 Basic knowledge of horse breeds and breeding  Understanding of proper conformation and unsoundness  Appreciation of various gates  Knowledge of horse feeds and feeding  Comprehension of horse management, housing, and diseases in horses

 Domesticated for >5000 yrs.  What has been their role?

 Many breeds have been developed for the various wants/needs of man  Light horse breeds › Racing, riding, exhibitions › Name some breeds and other functions

 Draft horses › Large and powerful › For heavy work 

 Reproduction › Sexual maturity  mos. In light breeds  mos. In draft breeds › 21d estrus cycle during breeding season  Estrus behavior for 5-7d  Ovulation during the last two days

› 10% are multiple ovulations/only.5% twinning rate  340d gestation cycle  Mares can be bred back 5-12d after foaling  Selection › Should be based upon the desired offspring › Selection for other reasons will often result in unsoundness › Ideal environments for breeding programs  Ample pasture/forage

 Ample Exercise  Either natural or regular schedule  Maintain proper condition  Maintain sound feet/legs  Worked in conditions for which they are bred  Close observation is critical

 Purchasing › Know your needs/abilities › Pre-purchase exam › Keep records › Sales contract

› Feet & Legs  Most important functional parts of the horse  Observe for correctness/unsoundness  Ideal conformation  Front-line from point of shoulder through center of:  Knee  Pastern  Cannon  Foot

 Rear-line from point of buttocks through center of:  Hock  Cannon  Pastern  Foot

› Hoof  Essential for soundness  Regular cleaning, trimming, shoeing (every 6-8 wks.)  Grow in/mo.

 Unsoundness › Any defect interfering w/ the usefulness of the horse › Caused by:  Injury, improper nutrition, genetics, poor conformation

› Blemishes  Defect that detracts from appearance  Doesn’t affect usefulness

 Walk › 4 beats › Each foot strikes the ground independently  Trot › Two-beat › Diagonal  LF/RR hit ground in unison, etc. › Straight travel w/ no swaying  Pace › Two-beat › Lateral  Both R/L hit ground in unison › Is swaying from side to side

 Gallop › 4-beat › Fast  Canter › 3-beat › Two diagonals hit at same time, while other hind leg and lead leg hit at different times  Rack › 4-beat › For showing purposes

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 Running walk › Fast ground walk › Unique to the Tennessee Walker › Gliding motion › Hind leg oversteps front footprint by 12-18”

 Horses have natural shock absorbing mechanisms › Feet › Legs

 Abnormalities › Interference  Toeing out › Paddling  Toeing in › Overreaching  Hind foot hitting front heel  Stumbling › Forging  Hind foot hits shoe on front foot › Which is least critical?

› Inspection of teeth  Notice wear order of teeth  Full mouth at five yrs. of age

 Need both forages and concentrates  Mechanical action of chewing grinds the feed, so not necessary for cracking or rolling

 Stomach only 10% of digestive capacity  60-70% of protein & sol. Carbos. Digested in S.I.  80% of fiber digested in the Cecum & colon › L.I. accounts for 60% of digestive capacity

 1 – Poor  2 – Very Thin  3 – Thin  4 – Moderately Thin  5 – Moderate  6 – Moderate to Fleshy  7 – Fleshy  8 – Fat  9 – Extremely Fat

 Overfeeding and obesity is discouraged  Pregnant mares › High forage diets are sufficient in first two trimesters w/ little grain supplementation › Last trimester-more concentrate (oats, corn, barley) › Do not drop below BCS 5  Lactating mares have the highest nutritional requirements of any horse  Evaluate feeds (hay) carefully for quality, maturity, aroma, color, texture › Test if possible

 Colic › Common digestive disorder causing severe abdominal pain  Gas  Decrease gut motility  Parasites  Ulcers  Twisted gut  Ingestion of sand › Caused by:  Abrupt diet changes  Change in exercise regimen  Change in housing

› Signs of colic  Pawing  Pacing  Rolling › Treatment of colic  Varied treatments  Veterinarian care recommended

 Breeding › Be aware of any uterine problems due to foaling › Can check if a mare is in heat by exposing them to a stallion, and observing behavior  Violent reaction-not in heat  Stand, squat, and urination-in standing heat › Cleanliness is vital  Natural service  Both mare and stallion should be cleaned and washed  Mare’s tail wrapped

› Stallion use  Breeding on 1 st day of standing heat, and days 3 & 5  Stallions can service twice daily for a short time, or once daily for 1-2 mos.  AI use can improve stallion management and mating programs

 Foaling › Normal foaling time is in spring › Clean, straw-bedded box stall, or on clean pasture › Normal presentation should result in delivery w/ no problems or assistance necessary › Abnormal presentations  Breech  Assistance should be given  No head presentation  Push foal back in and bring head along w/ front legs

› Foal should be carefully monitored after birth  Clear nostrils & mouth of mucus, membranes  Dry if weather is cold  Dip umbilical cord in iodine to prevent infection › Pregnant mares should be exercised regularly  Weaning › Remove mare › Leave foal in box stall, or secure fenced lot for safety › High quality hay and concentrate should be provided

 Castration › Do not do at weaning › Castrated male called a gelding › Safer for handling than stallions › Testicles are exposed, clamped, and cut › Careful observation and cleanliness is necessary  Identification › Tattooing › Freeze branding › Hot iron branding › Electronic implants

 Care of Working Animals › Proper cool-down period after exercise or work › Do not go directly to feed  Can cause colic or founder › Provide extra energy › Protect against founder

 Consider drainage, accessibility, labor intensity, durability, air quality, exposure  Place hay rack at head height  Grain feeder in separate location  Water bucket on outside wall  Stall size › Foaling stalls  14 X 14 › Regular stalls  10 X 10 minimum  Appropriate for size of horse

 Tack room › Necessary for storage and care of equipment  Stock › Care for injured or horses needing treatment, breeding, palpation, injections › Protection for handler

 Sanitation is key › Clean stalls › Clean horses  Vet assisted planning  Bacterial infections › Tetanus › Strangles (distemper)  Highly infectious respiratory disease › Rhinopneumonitis or Arteritis  Abortion causing › Vaccinations can aid in prevention

 Viral infections › Equine Encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness)  Affects the brain  Transmitted by mosquitoes, and horse to horse › Influenza  Airborne  Fever, cough › West Nile  Mosquitoes and birds  Depression, loss of coordination, tremors, paralysis

 Parasites › Pinworms  Consumed in contaminated feed/water  Irritation of the anus  May observe tail rubbing › Bots  Larval eggs laid on hair coat  Skin irritation  If ingested can burrow into body tissue, and stomach › Strongyles  Attach to walls of L..I.

 Eggs passed in feces, hatch, and larvae swallowed on blades of grass  Can cause arterial clotting › Ascaris Worms  S.I.  Eggs also passed in feces  Larvae carried to liver/lungs  Cause intestinal blockage › Deworming should be done 2-4 times per yr.  Rotate types of wormer

Strongyles