Q: What should my horse’s manure look like?
A: A horse’s manure can tell you a lot about his current state of health. Manure should be made up of firm, well-formed balls. Very loose droppings or very dry droppings are always a cause for concern and should prompt a call to your vet. Horses generally pass manure every couple of hours, so if your horse goes for a few hours without passing manure, you should again consider giving your vet a call.
It is also worth checking manure for undigested food, as this can be a sign that your horse is struggling with his digestive system in some way. It could be that his teeth need some work; that he is receiving too much food, so it is passing through too quickly to get adequately digested; that his gut is intolerant in some way to the food he is getting; or that he has a digestive issue that needs looking at.
The other thing to look out for is visible worms. Sometimes, although rarely, worms can be visible in the manure and, in these cases, you really know that the worm burden is high and that action needs to be taken!
Basically, if you notice any change from the norm when it comes to your horse’s manure – get it checked!