Equine Routine and Preventative Care

Lecture 19

What are the three characteristics a water source should be for horses?

clean

constant

winterizable

A basic diet for horses contains what?

roughage

concetrate as needed (grain)

supplements (salt blocks)

What are examples of grain?

oats

corn

barley

mixes

Roughage intake should be how much per day in horses?

1% of body weight per day

Roughage is composed of what?

grass

hay

What does the term “hard keeper” mean?

a horse that is hard to put weight on and keep it on

What does the term “easy keeper” mean?

a horse that easily puts weight on and may even become overweight quickly

What are the seven feeding principles for horses?

base diet on hay and pasture, grain is supplemental

feed little and often

feed good quality feed

do not feed horses on the ground if the footing is sand or limestone

adjust feed based on body condition scoring

make changes to diet slowly

roughage provides heat energy in winter

What are the requirements of pastured horses?

shelter (wind break at minimum)

some dry ground

pasture care (spray for toxic plants, fertilizing, re-seeding)

supplement hay in winter

stocking density (1 horse/acre to 1 horse/2 acres)

safe pasture (fencing, free of debris)

What are the requirements of stabled horses?

lots of hay

± grain

exercise

stall cleaning (bedding)

What percent of horses have some form of foot imbalance which predisposes them to injury?

95%

What injuries/conditions are attributable to improper foot balance?

navicular syndrome

arthritis

shortened striding

bruised, sheared heels

hoof cracks

Why do domestic horses need their feet trimmed but we do not see the same associated issues in wild horses?

wild horses continually wear their feet for optimum blaance based on the individual’s conformation and load bearing weight

What are the basics of horse hoof care?

picking out horse hooves often to prevent thursh and white line disease

trimming/shearing must be regular

What is the typical trimming interval for horse hooves?

6 weeks ± 2 weeks

What should be assessed while trimming the equine hoof?

natural hoof wear, quality, and shape

difference between feet

lateral imbalance

toe wear

flare vs upright side

When is it determined that a horse needs a hoof trim?

toe is too long

foot is irregularly shaped

stumbling, tripping, lame

hoof is cracking, splitting, or peeling

When does a horse need to be shod?

hoof is wearing down too quickly

horn is generally weak

traction

prevent lameness from ricky terrain, flat feet, or poor conformation

A shoe needs to support and properly align what?

the bony column

When should a horse be re-shod?

foot grows over the toe

heels grow over the shoe heels

risen or worn clinches

twisted or missing shoes

loose shoe

toes too long

lame

tripping or stumbling

What are the considerations for preventative medicine in horses?

herd v individual

open v closed herd

pastured v stalled

ability to quarantine

geographical location

What are the core equine vaccines?

Tetanus

Rabies

WNV

EEE/WEE ± VEE

What are the risk based equine vaccines?

Influenza

EHV1

EHV4

S. equi

Neorickettsia risticii

Botulism

Anthrax

Leptospira

Rotavirus

Which has more risk of disease transmission: herd or individual?

herd

Which has more risk of disease transmission: closed herd or open herd?

open herd

What could be used to prevent transmission of disease (one word)?

quarantine

Which is a method that disease may be transmitted in horses:

flies

mosquitoes

nose to nose contact

fomites

aerosolization

dirt

all of the above

How is West Nile Virus transmitted (one word)?

mosquitoes

How is equine influenza virus transmitted?

aerosol —> coughing, sneezing

How is rabies transmitted (one word)?

bite

What genus of endoparasites is the main threat to horses (one word)?

Stronglyes

Horses should be dewormed a minimum of how many times per year?

2

Which is an effective broad spectrum anthelmintic against strongyles:

ivermectin

fenbendazole

pyrantel

moxidectin

Ivermectin

Moxidectin

What is the goal of environmental control in regards to parasites?

to reduce contamination of pasture with eggs