Equine Physical Examination

Examination of horses:
Pre-purchase request
Determine health status (requirement prior to or after a sporting event)
Diagnostic purposes
A detailed PE is essential
Hx: thorough & accurate, current
PE: system-approach or start from head to leg and end of body (tail)
Initial examination from a distance for symmetry, swelling, other irregularities, scars, rub marks, localised hair loss
Head/neck

Nostril - symmetry of air flow

(feel with palm)

Incisor teeth - malocclusion

CRT- normally 1 - 2 sec.

Teeth

Nasal contours

Percussion of maxillary, frontal

sinuses

Pulse - facial artery

Eye - PLR, corneal scaring,

conjunctivitis, cataracts etc

Menance response

Lymph nodes

Viborg's triangle (above jaw &

below larynx)

Palpate larynx

Palpate lateral process of cervical

vertebrae, range of lateral
movement & neck flexion

Palpate trachea

Check jugular patency (raise it if

can't - thrombophlebitis)

Forelegs

Swelling

Attention to foot, joints, tendons

Chest

Character & frequency of

respiration (8-16/min)

Very little movement of chest

wall

Both lung field auscultated (very

quite is normal)

Percussion

Abdomen

Auscultate both side of

paralumbar fossa & lower flank
region

Right PLF - ileocaecal sound

every 30 - 60s (toilet flushing)

Rectal T0C (36.5 - 38.50C)

Musculoskeletal system

Most common reason for interruption of training & competition

Mostly presented with lameness

Injury to musculoskeletal system may link to conformation

Hx:
Approach:

Walk on hard surface

Then trot

Observe for incoordination/lameness

Identify affected limb

1. Preliminary examination
(a) At rest in the stable
An observation of the horse is made in front of the stable with emphasis on the body condition and stable condition. The condition of the stable will help to determine
certain condition associated with poor housing such as injury, lameness due to poor flooring and stable vices such as crib biting, wind sucking and weaving. The
behaviour of the horse should also be observed especially for some obvious clinical sign such as in cases of colic, fracture and certain systemic diseases. The occular
system can also be examined if there is a history of eye problem by taking advantage of the dimly lighted room.
(b) At rest outside stable
The horse is best examined in a big open well lighted area. Visual inspection from a distance at various angles with at least the anterior, left and right lateral and
posterior view. The emphasis of the observation is on obvious clinical sign such as stance, swelling, skin lesions, wounds and etc. The horse should also be trotted to
determine the site of lameness before detailed examination if there is a history of musculoskeletal problem. The conformation of the horse can also be determined
during visual examination at a distance.

Equine Physical Examination

2. Detailed examination
The examination is best started from the anterior, left lateral moving posterior slowly and back to the right lateral and again moving towards the posterior. However the
heart or pulse rate, respiratory rate and body temperature can first be determined to prevent changes as a result of excitement.
Examination of the head should include all system of the area namely the integument, respiratory, gastrointestinal, eye and ear. However examination of the eye is best
done in the stable before the horse is taken out. The skin is examined for presence of skin lesion and wounds. The nostril is examined for presence of nasal discharge.
The mouth should be opened and check thoroughly. The horse can be aged at the same time by looking at the incisor teeth. The ware and tear of the teeth should also be
noted. Lesion and discharge of the eye and the ear should also be check.
The whole are of the neck is then examined. The lymph nodes and the larynx should be palpated. The withers should also be examined at the same time.
The body is mainly examined by auscultation of the respiratory and the gastrointestinal system. The trachea and the lung should be auscaltated at rest. Tracheal sound is
usually soft and low but in the upper respiratory tract infection they will be rattling due to the presence of respiratory exudate. The lung area that can be auscultated are
two third anteriorly. Usually there is hardly any audible lung sound or sometime a soft sound on expiration might be heard. Peristaltic sound of the gastrointestinal tract
is usually heard during auscultation of the lung especially on the left side. This sound are normal and of no significance.
The pulse should first be taken before auscultation of the heart. Auscultation should be done on both side but the auscultation of the right side is done after completing
examination of all system of the left side. Not every abnormality is a serious defect as occasionally an excitable horse may show some irregularities. Listen for murmurs
and consider their possible effect on work performance. ECG can be done as part of the examination if the need arise.
Auscultation of both the left and the right abdomen should be carried out. The examination of the right abdomen can be carried out after completing examination of all
system on the left side. Attention should be given during auscultation on the peristalsis or motility of the intestine and the presence of fluid or gas in the intestine.
Knowledge of anatomy and site of various organs in the abdomen is very important. Auscultation of the dorsal left flank is mainly the ileum. The left lower or ventral
abdomen is the left ventral colon. The dorsal right flank auscaltated would be the caecal sound mainly the illeo-caecal junction. The ventral right flank will be the site of
right ventral colon. Rectal examination is sometime carried out especially in cases of colic.
Examination of the forelimbs is carried mainly by palpation for heat, pain and swelling. Special attention should be given to the foot in cases of history of lameness as
70% of cases of lameness is associated with the foot or the sole. Hoof knife and hoof tester should be used as an aid in making the diagnosis. In cases of lameness the
horse should at least be trotted first to confirm the leg effected. Further test such as flexion test, nerve block, X-Ray or any other aids should be use when indicated. The
same procedure is then utilised for the examination of the hind limbs.
The posterior part of the horse is then examined with the attention on the vulva in mares and the penis in male.
The same examination procedure is carried out on the right side after completing examination on the left.
3. Examination at work
The horse should be submitted to the type of work which it normally did if the need arise. The horse can be ridden by the examiner or rider for observation of
abnormality which might not be shown or obvious when normal physical examination is carried out. The horse is observed during work, immediately after work, after
at least 10 minutes of rest or even a day after work.