coat in | | | | due to a number of causes -bacterial (mud |
| winter. | | | | fever), fungal (ringworm), viral (warts), parasites |
| The skin can be affected by local problems but it | | | | (warbles), allergy (urticaria), injury (ill-fitting tack) |
| is also the best indicator that the horse owner | | | | or sunlight (photosensitisation). |
| has of the horse's general health and condition. | | | | Unexplained sweating or evidence of dried sweat |
| The coat may become dry and dull. If it is not | | | | may indicate that the horse has been in pain |
| lubricated by normal sebaceous secretions; this is | | | | (colic), fevered or perhaps cast in its stable. |
| a well-known sign of digestive problems and | | | | It can be seen that a daily inspection of the |
| worm infestation. The horse is said to be | | | | horse's skin and coat is an essential stable |
| hidebound when the skin is tight and does not | | | | management routine. It should not be confined to |
| move freely over the underlying structures. This | | | | visual inspection and the horse owner must also |
| can be due to dehydration and lack of | | | | feel for any changes. This is best done during the |
| subcutaneous fat and is also seen in grass | | | | daily grooming session. |
| sickness and poorly nourished horses. | | | | |