How to Tell if a Horse You Are Trying Out Has Been Sedated for Your Trial Ride?

Leasing or buying a horse can be an exciting endeavor. Unfortunately, some unethical horse owners and trainers, desperate to sell a horse, will resort to dishonest tactics, such as sedating a horse for your trial ride. Having a knowledgeable horse person or trainer with you can help you detect and avoid these situations. Or, you could deal only with reputable sellers. However, knowing some symptoms of sedation can help you avoid financial and personal heartache.

Things You'll Need

  • Video camera
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Instructions

  1. How to Tell if a Horse You Are Trying Out Has Been Sedated for Your Trial Ride

    • 1
      Observe the horse first with no rider so you can assess his gait.

      Ask to see the horse lunged in a round pen before riding. This way you can observe the horse's gait. According to Janet Roark, DVM and owner of Hill Country Mobile Veterinary Service in Austin, Texas, horses normally have a very rhythmic gait. "At the walk, each foot falls in a very rhythmic motion of 1-2-3-4," says Roark. "At the trot, there are two beats that should be very rhythmic, 1-2, 1-2. Sedated horses often have an abnormal rhythm, as though they are drunk." You should also look for stumbling or dragging feet, and how they stand when they are resting. If there is any swaying, crossing of legs, or standing with a lowered head, that could indicate sedation (Ref 1).

    • 2

      Observe bowel and urinary functions. Roark notes that sedated horses may exhibit excessive urination and defecation, often with loose stools. They may also exhibit increased flatulence (Ref 1). Give yourself enough time for an accurate assessment; some horses have loose or frequent stools if they are nervous, for example.

    • 3
      Look for abnormalities, such as no reaction to loud noises.

      Ask questions about normal attitude and behavior. In particular, note what you are seeing about the horse's demeanor and ask specifically if that is normal. You may need to refer to this information later when you are doing the pre-purchase exam with your veterinarian. Note if the horse seems depressed or excessively sleepy, and also if he seems eerily calm, with a decreased reaction to stimuli such as loud sounds or unexpected touch -- even a slap on the hindquarters (Ref 1).

    • 4

      Palpate the horse. Using your hands, run them across each leg and across the horse's body, including the head and ears. Make note if his extremities, such as legs and ears, feel cold. Check for seemingly excessive sweating, particularly if he has not been ridden yet or worked hard, and also if there is any discernible muscle trembling. Use this time to also check for pupil dilation or drooling (Ref 1).

    • 5

      Listen carefully to the horse's breathing. A horse should have a rhythm to their breathing, so make note of any seemingly abnormal rhythms. Also note any snoring sounds. Some horses will make "grunts" or "roars" when being ridden or worked, but make a mental note if you hear similar noises when the horse is at rest (Ref 1).