The Normal Horse
Use these tables of information as a quick reference on the vitals of your horse:

Temperature:	99-100.5* F
Pulse:	36-48 bpm
Respiration:	14-24
Gum Color:	pink
Gum Refill:	2 sec.
Body Condition Score:	5-6
Body Condition Score: (Broodmare)	6-7
Nutrition:	Good Pasture: 7 hours = 12 pounds of hay Vitamin/Mineral supplement Broodmares, horses under five require mixed pasture or concentrate with amino acid supplement, energy supplement.

The Normal Newborn

Temperature:	99-100.5* F
Pulse:	80-120 bpm may have low murmur at 3rd ICS for 3-4 days. Heart rate decreases, but should remain over 60.
Respiration:	30-40, w/ some abdominal muscle effort
Gum Color:	pink
Gum Refill:	1-2 sec.
Mentition:	hyper, jumpy. up in 1-2 hours, nursing in 2-3 hours, membranes passed from mare in 3 hours. Foal should pass meconium by 8-12 hours. Any straining should trigger Fleet enema 1 time. See Foaling Management Handout.
Premature Foals:	Silky skin, floppy ears, red tongue
Common Physical Problems:	yellow-brown staining to hair and placenta if oxygen deprived during birth. contracted tendons, weak flexors, angular limb deformities, fractured ribs, joint distension.
Nutrition:	Nurse 4-5 times per hour for the first few hours. Older foals will eat the mare's manure to establish gut microbes and acquire vitamins. Milk is no longer adequate by 6-8 weeks of age. Phase in feed + mixed pasture or hay.
Excercise:	Free pasture exercise essential for joint cartilage maturation—by 6 months of age. 3.5-4.5 minutes of sprints, trotting and loping necessary. WARNING: If foal is not nursing well, straining, colicy, limping, breathing hard, or mare’s bag enlarged or dripping, call your veterinarian ASAP.