 Racing horses is the largest spectator sport in the world  In the 1800s and early 1900s horses were used for power and transportation  The United States had 20 million horse in the 1900s  In 1977 – 9 million horses  In the late 1980s fewer than 6 million  In 2004 horse numbers have increased to 6.6 million

 Uses – work, companions, and hobbies, as well as animal-pull events.  Animals used for - draft, horses, oxen, donkeys, mules, camels, and buffalo. , mules, camels, and buffalo.

 Oxen  Mules  Draft  Shire  Clydesdale  Percheron  Belgian  Suffolk

 Riding horses  Gaited horses  Stock horses  Polo Mounts  Hunter and Jumpers  Ponies  Racehorses  Driving Horses

 Scientific name – Equus caballus

 Mare – mature female horse 4 + years  Stallion – mature male horse 4 + years  Foaling – giving birth in horses  Foal – young horse either sex; not weaned  Stud horse – male horse used of breeding  Filly – young female horse under 3 years  Colt – young male horse under 3 years  Gelding – castrated male horse

 Hands – equal to 4 inches  Classified by size  Light Horses – 14.2 – 17 hands (900 – 1400 pounds)  Draft – 14.2 – 17.2 hands ( pounds)  Ponies – 14.2 and under ( pounds)

 Use  Price range  Disposition  Size  Gait  Breed  Color

 Normal Breeding  Artificial Insemination  Parturition – best sign of parturition udder is distended  Care after parturition – imprinting

 Oxen – Duration of their cycle – hours every 21 days. Gestation – 9 months days  Draft Horses – puberty at months, estrous cycle is every 21 days, heat is 4-6 days in length; gestation is 11 months or days.  Draft Capacity – can pull 1/10 of its body weight  Draft Animal Selection – Social ranking in herd

 Concentrates – Grains (oats, corn, and barley)  Monogastric  One pound of grain for every 1000 pounds of horse per day  Colic – common problem if over feeding concentrates  Forages – pasture or hay. 1-2 pounds for each 100 pounds of body weight each day.  One horse per 3 acres on which to graze.  Supplement minerals and vitamins  Water – clean and plenty of it (10-12 gallons per day)

 Feeding Oxen - ruminants  Feeding Draft Horses - Monogastric  Feeding Schedules – hand-feeding, self-feeding, automated feeding

 Colic  Sleeping Sickness  Swamp Fever  Equine influenza  Founder  Tetanus (lock Jaw)  External Parasites  Internal Parasites

 Condition animal - Groom  Consider health  General health – temp F Horses; F Oxen  Parasites – internal and external  Foot Care – trim every 6 months  Farrier  Clean Frog

 Determine age by teeth – slanted teeth - older  Floating the teeth – smooth out sharp edges on the teeth.

 Barn  Feeding equipment  Grooming  Saddle and bridle (Western or English)  Strong fences and stalls  Equipment – harness or yoke

 Mounting and Dismounting – left side  Seat Position – sit tall; erect  Horse Control  Hands  Legs  Voice  Weight  Movement  Walk  Gallop  Backing  Stopping  Jog  Lope