ANS 110: Classification

Why is it important that we know a horses age?

Suitability to ride, nutritional requirements, and giving an idea of the remaining lifespan

What are some ways we can know a horses age?

Passports, TB tattoos, records/documentation, and dentition

What is a broke horse?

Horse that has been trained, regardless of age

What is a green horse?

Horse than has NOT been trained, regardless of age

What about horses anatomy makes it possible to age by dentition?

Horses teeth are embedded through the skull, and erupt as they age. This exposes structures in their teeth that can indicate age.

What are deciduous teeth?

Baby teeth

What are incisors?

Teeth at the front and center of the mouth, which are used for tearing grass. They are labeled as corner, middle, intermediate or central.

What are wolf teeth?

The 1st set of premolars, usually only on the upper jaw, that are often removed to prevent interference with the bit

What are canines?

Sharp teeth usually only found in males, that sit behind the upper and lower incisors. If females have them they usually have 2.

What are molars/premolars?

Cheek and jaw teeth used for grinding

What are the bars?

Interdental space between incisors and molars, where the bit is placed

How many teeth do young horses have? (include how many of each)

I: 3/3, C: 1/1, P: 3/3, M: 0/0 = 12 × 2 = 24

How many teeth do adult horses have?

36-42 teeth, with males often having more (wolf teeth and canines)

How many teeth would an adult male with 4 canines and no wolf teeth? (include how many of each)

I: 3/3, C: 1/1, P: 3/3, M: 3/3 = 20 × 2 = 40

When does a horse have a full mouth?

5 years old

When are a horses baby teeth replaced?

At 2 ½ years

Describe the shape of a horses teeth as they age

Oval (10yrs) to Triangular (16) to Transverse Oval (20)

When does the cup disappear from the lower incisors?

6-8 years old

When does the cup disappear from the upper incisors?

9-11 years old

When is a horse considered smooth mouthed?

11 years old

When does the dental star appear on the lower central incisors?

6-8 years old

When is the dental star present on all incisors?

12 years old

At what ages are both the dental star and cup present?

6-11 years

On the tooth, where is the star located and where is the cup located?

The star is located on the outside (lip) and the cup is located on the inside (tongue)

What happens to a horses incisors as they age?

They become more slanted

When does the hook appear on the upper corner incisor?

At 7 years, and another hook may develop at 13 years

When does the Galvayne’s Groove appear?

10 years old

When is the Galvayne’s Groove halfway down the tooth (upper half)

15 years old

When is the Galvayne’s Groove all the way down the tooth?

20 years old

When is the Galvayne’s Groove on the bottom half of the tooth?

25 years old

When is the Galvayne’s Groove gone from the incisor?

30 years old

What is a horses height measured in?

Hands, 1 hh = 4 in

How do we measure a horses height?

From the ground (with no shoes) to their withers

What is the most accurate way to determine a horses weight?

Weight scales

What tool can we also use to measure a horses weight?

Weight tape (wrap around heart girth)

What is the formula for calculating a horses weight (in lbs.)

Lbs. BW: heart girth in^2 x length in/330

Why is it important to keep up with a horses weight?

For their health

What are the two ways we can measure a horses fat coverage?

Ultrasound and Henneke Body Condition Score

What scale is the Henneke BCS?

1-9

What is the ideal Henneke BCS?

5-6

What is the ideal broodmare Henneke BCS?

6-7

What is the ideal athlete Henneke BCS?

4-6

When are horses considered overweight?

BCS >6

When are horses considered obese?

BCS >7

When are horses considered underweight?

BCS <4

What are the horse types based on size, weight, and build?

Light, drafts, and ponies

What are the horse types based on tempermant?

Hotbloods, Coldbloods, and Warmbloods

What is a mule?

Jack + Mare

What is a hinny?

Stallion + Jenny

What are the terms for Donkeys?

Jack = adult male, Jenny/Jennet = adult female

What are two unique things about donkeys?

They usually do not have chestnuts and have distinct voices

What is a feral horse?

A wild horse that is descended from domesticated stock

Who manages the US feral horses?

US forest service and US BLM

How big are miniature horses? What are they often used for?

less than or equal to 34in, and are often used as service animals

What is the average weight and height of a light horse?

14.2hh-17.2hh, 900-1600lbs

What is the average weight and height of a pony?

Less than 14.2 hh, 500-900lbs

What is the average weight and height of a draft horse?

17-18hh, 1400+ lbs

What are Baroque horses?

Horses resembling those from the Baroque Era (destriers) such as Andalusians, Lippizaner’s, and Friesians

What is a breed?

A group of horses with common ancestry and characteristics

What is a purebred horse?

A horse with a true lineage down the bloodline, and has a closed studbook

What is an open studbook?

A studbook that allows other breeds for registration/breeding, but have rigorous inspections. Some common breeds with this are warmbloods.

What type of horse is an Andalusian?

Spanish Horse

Where are Andalusians from?

Andalusia in Spain

What breed influenced the Andalusian?

Lipizzaner

What color are most Andalusians?

Gray

How tall are Andalusians?

15.2hh - 16.2 hh

How tall are Appaloosas?

14-16hh

Who bred the Appaloosa?

Nez Perce (WA, OR, MN)

What are the 3 characteristics of the Appaloosa?

White sclera, mottled skin, and striped hooves

What are the coat patterns of Appaloosas? What gene causes this?

Blankets, roans, sometimes plain, caused by the Leopard complex gene

Who developed the Arabian? Where?

Developed in Arabia by the Bedouins

What were Arabians bred for?

Endurance

How tall are Arabians?

14.1-15.1hh

What are the characteristics of the Arabian?

Dished face, large, prominent eye, teacup muzzle, high held tail (flat pelvis)

What type of horse is the Belgian?

Draft

Where are Belgians from?

Belgium

What color are Belgians usually?

Chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail

What size and weight are Belgians?

17hh+, 2000lbs

What genetic disorder do Belgians have?

Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa, where their skin falls off due to the connective tissue breaking

Where are Clydesdales from?

The river Clyde district in Scotland

What size and weight are Clydesdales?

16-18hh, 1800-2000lbs

What color are Clydesdales usually? What is special about their legs?

Bay with white face and legs, often sabino markings, and have feathers

What type of stud book does the Dutch Warmblood/KWPN have?

Open Studbook

How tall are Dutch Warmbloods?

15.2hh-17.1hh

Where are Friesians from?

Northern Netherlands

How tall are Friesians?

14.2-17hh

What body type are Friesians? What do they resemble?

Baroque type, resemble medieval war horses

What colors are Friesians?

Usually black, rarely dark bay

Where are Haflingers from?

Hafling, Austria (now Italy, national horse of Italy)

How tall are Haflingers?

13.2-15hh

What color are Haflingers?

Always chestnut

What is special about the Haflinger?

First horse to be cloned

Where are Hanoverians from?

Hanover, Germany

What are Hanoverians used as?

Sporthorses

What is the stud book organization for Hanoverians?

Hanoverian Verband

How tall are Hanoverians?

15.3-17.2hh

What disorders are Hanoverians susceptible to?

DODs (developmental ortho diseases), which are bone chips, swollen joints as they grow too quickly

What is the height and weight of Icelandics?

13-14hh, 700-850lbs

What are the unique gaits of the Icelandic?

Tolt (running walk) and Skold (flying pace)

Who established the Lipizzaner breed registry? When and where?

Established by the Hasburg Dynasty in Lippiza, Slovenia in 1580