One of the hardest things about owning a pony is knowing when something is an emergency and when it can wait until morning. Call the vet too often and you will face unnecessary bills; call too late and a treatable problem becomes a disaster. This guide will help you tell the difference — what needs an immediate phone call, what can wait for office hours, and the basic checks every owner should know how to do.
Call the vet immediately — no waiting
These are genuine emergencies where delay can cost your pony's life or cause permanent damage. When in any doubt, call — a good vet would always rather you rang and it turned out to be nothing than you waited and it was serious.
Suspected colic
Any pony showing signs of abdominal pain — pawing, looking at flanks, rolling, restlessness, sweating, refusing food — needs a vet now. Colic can be mild and pass quickly, or it can be a twisted gut that needs surgery within hours. You cannot tell which it is without a veterinary examination. Read our full colic guide for the signs to watch for.
Suspected laminitis
Heat in the hooves, a strong digital pulse, the "rocked back" stance, reluctance to move, or short shuffling steps — these are signs of laminitis, which is a medical emergency. Prompt treatment can mean the difference between full recovery and permanent pedal bone rotation. Read our laminitis guide for what to do while waiting.
Severe lameness
A pony that cannot bear weight on a leg, is hopping, or cannot walk at all needs urgent attention. This could be a fracture, a tendon injury, a hoof abscess, or an infection — all of which need prompt treatment. A pony that is mildly lame at walk but comfortable at rest can usually wait until morning.
Eye problems
Eye issues can deteriorate rapidly — within hours, a minor ulcer can become a sight-threatening corneal infection. Call the vet immediately if you see:
- The eye is swollen, half-closed or the pony is squinting.
- Excessive discharge or weeping — especially if thick, yellow or green.
- The eye looks cloudy, blue or opaque.
- The pony is rubbing the eye or appears to be in pain.
- Any visible injury to the eye or eyelid.
Deep wounds near joints or tendons
A small cut on the body can usually wait; a wound near a joint, tendon sheath or on the lower leg is different. Bacteria can enter the joint or tendon sheath and cause a severe, potentially career-ending infection. Any wound that is deep, that is near a joint, or that you can see into needs urgent veterinary assessment.
Unable to stand
A pony that cannot get up, or that goes down and cannot rise, is in crisis. This could be colic, a neurological problem, a severe injury, or a metabolic crisis. Call the vet immediately and keep the pony calm and safe while you wait.
Rapidly worsening or severe symptoms
If your pony is suddenly and severely unwell — collapsed, thrashing, in obvious severe pain, or showing symptoms that are getting worse by the minute — call without delay. Trust your gut: you know your pony, and if something seems badly wrong, it probably is.
Choking (oesophageal obstruction)
A pony that is choking will stretch its neck out, gag, retch, and may have food material coming from the nostrils. This is an emergency — the obstruction can cause aspiration pneumonia or rupture the oesophagus. Call the vet immediately and remove all food.
Can wait until morning — but monitor closely
These situations need attention but are not emergencies. Call your vet during office hours, usually within 24 hours.
- Minor cuts and scrapes — clean the wound, apply a clean dressing, and assess depth and location. If it is superficial and not near a joint, call in the morning.
- Mild lameness at walk — the pony is slightly off but comfortable at rest, eating normally, and not in distress. Monitor for 24 hours and call if no improvement.
- Slight nasal discharge — clear and small amounts, with normal appetite, temperature and energy. Monitor and call if it thickens, becomes yellow/green, or the pony goes off food.
- Lost shoe — not an emergency unless the pony is very sore. Call your farrier, not your vet.
- Slightly off-colour — the pony is a bit quiet or not finishing food, but has a normal temperature, is not in pain, and is still interested in surroundings. Monitor closely for 24 hours.
- Skin conditions — mud fever, sweet itch, minor rain scald. These need treatment but are not emergencies. See our guides on mud fever and sweet itch.
- Lost appetite for one feed — if the pony is otherwise normal, it may just be full or the feed was unpalatable. If it refuses the next feed too, call.
The basic checks every owner should know
Being able to assess your pony's vital signs helps you decide whether to call and gives the vet useful information when you do.
Temperature
A digital thermometer (£5–£10 from any pharmacy) is one of the most useful tools you can own. A normal pony temperature is 37.5–38.5°C. Above 38.5°C is a mild fever; above 39.5°C is a high fever — call the vet. Take your pony's temperature when it is healthy so you know its normal baseline. Lubricate the thermometer, insert gently into the rectum, and wait for the beep.
Heart rate (pulse)
A normal resting heart rate for a pony is 28–44 beats per minute. Above 50 is concerning; above 60 is a sign of significant pain or shock — call the vet. You can feel the pulse under the jaw, at the back of the fetlock (digital pulse), or use a stethoscope behind the left elbow. Count beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.
Respiratory rate
Normal resting breathing is 8–16 breaths per minute. Rapid, shallow breathing, flared nostrils, or an obvious abdominal effort to breathe are signs of distress. Count breaths by watching the ribcage rise and fall for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.
Gut sounds
Place a stethoscope (or press your ear) against the flank on both sides, high and low. You should hear rumbling, gurgling and tinkling — the sounds of a healthy, moving gut. Silence, or a complete absence of sounds on one or both sides, is a sign of colic and needs a vet.
Capillary refill time
Lift the pony's lip and press your thumb firmly on the gum above the teeth for 2 seconds, then release. The pale spot should return to pink within 1–2 seconds. A refill time of 3+ seconds suggests dehydration or shock.
Mucous membranes
The gums should be a healthy salmon-pink. Pale, white, bright red, purple or bluish gums are all signs of a serious problem — call the vet.
What to tell the vet when you call
The more information you can give, the better the vet can assess urgency:
- The pony's temperature, heart rate and breathing rate if you have taken them.
- What signs you are seeing and when they started.
- Whether the pony is eating, drinking and passing droppings.
- The pony's age, breed and any known health conditions.
- Whether the pony is insured for vet fees — this helps the vet discuss treatment options.
- Whether the pony is on any medication.
The cost of emergency call-outs
Emergency out-of-hours call-outs are more expensive than daytime visits — typically £100–£200+ before treatment, depending on your area and the time of night. This is one of the reasons pony insurance with vet-fee cover is so important. Some practices offer a monthly "health plan" that includes reduced out-of-hours fees for registered clients. Know your vet's emergency number and after-hours arrangements before you need them — save the number in your phone.
Your emergency kit
Every pony owner should have a first-aid kit ready. At minimum: a digital thermometer, bandaging materials, wound cleaning supplies, scissors, torch, and your vet's phone number written inside the lid. Keep it accessible — not buried at the back of a tack room.
Next steps
- Buy a thermometer and learn to use it — it costs less than a tenner and could save your pony's life.
- Save your vet's out-of-hours number in your phone today.
- Read our guides on colic, laminitis, and common illnesses so you recognise the signs early.
When in doubt, call. A good vet would always rather you rang and it was nothing than you waited and it was everything. Know your pony's normal vital signs, trust your instincts, and never feel embarrassed about calling — it is what they are there for.