Look at the self-test for laminitis on this page to find out more about spotting the signs of laminitis.

Lethargy can be difficult to spot as it’s onset is often very gradual, and older horses are expected to become lethargic as they age. Typical signs of lethargy to watch out for include your horse not enjoying exercise as they usually do, appearing less interested in their surroundings, or not interacting with you as they normally would.

They may show signs such as an infection that doesn’t respond to treatment as expected, an infection that keeps coming back, or a high worm burden.  Examples of this would be recurrent sinusitis, recurrent foot abscesses, chronic endometriosis, chronic periodontal disease (gum disease) etc.

Useful signs to watch for are a sudden change in the amount of bedding you need to keep the stable dry, or a change in how often you fill up the water trough.

The breed, athleticism and degree of fat covering your horse will affect how obvious this change is. In many horses carrying excess weight, the muscle underneath their fat is lost faster than the fat itself, meaning that the fat develops a ‘lumpy’ appearance.

This sign is often more obvious in native breeds that usually have a very thick winter coat. In fine-coated breeds it is usually more subtle, however you may see excessively long hairs on the limbs, underneath the belly or neck, instead of an obviously long coat all over.

Early disease is associated with delayed moulting and patches of long hair, whereas advanced disease usually causes a more generalised long hair coat and complete loss of the seasonal moulting pattern.