The equine heart is a remarkable organ, designed to support athletic performance, endurance, and overall health. However, like any system, it can be affected by disease or structural abnormalities that compromise its function. Detecting heart problems in horses can be challenging because many conditions develop silently, with subtle or no outward signs until performance is reduced or clinical symptoms appear. This is where echocardiography plays a crucial role in equine veterinary medicine. An echocardiogram, often called an “echo,” allows veterinarians to visualize the heart in real time, assessing both its structure and function. Unlike other diagnostic tools, such as auscultation or electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography provides direct images of the heart's chambers, valves, and blood flow patterns.

Sleep is a fundamental part of equine life, yet it remains one of the least understood aspects of horse behavior. Every horse depends on rest to restore the body and mind, and equine sleep is quite different from what we recognize in ourselves and other domestic animals. Horses are polyphasic sleepers, meaning they divide their rest into many short intervals. They often remain standing while asleep, and spend only brief periods lying flat. These unusual habits reflect a complex balance between physiology, safety, and social structure. Read on to learn more about our current understanding of equine sleep, including details about the horse's sleep cycle, recumbency, and risks of sleep deprivation. By understanding the differences between normal rest and more serious signs of illness, handlers can ensure medical issues are identified promptly.

An ophthalmic examination involves more than simply looking at the surface of the eye. A complete assessment evaluates the cornea, lens, anterior and posterior chambers, tear production, ocular pressure, and reflexes. Special diagnostic tools, such as fluorescein dye, Schirmer tear tests, tonometry, and ophthalmoscopy, help veterinarians pinpoint subtle abnormalities that may not be obvious on initial inspection. For horse owners, understanding the importance of routine eye checks and recognizing early warning signs of ocular disease can lead to better long-term outcomes. Prompt veterinary attention for any suspected eye problem is crucial, as equine eye conditions are best treated early.

Hay is the cornerstone of most equine diets, providing the fiber necessary for gut motility and a healthy microbiome, along with essential nutrients to support body condition, energy levels, and overall well-being. However, when hay becomes moldy, its value as feed quickly disappears—and the risks to equine health increase dramatically. Mold can turn this dietary staple into a serious hazard, particularly for horses with respiratory conditions, metabolic disorders, or weakened immune systems. Complicating matters, mold contamination is not always visible; its microscopic structure means harmful spores can be present even in hay that looks and smells fine. Recognizing the signs of mold, understanding its health risks, and knowing how to prevent and manage exposure are critical for anyone involved in horse care. From selecting high-quality hay to storing it properly, good management practices can mean the difference between safe feeding and a preventable health crisis.

The horse's eye is large, delicate, and vital for navigating its environment. Its prominent position and limited natural protection make it especially vulnerable to injury. Eye prolapse, also called proptosis, is uncommon but serious, occurring when the eyeball is displaced. This can stretch or damage the optic nerve and put the horse's vision at risk. Even partial prolapse can put vision at risk, while complete displacement may lead to permanent blindness if not treated quickly. Understanding the eye's anatomy, how vision works, and the risks associated with prolapse is crucial for horse owners and veterinarians.

Viral infections are among the most common health challenges faced by horses, ranging from mild, self-limiting illnesses to severe, life-threatening diseases that spread rapidly through equine populations. Because many different viruses can affect horses, recognizing and correctly diagnosing these infections is essential for both individual horse care and broader herd health management. Diagnosing viral infections in horses is not always straightforward. Many clinical signs, such as fever, lethargy, or weight loss, are nonspecific and may overlap with bacterial diseases or even non-infectious conditions. For this reason, veterinarians rely on a combination of clinical examination, history, and laboratory testing to arrive at a diagnosis.

Electrocardiography (ECG) is one of the most important tools veterinarians use to evaluate equine heart health. While stethoscopes remain invaluable for identifying murmurs and abnormal rhythms during a physical exam, an ECG provides a more precise and objective way to assess the heart's electrical activity. By recording and graphing the electrical impulses that control each heartbeat, an ECG allows veterinarians to detect rhythm disturbances, known as arrhythmias, that may not always be apparent on auscultation (i.e. using a stethoscope) alone. Heart rhythm abnormalities are a common finding in horses and range from benign variations with little clinical impact to serious conditions that compromise performance or even endanger the horse's life. An ECG helps determine whether an irregularity is harmless, requires monitoring, or needs treatment.

The nervous system plays a vital role in every aspect of a horse's health and performance, from balance and coordination to sensory perception and behavior. When this system is interrupted, the signs can be subtle or dramatic, and distinguishing neurologic disease from other causes of poor performance or lameness can be challenging. A neurologic examination is a systematic process that veterinarians use to evaluate the function of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves in horses. By carefully observing the horse at rest and in motion, and by performing specific tests of reflexes, coordination, and responses, veterinarians can identify abnormalities and localize problems within the nervous system.