One of the secrets of good horsemanship is to be able to sense whether anything is wrong with a horse whenever you are with him. The experienced groom will know instinctively at first sight if a horse is well or not. A natural understanding of the horse's normal disposition together with experience will enable you to decide that something is not right. An abnormality can indicate a minor ailment or a serious disease, and no matter how trivial the symptom, immediate attention will prevent the horse suffering unnecessarily.

A simple way of remembering what to look for generally is to think of the ABC of the horse. Appearance, Behavior and Condition. Constant observation is therefore a vital part of the everyday routine. Each time you approach a horse be sure you check that he is comfortable in every way. In terms of general health notice whether he is alert with a bright eye and smooth coat. A dull, staring coat is an indication that something is amiss in a stabled animal. He should not be standing with an abnormal stance, for instance with his front and hind legs far apart. This could indicate that he is stretching to ease some abdominal