Tired or in Trouble?
If you observe that your horse is spending more time down than he used to, it’s probably worth a nonemergency visit from your veterinarian to make sure everything is fine. He might simply be a smart napper, which is a good attribute. | Photo: iStock

Q.I find my 13-year-old gelding lying down a lot—much more frequently than the other horses in the barn. He doesn’t seem to be in pain or distress, but I wonder why a horse would do this so much. What are some signs that he’s not just resting and that I need to call my vet?

—Andrea, via email

A.Good for you for noticing this subtle issue. Catching things early commonly prevents small issues from turning into significant ones

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