The best thing you can do for your horse's long-term health and soundness is pay close attention. Know his gaits and his way of going, his idiosyncrasies, his moods, his eating and drinking habits, and his general demeanor under all kinds of environmental conditions.

The better you know your horse, the faster you'll be able to tell when something isn't right—and that can be life-saving in some cases, when something goes wrong that's internal rather than external.

You'll need an Equine veterinarian that you trust and respect, just for general maintenance. You can take care of many of your horse's health-care needs yourself, like worming, vaccinations, and minor scrapes and injuries; your horse still needs dental care and regular general check-ups, though, to enjoy the kind of robust health that makes for a happy and well-cared-for animal.

NOTE: The following lists certainly are not comprehensive, nor are they intended to be interpreted as medical advice. In the years I've cared for horses, I've found the following to be a helpful set of guidelines, but certainly there are any number of things I've missed, forgotten, or simply not personally experienced.

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Traveling and Boarding:
If you travel with your horse, or board at a professional facility, you'll need your vet to provide the following documents:

• Coggins test
• Health certificate
• Brand Inspection
• Proof of vaccinations

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Common Chronic Problems: There are a variety of health conditions that are serious enough to require special care, but with a bit of attention, even chronic health conditions can be managed and your horse can still be comfortable, healthy, and lead a productive life.

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Accidents, Injuries, and Medical Emergencies: These are the situations every horse-owner dreads. The middle-of-the-night vet call, because your equine friend is down in his stall, groaning. The hanging flap of skin with tendons exposed, beneath. The emergency call is almost always an especially difficult call to make, in an emotionally-charged situation. It's easier not to panic, though, if you know there are some practical things you can assess.

• profuse bleeding
• exposed muscle/tendon/ligament structures beneath the skin
• exposed bone
• refusal to bear weight
• repeated attempts to lie down and/or roll
• obvious lethargy
• apparent blindness
• staggering/apparent dizziness
• violent coughing, gagging, apparent problems breathing
• feed material coming from nostrils/choking
• obvious injuries to eyes

Next time: What you need to already know when you do call your vet.