how do you know if a horse is sick
1 To check your horse's respiratory rate, stand back and watch her chest movements. 2  One in-out movement of the chest counts as one breath. 3  Count how many times this happens in one minute. 4  It's best to do this check when your horse is resting so that this will be an indication of her normal respiratory rate.. Examine your horse's coat and skin. A dull coat is a sign that the horse is either in poor condition, suffering from a lack of nutrition or not grooming herself properly. If this is the only symptom, it is likely not an emergency, but you would do well to mention it to the vet the next time you see him.