Farm 1 Training Farm 2 Breeding Equine Scenario Farm 1 Training Farm 2 Breeding Scenario created by Dr. Nancy Diehl, Department of Dairy and Animal Science, Penn State, June 2005

Farm 1 24 AQHA horses 12 two year olds, 12 yearlings Young stock are obtained as early yearlings from affiliated breeding farm All young stock are sold in May at auction as 2 year olds Facilities Main barn includes 24 stalls, enclosed equipment and feed rooms Older barn with 10 stalls, attached shed with fenced drylots, overhead hay storage One 3 acre drylot and several 1 or ½ acre paddocks 12 acre summer pasture for yearlings

Farm 1

Farm 2 27 AQHA and mixed breed horses 1 AQHA mature stallion 14 AQHA and mixed breed mares, pregnant or with foal at side 12 AQHA or crossbred yearlings and 2 – 4 year olds All young stock are sold privately, at any age after weaning Facilities 60 acres, most in pastures divided for production groups One 3-sided shed with 6 stalls One barn tack room and unenclosed feed and other storage area Access to summer pastures off property

Farm 2

Farm 1 Management and Employees Manager is a veterinarian Assistant manager has a BS degree in Agricultural Business 10 part-time employees all current college students with varying levels of horse experience

Farm 2 Management and Employees Owner of the farm has high school education and 40 years of experience riding and breeding horses, responsible for all care and farm management and maintenance Adult son of the owner helps intermittently both with horses and farm management/maintenance

Farm 1 Pasture and Paddock Management Large summer pasture has tree line, clumps of bushes and trees, natural undulations of land to serve as wind breaks Small lots have some type of run-in shed Automatic, heated waterers checked twice a day and cleaned as needed Free choice salt block

Farm 2 Pasture Management Tree line provides windbreak in mare pasture; yearlings have access to the 3-sided shed with stalls left open; remainder of horses have no significant tree line for windbreak Water provided in large tubs, cleaned as needed, checked and refilled twice daily Free choice salt blocks

Farm 1 Feeding Yearlings are housed at pasture and group fed grain twice daily in large tire feeders 2 year olds are housed in drylot during the day, stalls at night Fed grain individually in stalls 12 lb alfalfa-mix hay when stalled overnight, and free choice outside, in hay feeders Grain Mix

Farm 2 Feeding Horses eat free choice from round bales (grass mix) from fall to early spring, round bales are usually completely rolled out for feeding but sometimes left intact Horses are always on pasture, some move off property to summer pasture Certain “hard keepers” are fed either a commercial pelleted feed or plain oats once daily

Farm 1 Body Condition Scores Yearlings and 2 year olds are at 5.5-7 bcs based upon the Henneke Scale (1-9)

Farm 2 Body Condition Scores Mares are at 4-6 bcs based upon the Henneke Scale (1-9) Yearlings, 2, and 3 year olds are at 4-6 bcs

Farm 1 General Health Care Vaccinations once yearly: Rabies, Tetanus, E/W Encephalitis, Influenza, Rhinopneumonitis (EHV), and WNV De-worming as needed, according to monthly fecal exams Foot care by professional farrier and his apprentices every 6-8 weeks

Farm 2 General Health Care Vaccinations once yearly: Rabies and Tetanus De-worming approximately every 3 months All horses’ feet are trimmed by the owner as needed

Farm 1 General Health Observations Injury rate approximately every other day mild cuts and abrasions are found every 3-4 months a more serious injury occurs, due to entangling in the fence or aggression between horses Mild to moderate colic occurs approximately once per month

Farm 2 General Health Observations Routinely mild abrasions observed Foot abscesses are common Colic is rare

Farm 1 Behavior Observations A few of the 2 year olds crib on or play with their feed tub through the evening, a few chew or crib on the tire feeders Two year olds in drylot paddock: average frequency of occurrence of each behavior in a half hour period Kicking Ears Back Biting Charging Mutual Grooming 9 26 18 7 1

Farm 2 Behavior Observations No stereotypies have been observed in the resident horses Broodmares with foals at side: average frequency of occurrence of each behavior in a half hour period Kicking Ears Back Biting Charging Mutual Grooming 25 7 24

Farm 1 General Handling and Training Practices Beginning in January of 2 year old year, training over the next 4 months includes round pen, lunging, line driving, and riding at walk, jog, and lope Training is 6 days per week Both experienced handlers and college students of varying abilities participate in all training General philosophy is to use negative reinforcement use of positive reinforcement is discouraged

Farm 2 General Handling and Training Practices 2 year olds are begin work in the summer, first in the round pen and then are ridden at a walk and jog and on trail only Saddling and girthing are performed gradually over several days The farm owner and his son and an occasional experienced college student do all the handling and training Horses are routinely rewarded with grain when caught in pasture and when submitting to certain procedures (saddling, vaccinations, foot care, rectal palpation)