Introduction to Equine Production – Comprehensive Review

These question-and-answer flashcards distill the major topics covered in the lecture—including taxonomy, terminology, anatomy, coat genetics, breeds, conformation, and equine management—providing students a broad yet detailed review for exams or practical application.

What does the word “horse” originate from and what does it mean?

It comes from the word “Hors,” meaning swiftness.

Give the zoological classification (Kingdom to Species) of the domestic horse.

Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Perissodactyla, Family Equidae, Genus Equus, Species caballus.

Name three other living species in the Equidae family besides Equus caballus.

Equus asinus (donkey/ass), Equus zebra (mountain zebra), Equus quagga (plains zebra).

Which zebra species has no stripes on its belly?

The mountain zebra (Equus zebra) and Grevy’s zebra (Equus greyvi).

Which equid is brown in color and native to the Tibetan Plateau?

The kiang (Equus kiang).

Define mule and state its fertility status.

A mule is produced from a female horse (mare) crossed with a male donkey (jack); both sexes of mule are almost always sterile.

What is a hinny?

The offspring of a female donkey (jenny) and a male horse (stallion).

What cross produces a ‘zonkey’ (zerbonkey)?

A stallion zebra crossed with a jenny (female donkey).

Which equid species is the oldest living true wild horse?

Equus przewalskii (Przewalski’s horse) of Mongolia.

Differentiate wild horses from feral horses.

Wild horses have never been domesticated (e.g., Przewalski’s), whereas feral horses descend from domesticated animals that returned to the wild (e.g., North American mustangs).

Give the equine term for a foal that is still nursing.

Suckling.

At what age is a horse called a yearling?

Between 1 and 2 years old.

Define gelding.

A castrated male horse of any age.

List the three temperament types of horses.

Hot-bloods, Cold-bloods, Warmbloods.

Name the three main horse enterprise types.

Breeding, Training, Boarding stables.

State four general uses of a horse.

Pleasure, Breeding, Working stock, Show sport.

What equestrian discipline is known as “horse ballet”?

Dressage.

Which equestrian sport is nicknamed the “equestrian triathlon”?

Eventing (dressage, cross-country, and show jumping).

How long is the route in top-level endurance riding?

Up to 160 km against the clock.

Which part of the hoof is rubbery, triangular, and aids shock absorption?

The frog.

What is the total number of bones in a mature horse skeleton?

205 bones.

Which muscle is the largest in the horse and transfers force from hindquarters?

Longissimus dorsi.

Where is microbial fermentation of fiber carried out in the horse?

The hindgut (cecum and colon).

What is the dental formula for permanent equine teeth?

2( I3/3 C1/1(0) P3(4)/3 M3/3 ) = 36–44 teeth depending on presence of canines/wolf teeth.

How much do equine cheek teeth erupt each year to compensate for wear?

Approximately 2–3 mm per year.

What is the ‘Curve of Spee’?

The natural upward curvature of the caudal maxilla and mandible in horses.

Define chestnut (night-eye).

A callosity on the inside of a horse’s legs, considered a vestigial toe.

What is an ergot?

A small callosity on the underside of the fetlock, sometimes called a rooster’s spur.

Which dental landmark appears halfway down the upper corner incisor at about 15 years of age?

Galvayne’s groove.

At what age are all permanent incisors fully erupted in a horse?

By 4½–5 years old.

State the formula used to estimate body weight of adult horses using girth and length.

Weight (kg) = (Heart girth² × Body length) / 11880.

What are the two basic pigment colors in horse hair?

Pheomelanin (red) and eumelanin (black).

Which genes must a bay horse possess?

At least one dominant Agouti gene (A) and one dominant Extension gene (E).

What coat color is produced by homozygous dominant Extension gene without Agouti?

True black.

What genetic condition causes Lethal White Syndrome?

Homozygous frame allele (mutation in endothelin receptor B).

Which gene produces the dun dilution effect and primitive markings?

The dominant Dun gene (D).

List three primitive markings found on dun horses.

Dorsal stripe, transverse shoulder stripe, leg barring (zebra stripes).

Describe a palomino horse.

Golden coat with white or light mane and tail, caused by a single cream allele on a chestnut base.

Differentiate tobiano from overo pinto patterns.

Tobiano has white crossing the topline and generally white legs; overo has irregular white that does not cross the back between withers and tail, usually dark legs.

What is a blue roan?

A roan horse with black or dark underlying coat, giving a bluish appearance.

How does gray differ from roan in terms of aging?

Gray horses lighten progressively with age; roans maintain the same white-colored mixture throughout life.

Define ‘star’ marking on a horse’s head.

A small, clearly defined white patch on the forehead.

Which leg marking extends to (and includes) the pastern but not the fetlock?

Pastern marking.

Name the smallest recognized horse breed and its typical height range.

Falabella; about 25–34 inches tall.

What is the world’s fastest horse in harness racing?

The Standardbred.

Which breed is famous for the running-walk gait?

Tennessee Walking Horse.

Identify the three foundation stallions of the Thoroughbred breed.

Byerly Turk, Godolphin Arabian, Darley Arabian.

Which draft breed is always black and originated in the Netherlands?

Friesian.

What color and eye characteristic define the American Cream Draft?

Cream (champagne) coat with pink skin and amber-colored eyes.

Which light breed is known for a metallic sheen to its coat and originates from Turkmenistan?

Akhal-Teke.

Name three core characteristics that identify an Appaloosa.

Mottled skin, striped hooves, and white sclera around the eyes.

What identifier is burnt onto the left hindquarter of a Holsteiner?

A hot brand showing an H within a shield/crown (the breed logo).

Which pony breed evolves into four sections A–D, with A being the smallest mountain type?

Welsh Pony and Cob.

What is the maximum height for a miniature horse according to most registries?

34–38 inches at the withers (varies by registry).

Define ‘warmblood’ in the context of horse breeds.

Breeds developed by crossing hot-blooded horses (e.g., Arabians, Thoroughbreds) with cold-blooded draft types, resulting in athletic riding horses.

Which muscle-skeletal adaptation allows horses to sleep standing?

A well-developed stay apparatus in their legs and locking patella mechanism.

Which ancestor of the modern horse first displayed a single dominant toe?

Pliohippus.

What is the main functional difference between a horse’s cecum and stomach?

The stomach performs limited enzymatic digestion; the cecum carries out microbial fermentation of fiber.

In weight estimation, what two body measurements are required?

Heart girth circumference and body length (point of shoulder to point of buttock).

How many hands is a horse measuring 62 inches at the withers?

15.2 hands (15 hands and 2 inches).

What is the purpose of performance testing in horse selection?

To evaluate a horse’s capabilities (speed, endurance, jumping, etc.) before breeding or purchase.

List five common products derived from horses.

Meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, pharmaceuticals (from pregnant mare urine).

What are the three broad categories scored on the ‘All-breed horse score card’ regarding conformation?

Breed type, Form, Feet & legs, plus additional points for head & neck, quality, and action.

Where on a horse would you find the ‘dock’?

The solid base of the tail where it attaches to the body.

Explain the term ‘lope’ in Western riding.

A relaxed, slow version of the canter or gallop used in reining and other western disciplines.

What causes bone regeneration properties in horse bone used medically?

Its nano-crystalline surface which promotes osteoblast attachment.

Which coat color gene combination is lethal when homozygous?

Frame overo allele that results in Lethal White Syndrome when homozygous (OO).

Describe the ‘foxtrot’ gait of a Missouri Fox Trotter.

A 4-beat gait where the front legs walk and the hind legs perform a smooth sliding trot, giving a comfortable ride.

What is the typical angle change of incisor teeth as horses age beyond 10–12 years?

The bite angle becomes more acute, slanting outward rather than perpendicular.

Which breed is considered the first American light horse breed?

Morgan.

Name the two primary groups of equine sports involving jumping.

Show jumping and eventing (which includes a jumping phase).

Which pony breed from Britain is renowned for hardiness and a heavy winter coat, often used in coal mines?

Shetland Pony.

What is the main distinguishing feature of a bald-faced horse?

White covers most of the face, often extending toward the cheeks and sometimes the eyes.

Which draft breed originated in Scotland’s Clyde Valley and features feathered legs?

Clydesdale.

What is the standard adult height range (in hands) for light horse breeds?

14.2 to 17 hands.

Explain the difference between ‘half-stocking’ and ‘full stocking’ leg markings.

Half-stocking extends to mid-cannon; full stocking extends to and may include the knee/hock.

Which coat pattern may be associated with congenital deafness and blue eyes?

Splashed white overo pattern.

How are breed type and form weighted in the conformation score card?

Breed type 15 %, Form 35 % of the total points.

What modern tool gives the most accurate measurement of equine body weight?

A weigh bridge (livestock scale).

What hereditary disorder affects hoof wall separation in Connemara ponies?

Hoof Wall Separation Disease (HWSD), autosomal recessive.

Which gaited breed was developed from American Revolution riding horses and is known for a 4-beat ambling gait?

Saddlebred.

State the three main tests in combined driving competitions.

Dressage phase, marathon (cross-country) phase, and cones (precision) phase.

What is the smallest callous structure found just above or below the fetlock of a horse?

Ergot.

Define ‘seal brown’ coat color.

A black horse with tan or brown hairs around the muzzle, eyes, and flanks due to a modifier on the black base.

Which allele is responsible for dominant white coat in horses?

Any of several W alleles (e.g., W20) that cause pink skin and all-white hair.

What is the common culinary term for horse meat in Italy?

Carne cavallo.

Which breed is branded on its left thigh with the Spanish Cartuja mark and is famed for baroque conformation?

Andalusian (Pure Spanish Horse).

Why are mules typically sterile?

Different chromosome numbers between the horse (64) and donkey (62) lead to unpaired chromosomes (63) in offspring.

At what foal age are milk (deciduous) corner incisors expected to erupt?

Around 6 months of age.

What measurement unit equals 4 inches in horse height?

One ‘hand.’

Name the part of the hoof that controls movement at the back portion of the hoof wall.

The bar.

Which equine sport involves a team hitting a ball with mallets while mounted?

Polo.

What are the three sections of the equine small intestine?

Duodenum, jejunum, ileum (collectively ~70 ft long).

Which muscle group initiates the stay apparatus in the forelimb?

The biceps brachii tendon and associated ligaments stabilize the shoulder and elbow for standing rest.

Identify the primary ancestor believed to give rise to today’s ponies after glaciation in the British Isles.

The Celtic Pony, precursor to Welsh and other native pony breeds.

State the four categories on which legs and feet are assessed in conformation judging.

Correctness, bone quality, pastern angle, hoof size/shape.

What are ‘wolf teeth’ in horses?

Small vestigial premolars (P1) often removed to avoid bit interference.

Which light breed horse is noted for an extra sheen due to unique hair structure, often called ‘metallic’?

Akhal-Teke.

How many loops typically make up a 160 km endurance ride?

Several loops (often 4–6) bringing riders back to the vet gate for checks between loops.

What is a ‘loose rein’ western pattern class involving circles, spins, and sliding stops?

Reining.