By seeing in your horse in the flesh, your vet can better detect and address any problems. Photo by Heidi Nyland.

Do you tend to call your veterinarian only when your hardworking trail horse is sick or injured? If you do, your horse is essentially on a "sickness program." To help keep your horse healthy and ready to go year after year, it’s best to put him on a wellness program. Such a program will promote your horse’s health and help prevent illness — or at least catch problems early on. By taking this approach, you’ll not only help your horse, you’ll also save time and money in the long run.

Here, we’ll give you two ways to embark on a wellness program. Then we’ll explain how your horse can benefit from regularly scheduled veterinary visits.

2 Ways to Wellness

There are two ways you can help keep your horse healthy. One, you can simply call your veterinarian and schedule twice-yearly exams (every spring and fall). He or she will then have an opportunity to examine your horse, then give him the necessary vaccinations, deworming, and dental care.

Or, you can sign up for a structured, prepaid wellness program that’s gaining popularity with equine veterinarians. A structured wellness program is designed to save you money by providing a bundle of services at a discounted rate. Some veterinarians offer a choice of plans, from basic to premium; others offer one program for everyone.

Here’s how it works: You sign up, pay a set fee, then schedule your veterinary appointments for the year. Your veterinarian will either come to you or ask that you haul your horse to his or her clinic on regularly scheduled "wellness days." Ask your vet what he or she currently offers, or is considering offering in the future.

Why a Vet Exam?

So, why spend time and money on veterinarian visits? Here are seven important reasons.

1. Horse-specific care. By seeing your horse in the flesh, your vet can better detect and address any problems. He or she can also offer you management advice (including optimal nutrition and exercise programs) for your horse’s particular needs.

2. Complete physical exam. Your vet will give your horse a complete physical exam, including a lameness check. Any problems can then be addressed immediately. He or she will also likely take your horse’s vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, etc.). Knowing your healthy horse’s vital signs will help alert you to any deviations from the norm — and thus help you and your vet detect potential problems down the road.

3. Testing. As part of your horse’s physical exam, your vet will likely draw blood for a Coggins test to check for equine infectious anemia, a highly contagious, potentially fatal blood-borne viral disease for which there’s no vaccine or treatment. You’ll need proof of a negative Coggins to take your horse to most overnight stabling facilities and organized rides, and across state lines. Your vet might also recommend other diagnostic tests.

4. Dental care. Also as part of the physical exam, your vet will examine your horse’s teeth — and again, take care of any problems immediately. Proper dental care enhances your horse’s health and comfort. For instance, the better he can chew, the better he’ll derive optimal nutrition from his feed. He’ll also be happier on trail rides if his mouth can hold a bit without pain.

5. Vaccinations. Your vet will give your horse the necessary vaccinations and boosters to help ward off infectious diseases. He or she will design an up-to-date vaccination program specific to your horse, your equine activities, and the area in which you live.

6. Deworming. Your vet will place your horse on an optimal deworming program. He or she will take into account your horse’s age, overall health, health history, environment, activities (such as travel), and the area in which you live. By minimizing the parasites in your horse’s system, you’ll enhance his overall health and reduce the chance that he’ll suffer colic (a potentially life-threatening digestive disorder).

7. Senior care. Do you have an older horse? With twice-yearly visits, your vet can fill you in on the latest senior-horse research, products, and management. Such advice can help you enhance your horse’s quality of life and extend your time in the saddle. Your vet can also recommend the best diet for your horse, such as easy-to-chew pellets designed for older horses, rather than hay.