How to Collect a Urine Sample From a Horse

Just as with any pet, horses aren't healthy all of the time. Sometimes, they only need a simple physical. Other times, however, they may need something more in depth. Often, this involves a urine sample. As anyone who has tried to pee in a cup knows, this is something much easier to say than to do, especially when involving a large and sometimes unpredictable donor.

Things You'll Need

• Collection container
• Storage container

Instructions

1. Observe your horse. Most horses make it clear when they are going to urinate. It usually involves spreading their legs and lifting their tail. Female horses will spread their legs more than the males. Become familiar with your particular horse's signals.

2. Prepare for the collection. Have an appropriate container ready to collect the sample. This should be big enough to give a large target, but small enough to position quickly. Consult with your veterinarian to find out if you need a sterile collection device.

3. Be patient. Follow your horse, watch for its signals, and be quick with the collection device. It may take several tries and strategies to get a clean and ample sample.

4. Transfer the urine to the storage/transportation container. If you need a sterile sample, be sure to not contaminate the sample.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are in a situation where you need regular urine samples, it's actually possible to train a horse to urinate on command. To do so, you'll need to work with the horse to associate the whistle with urination. This will involve a lot of walking with the horse and praising them for urination. If you need multiple urine samples, all of this work will save you time in the end.