equine identification and the equine industry

what are the main equestrian events in the uk

• racing

• dressage

• show jumping

• endurance

• eventing

• in hand showing

• driving

• british reining

• new forest ponies

common breedsof horse and their uses UK

➢ Shetland pony- Childs pony , Therapy ponies, companions, Showing and Driving ➢ Thoroughbred- Racing industry, Show jumping and Recreational riding ➢ Shire Horse- Working such as forestry, pulling heavy loads, Showing ➢ Clydesdale- Ceremony parades, pleasure horse, pulling heavy loads ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ Cleveland bay- Jumping (gymkhanas), cart pulling, riding Welsh Section A Pony - Child’s Pony Welsh Section B Pony - Child’s Pony or Small Adult’s Pony Welsh Section C Pony – Recreational Riding and Driving Welsh Section D Cob – Recreational Riding, Hunting, Driving and Trekking New Forest Pony- Childs pony and driving Irish draft horse- Hunting and recreational

common brees of horses and their uses- international

American Quarter horse – General Riding, Cattle Work, Rodeos, Polo and Racing ➢ American Standardbred – Racing ➢ American Paint Horse – Recreational Riding and Racing ➢ Arab Horse – Racing and Endurance ➢ ➢ Percheron – France – Driving and Agricultural Work Ardennais – Belgium – Draft Horse ➢ Halflinger – Austria – Child’s Horse ➢ Dutch Warmblood – Jumping and Dressage ➢ Holsteiner – Germany – All sports ➢ Connemara- Good first time pony for children, Recreational riding, jumping

equine passport

• what are the exceptions

• what age

• what do you need to do before the passport application

• how long is it valid for

• when do you need to return it to the PIO

• all equids must be microchipped and carry a pasport

  • exception for semi wild ponies in dartmoor, exmoor and the new

• includes horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and zebras from 6months of age or efore 30th nov

• all passport applications must be made through a passport issuing organisation

  • you need a vet to implant a microchip in the horse before you can apply for a passport

• the passport is valid for the lifetime of the horse and does not expire

  • within 30 days of the equids death the passport must be returned to the PIO

  • returned to PIO in an event of sale

• all equids must be accompnied by their passports at all times

what is the purpose of an equine passport

• ensure equines containing substances suhc as phenylbutazone d not enter food chain for human consumption

• manage equine movements in the event of a disease outbreak

• identify each individual equid

  • prevent stolen equids being sold

  • identify lost equids

how are equids identified

height, species, other

colours, whorls, white or black markings, scars, chestnut

microchipped

• when has it become routine practice

• when was it made legal

• since 2009, microchipping in foals has become routine practice

• as of 1st oct 2018 defra new equine identiifcation legally require every hrose pony and doneky to be micrchipped and have a valid uk passport with details stored in the centra equine databse

where is the horse height measured

at the highest point of the withers down to he ground

how many inches is one hand

4

common colour

identiication form

what is the written description on the passport

• should be accurately described including whorls, scars and white markings

• black ink

• should accurately describe marking wholrs and scars as shown on silhouette

  • forehead

  • position of head whorls should be eactly desciribed in relation to eye level, cenre of forehead and any white markings

• whorls

  • crest whorls on neck should be divided into anteriro middle and posterior

  • body whorls designated by reference to particular anatomical position

• include scars, hairs of differnet colours including in mane and tail, nicked ears, any branding, variation in hoof colour

  • using the correct colour pen

name

• most horses have a show name of some description

• equids have a sire father and a dam mother

• their show name is often linked to the stud

• also havea stable name

• their show name will be on their passport if they are registerd to a breed registry

white markings

• what colour to outlne

• what pattern

• what colour should brand marks be drawn in

• must be outlined in red ball point pen

• white markings must be marked with a red outline and hatched with diagonal lines

• in the case of a few white hairs, these can be indicated with a few short lines

• scars due to surgery sites or accidents must be indicated by arrows pointing to the site of the scar

• brand marks should be drawn in black, i the shape is not viisble the branding should be consiered a sar

• white marks in manes or tails should be ntoed as well as white markings on hooves

head wite markings

what whorls

• formed by changes in direction of flow by the hair, they can come in different forms

• whorls are used as identification for a orse, they do not change as the horse grows

• indicated by an x in black ink

• elongated whorf show continual line from the x

They can occur on the head, neck, body and upper limbs • Head - Reference to midline and eye level, to white markings • Neck - The neck divided three sections- upper, mid and lower. Use location i.e. crest • Other locations- Anatomical position should be stated accurately possible!

flesh marks

• colour

outlined and shaded completely in red

leg white marking

prophets thumb mark

• what is it

• what is it indicated by

• muscular depression usually located in the neck

• indicated with a black small triangle

ermine marks

• what are they

• where are they usually seen

• what colour

• black spots occurring on white markings

• usually seen around the coronet band

• recorded in black ink

chestnuts

• where located

• located on medial aspect of all four limbs

  • knee in forelimbs

  • below hock in hindlimbs

• can be used for identification

  • different shape and size to each individual

• some authorities require that they are noted

  • must be noted in horses with one overll coloured coat, no other markings and less than 4 whorls

what are some examples of acquired identification marks

• tattoos

  • found on the upper lip

  • north america race horses required to have lip tattoos prior to their first race

• branding

  • freeze

  • fire- pain and suffering

  • causing scarring so hair grows back white

  • loss of use branding

whatare the current problems with equine id

• passport system confusing for owners

• failure to register death of horse

• until recently microchipping was only required if animal was born in 2009 or laer so owners of englected horses can still be hard to locate

donkeys

• dorsal stripe

  • dark stripe running down the donkeys back

  • recorded in black ink

• white markings in red

• whorls

• scars

• brands

difference between orhses and donkeys

on going improvements of equine id

• new central equine database

• as of oct 2020 all horses must be microchipped

• vets have a responsibility to ensure all microchips they inert are unique and reputable. failure to do so is a criminal offense

pony

an equine animal thats height is less than 14.2 hands

horse

an equine animal thats height is at least 14.2 hands or more

filly

female hrose or pony younger than 4 yrs

colt

male horse or pony younger than 4 that has not been castrated

foal

a female or male horse or pony under one year of age

filly foal

a female foal

colt foal

a male foal

weanling

a foal that has been weaned. tend to be weaned between 5-6months of age

yearling

a female or male horse between 1-2 years of age

mare

female horse or pony older than 4

stallion

male horse or pony older than 4 years that has not been castrated. known as entire

gelding

a castrated male horse or pony of any age

rig

a male horse or pony that still has one or both testes. this can be due to them being retained or imporperly castrated

what 2 categories is the UK equine industryy divided into

• activites involving the use or ownership of horses

• suppliers to the equine industry

what is the BEF

• british equine federation

• the national governing body for horse sports in the UK

• affiliated to the federation equesterian internationale (FEI) the international governing body of equestrian sports

TBA

thoroughbreds breeder association

accomodation

• stables should have good drainage and ventilisation

• stable floor should be non slip. rubber stable mats often used

• horses should be able to see over the stable door

• tie rings, hay nets and water troughs should have no sharp edges

• stable should reflect the size of the horse

• minimum shoul be big enoguh to allow horse to tur around lie down and get up comfortably

bedding- wood shavings vs woodpellet

wood shavings

• non palatable

• easy to store

• easily available

• difficult to dispose

• quality varies greatly

• dust extracted ones are higher quality nd more expensive

wood pellets

• eco friendly

• dust free

• quick composting time

• can be slippery

• reqires water then wait whilst bed expands

bedding- straw vs chopped straw

staw

• cheap

• often used for mares and foals

• able to create bigger beds

• allergies

• can be eaten

• can smell as does not absorb urine

chopped straw

• dust removed

• non palatable

• easy to store in wrapped bales

• smaller

• expensive

management and behaviour

• horses should be able to see each other in accomodation

• pasture management should be managed to high standard for nutrition

• horses are herd animals so should be kept in a herd to display natural behaviours

• stallions and mares should be separated and managed accordingly

• they are trickle feeds

• can get food aggressive with hard feeds

• should be an ad lib fibrous diet

  • support digestion- hind gut fermentation

  • reduce boredome/ stereotypies

pasture management

• good pasture management is essential for horses health

• hroses selective grazers

• daily checks:

  • fencing and gates

  • BHS 1-1.5 acres per horse

  • shade

  • clean water

  • rabbit holes and badger sets

  • remove droppings at least 2x a week to prevent parasites also would be unpalatable

which are poisonous trees and plants

• foxglove

• sycamore or oak

• ivy

• ragwort

• deadly nightshde

types of pasture management

• rotational grazing- moving horses between pastures during the grazing pseason to allow for period of rest and regrowth

• alternative grazing- track system, fenced track around outside of paddock

• equicentral

  • divide land into paddocks rested timed to go out to graze

  • enclosed holding area horse can still socialise and eat hay

  • good quality grass

what are the 3 important steps in pasture management

1. grazing control

2. manure management

3. weed management

grazing control

• aim for all pasture to be kept with optimal grass cover

  • 5-12cm throughout the year

  • reduces weeds

  • maintains plant health and growth rates

  • provide appropriate dry matter and nutritional requirements

  • avoid pasture and soil damage due to foot traffic

• strategies to maintain

  • rotational grazing

  • strip grazing

  • track grazing

  • cross or mix grazing

  • slashing or mowing

manure management

• they will not eat where they have defected

• important to prevent selective grazing of areas and prevent maure left causing damage to growth

  • harrowing

  • collection machine or hand

• prevent attracting flies

• prevent parasitic burden

weed management

compete withgrass for space, light nutrients and water

• can be unpalatable or poisonous

• reduce the quanitity of pasture available for grazing

• remove with gloves or herbicide