I learned that the best horse owners are the ones who show up every day, not those with the fanciest gear or the biggest properties. In Australian conditions, where heat, sun, pasture quality, and seasonal storms change fast, those small daily habits prevent many health issues and vet bills.
Here is a practical 15-minute walk-through you can do before or after work. You will get clear numbers for water, forage, and vital signs so you can act early and know when to call your vet.
Why a Simple, Consistent Routine Wins in Australia
A short daily routine catches problems before they become emergencies.
Australian weather shifts fast, with extreme heat, high UV, and sudden storms that stress horses quickly. When you check the same things each day, you notice subtle changes that would otherwise slip past.
Spotting early signs of dehydration, heat stress, or hoof problems can prevent large vet bills. Consistency protects your horse and your wallet.
The 15-Minute Daily Walk-Through
This quick routine surfaces most issues before they escalate.
Start at the water source and check that tanks or buckets are full, clean, and working. Horses need constant access to clean water, and dirty or algae-filled water reduces intake.
Next, scan forage. Make sure enough roughage is available and a plain salt lick is easy to reach. Avoid feeding hay on ground where manure sits, to reduce parasite exposure.
Then do a quick visual check on eyes, nose, and skin, looking for discharge, swelling, rubs under rugs, or sunburn on pink skin.
If you notice sweat crust or flaky patches during your skin check, a quick rinse and occasional bath can help, but harsh detergents dry the coat. Choosing equine-specific, pH-appropriate shampoos protects natural oils, and you can stock up easily at home by ordering through a trusted local supplier like the Horse shampoo & conditioners online store for everyday grooming.
Run your hands down each leg and feel the digital pulse at the fetlock, which is the throbbing artery just above the hoof. Heat or a strong, bounding pulse can flag inflammation, so compare all four feet.
Pick out all four hooves, removing stones and checking for a thrush smell or black discharge in the frog. Count manure piles and check consistency. Dry, hard balls can signal dehydration, while loose manure may point to gut upset.
Finally, confirm normal behaviour and appetite. Log your walk-through in a notebook or phone note with the date and any abnormal findings.
Normal Ranges and When to Call Your Vet
Resting heart rate: 28 to 48 beats per minute in adult horses
Breathing rate: 8 to 14 breaths per minute at rest
Rectal temperature: 37.2 to 38.2 degrees Celsius
Call your vet if temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees, heart rate stays above 50 beats per minute at rest, or breathing exceeds 20
Water, Forage, and Salt That Prevent Problems
Hydration is the foundation of horse health.
An average 500 kilogram horse drinks roughly 30 to 50 litres each day, with higher intake in hot weather or during work. Use the 52 millilitres per kilogram per day rule as a baseline to spot under drinking.
Scrub stock tanks at least weekly and clean stable buckets daily. Plan forage at about 1 to 2 kilograms per 100 kilograms bodyweight per day, prioritising hay or pasture roughage. Place a plain salt lick to encourage water consumption, and make feed changes slowly over 7 to 14 days to protect gut flora and reduce colic risk.
Shelter, Paddock Safety, and Heat Management
Shade and shelter are welfare essentials, not optional extras.
Provide shade for all herd members because rugs are not a substitute in hot Australian conditions. Check paddocks daily for sharp objects, broken rails, or loose wire.
In fly season, use fly masks and consider UV nose guards for pink skinned horses. Remove manure from paddocks twice weekly to reduce parasites.
Hoof Care That Prevents Lameness
Daily hoof attention stops small problems from turning into big ones.
If your horse is in work or conditions are wet, pick hooves every day. Remove stones and check for a thrush smell in the frog.
Schedule farrier visits about every 6 to 8 weeks for trimming or shoeing. Call your farrier sooner if a shoe is lost, the hoof wall cracks, or the hoof feels hot compared to the other limbs.
Internal Parasite Control That Actually Works
Modern parasite control relies on testing, not automatic calendar worming.
Use fecal egg counts once or twice yearly, and run a fecal egg count reduction test each year to check whether treatments still work. Collect fresh manure balls from the top of a pile, avoiding soil, and submit the sample promptly.
Work with your vet to identify high shedders for targeted treatment. Many adult horses are low shedders and may not need frequent drenches.
Dose by bodyweight and avoid under dosing, which speeds resistance. After you have run fecal egg counts and checked that your dosing is accurate for each horse's weight, you and your vet can choose an appropriate drench class and timing for your property. For Australian-approved drenches and combination pastes, compare options online at the Horse Wormers & Worm Paste and match the dose to your horse's true bodyweight.
Back chemical control with pasture hygiene by picking manure at least twice weekly and rotating paddocks.
Vaccination and Biosecurity That Fit Australian Risks
Targeted vaccination and simple hygiene cut the risk from serious diseases.
Tetanus vaccination is essential for every horse. Most horses need two primary doses 4 to 6 weeks apart, a 12 month booster, then yearly boosters. Confirm exact timing with your vet.
In parts of northern Australia, Hendra virus risk exists and a registered vaccine is available. Quarantine new arrivals for at least 7 to 14 days and do not share water buckets between horses.
When to Call the Vet
Knowing when to pick up the phone can save your horse's life.
Call immediately for colic signs, inability to bear weight, puncture wounds, fever, severe diarrhea, choke, or clear breathing trouble. Call soon for being off feed, a single sided nasal discharge, or persistent lameness.
When you call, provide your horse's temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, current behaviour, last feed, and any recent treatments.
Bringing It All Together
Small, steady habits matter more than complicated programs.
The horses that stay sound and happy long term usually have owners who stick to the same small basics every day. Your 15 minute pass makes problems visible early so you can act before they escalate.
Use your vet and farrier as partners for decisions on vaccines, parasite control, and hoof balance. Commit to this routine and your horse will feel the benefits for years.
FAQs
These quick answers clear up common questions about keeping your horse on track each day.
How often should I bathe my horse in summer?
Bathe only when needed to remove sweat crust or mud that brushing cannot shift. On very hot days, cool water hosing and scraping is often enough.
What is the simplest starter worming plan for an adult horse?
Start with a fecal egg count to establish shedding status. Discuss results with your vet to target high shedders and time treatments to your region.
How do I tell if my horse is drinking enough?
Use the 52 millilitres per kilogram per day baseline and compare to actual intake. Watch for dry manure or darker urine as signs of low intake.
How often should teeth be checked for a young horse?
Schedule dental checks every six months from ages 2 to 5, then at least annually afterward. Young mouths change quickly.
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