A: A pony’s manure can tell you a lot about his health. Manure should be made up of firm, well-formed balls. Very loose droppings or very dry droppings are always a cause for concern so if you notice this you should speak to your stable manager, so they can contact the vet. Ponies generally pass manure every couple of hours, so if your pony goes for a few hours without passing manure, you should again consider giving your vet a call.
It is also worth checking manure for undigested food, as this can be a sign that your pony is struggling with his digestive system in some way. It could be that his teeth need some work; that he is receiving too much food, so it is passing through too quickly to get adequately digested; that his gut is intolerant in some way to the food he is getting; or that he has a digestive issue that needs looking at.
The other thing to look out for is visible worms. Sometimes, although thankfully not often, worms can be visible in the manure and, in these cases, you really know that the worm burden is high and that action needs to be taken!
Basically, if you notice any change from the norm when it comes to your pony’s manure – get it checked!
