Horse Health
Horse Health Basics in the UK
By Kaiser Khan, EditorPublished Last updated 1 min read
Quick answer
Colic (abdominal pain) is the most common equine emergency in the UK — call your vet immediately if your horse shows distress, rolling or failure to pass droppings. Register with an equine practice before emergencies arise.
Key takeaways
- Call your vet immediately if your horse rolls repeatedly, paws the ground, looks at the flank, fails to pass droppings, or appears distressed. Do not wait — colic can be fatal.
- Most receive tetanus and influenza vaccines on a schedule set by your vet — often annually or six-monthly for influenza depending on competition and yard rules.
- Modern UK practice favours faecal worm egg counts and targeted treatment rather than routine blanket worming. Your vet can advise a yard-specific plan.
A wider perspective: working-horse welfare and ways to help from the non-profit World Animal Rescue Network.
Daily health checks
Observe appetite, droppings, water intake, digital pulse, and hoof heat. Know your horse's normal temperature (37.5–38.5°C). Report subtle changes early.
Vaccinations
Core UK vaccines typically include tetanus and equine influenza. Your vet records boosters in the horse's passport. Discuss additional vaccines (e.g. herpesvirus) for breeding or high-risk yards.
Laminitis
Painful inflammation of the hoof laminae — common in overweight ponies on spring grass. Signs: reluctance to walk, rocked-back stance, hot hooves. Emergency vet care and strict diet restriction.
Donkeys
Donkeys need specialist hoof care and diet management — they are not small horses. Register with a vet experienced in donkey medicine.
Working horses beyond the UK
UK leisure horses and working horses abroad are not the same job. The World Animal Rescue Network funds mobile clinics for working horses — farriery, wound care and emergency veterinary treatment through partners, with Pakistan as the current in-network focus. Donate to WARN to keep those clinics running.
Sources & further reading
This guide draws on the publicly available UK advice listed below. Follow the links for the relevant guidance or the organisation's broader care resources.
PETHEALTH+ is independent. These organisations do not sponsor, approve, or partner with this website. Editorial sources and further reading (last updated 2026-06-25).
Continue exploring
Follow the connections between guides to explore related care and conditions.
Related guides
Guides that mention this topic
- Donkey Care in the UK
- Horse Choke in the UK: Emergency Guide
- Horse Colic in the UK
- Horse Coughing in the UK
Also see symptoms, symptom checker, and poison guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is colic an emergency?
- Call your vet immediately if your horse rolls repeatedly, paws the ground, looks at the flank, fails to pass droppings, or appears distressed. Do not wait — colic can be fatal.
- How often do UK horses need vaccinations?
- Most receive tetanus and influenza vaccines on a schedule set by your vet — often annually or six-monthly for influenza depending on competition and yard rules.
- Should I worm my horse on a fixed schedule?
- Modern UK practice favours faecal worm egg counts and targeted treatment rather than routine blanket worming. Your vet can advise a yard-specific plan.