How to Calm Your Horse Before a Vet Visit
Even the calmest horse may feel a little anxious during a vet visit. Preparing your horse for the exam can ease stress and improve the experience for your horse, your veterinarian, and you.
6 Ways to Prepare for a Veterinary Visit
Regular veterinary care is essential for your horse's health. Unfortunately, your horse may not agree, particularly if it's not used to being handled or tends to be nervous when faced with new people or experiences. If your horse becomes agitated during exams, try a few of the following:
- Learn How Your Horse Shows Anxiety. Recognizing how your horse responds to anxiety can help you react quickly if it feels stressed during the exam. Common signs of anxiety include flared nostrils, fidgeting, head tossing, tail swishing, wide eyes, rigid body, ears held forward, tight lips, diarrhea, kicking, or biting.
- Handle Your Horse. Horses that are used to being handled are less likely to react fearfully or aggressively to an exam. Improve your horse's comfort by handling your horse every week. Start by running your hands over every inch of your horse's body. Open its mouth, and look in its ears. Pick up its feet and tap on them with a hoof pick. In addition to preparing your horse for an exam, handling makes it easier to spot wounds, lumps, or painful areas.
- Exercise Your Horse. Although it might seem to make sense to stable your horse in preparation for an afternoon vet visit, lack of exercise may make it difficult for your horse to remain still during the exam. Give your horse ample turnout time to release pent-up energy before the veterinarian arrives.
- Practice Standing. Standing still while being examined is essential. Horse Illustrated recommends preparing for exams by tying your horse for 10- to-15-minute intervals. Gradually increase the time until your horse can stand still for the length of an exam.
- Think About Lighting Conditions. Today's Veterinary Nurse notes that horses may need approximately 20 minutes to adjust to lighting changes. When moving from a dark to light area, bring your horse to the new area well before the veterinarian arrives.
- Consider Sedation. If your horse is too nervous to cooperate with a veterinary exam after trying these tips, ask your veterinarian about sedation. Giving your horse a mild sedative before the visit could make vet visits more pleasant and less stressful.
Keeping Your Horse Calm During the Visit
When your veterinarian arrives, keep these tips in mind:
- Stay Calm. Your horse reacts to your emotions. If you're nervous or worried about the visit, your horse may feel nervous too. A few calming breaths, a quick run, or a brief meditation session can soothe your nerves and help you keep your horse relaxed and cooperative.
- Choose a Side. Your horse may feel more comfortable if you stand next to the vet during the exam instead of on the other side. Switching focus between you on its left side and the veterinarian on the right side might increase your horse's stress and anxiety.
- Practice Distraction. Distraction keeps the focus on you rather than the exam. Distract your horse by talking in a soothing voice or even singing a song.
- Provide Food. Offering a few well-timed treats during the exam may convince your horse that a vet visit isn't so bad. Offer hay, timothy pellets, alfalfa cubes, or any other foods your horse enjoys.
- Bring in Back Ups. PetMD notes that conducting exams near other horses may reduce stress. Does your horse have a special friend? If it does, keeping the friend nearby during the visit may calm your horse's jitters.
- Provide an Obstacle-Free Environment. Move equipment and tools out of the way before the visit begins. If a muck fork suddenly clatters to the ground during the exam, your horse may be spooked.
Is your horse due for a visit with the vet? Contact our office to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
Horse Illustrated: Avoid Vet Day Blues: Strategies to Help Your Horse Work With a Veterinarian, 1/6/2021
https://www.horseillustrated.com/teach-horse-to-work-with-veterinarian/
Today’s Veterinary Nurse: Low-Stress Veterinary Visits for Horses, 3/10/2023
https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/behavior/low-stress-veterinary-visits-for-horses/
PetMD: How To Calm a Horse for the Vet or Farrier, 11/13/2024
https://www.petmd.com/horse/how-calm-horse-vet-or-farrier
The Horse: Safe Horse Handling for Vet Visits, 4/18/2019
https://thehorse.com/115889/safe-horse-handling-for-vet-visits/