Equine Industry

These notes cover just about everything located on the ppt slides as well as some questions from Tophat.

how does the horse industry differ?

• management decisions are not always driven by profit

• production goals

• production components

• industry diversity

Shared characteristics to other industries

• marketing channels

• consumer driven

Who leads the world in horse numbers?

the U.S

What are the horse numbers in the U.S?

peaked at 25 million in 1914, currently only 7 million

Which states are the most horses located?

Texas, California, and Kentucky

• Virginia is 12th (1.2 billion industry)

Genus

Equus

Foal

young baby horse

filly foal

young female horse

colt foal

young male horse

mare

mature female horse

stallion

intact male horse

gelding

castrated male horse

foaling

act of giving birth for horses

herd

group of horses

English saddle

seat- girth- stirrup

western saddle

horn- seat- cinch- stirrup

other tack

bridle- bit- reins

Breed Types

draft horses, warmbloods, light horses, gaited horses, ponies

What is the unit of measurement used for horses, equivalent to 4 inches?

hand

Quarter Horses

• United States

• Race at ¼ mile distances

• work cattle, pleasure

• versatile, good temperament

• most common

Which horse breed would be good for working cattle?

Quarter Horses

Thoroughbred

• England

• Racing, polo, hunters

• 2nd most popular

Which horse breeds discussed in class would be best categorized as a draft breed?

Clydesdale and Belgian

Which saddle is pictured?

English Saddle

Which saddle is pictured?

Western saddle

Arabian

• Egypt or Libya

• Oldest horse breed

• smart

• stamina/heat tolerance

Tennessee walking horse

• Tennessee

• Gaited Horse

• 4 beat “running walk”

• Pleasure riding, show horse

Belgian

• Belgium

• Draft

• Heaviest

• Most popular draft horse

Clydesdale

• Scotland

• Draft Horse

• Popular show horse

Breeds originating from color patterns:

Paint and Appaloosa

Black coat color classification

no brown hairs around muzzle or flank

Bay coat color classification

brown (many shades) coat with black points

Chestnut coat color classification

brown/red, mane and tail same color as body, no black points

Sorrel coat color classification

light red, similar/lighter mane and tail

Gray coat color classification

white and any other color, white hair with age

Lightened colors of coats come from …

dilution genes

What are examples of dilution genes in coat colors?

Buckshin, champagne, cremello, dun, palomino, etc.

What are some white patterns that can show in a horses coat?

• leopard complex (spotting)

• pinto

• roaning

• markings (face and legs)

What are some face and leg markings on a horse?

• stars

• snip

• blaze

• bald face

• cornet

• pastern

• sock

• stocking

What are some examples of industry structures?

• racing

• recreation

• showing

• working

• wild horses

Horse racing types

• flat

• steeplechase

• harness

• endurance

What is an example of a horse that would be popular in endurance racing?

Arabians

Working horses

Ranch

• work with cattle

• stamina

• navigate rough terrain

Police

equine assisted therapy

transportation

farming/draft

What is an example of a horse breed that would be good working cattle?

Quarter horses

Showing horses

• dressage

• show jumping

• eventing

• hunter

• English or Western pleasure

• cutting

• team penning

Recreational Horses use:

• Pleasure riding

• possible companion animals

Wild horses

• Federal land out west

• BLM

• Adoption Program

• Colorado, Nevada, etc

What percentage of the horse industry is racing?

9%

What percentage of the horse industry is recreation?

42%

What percentage of the horse industry is showing?

30%

What percentage of the horse industry is working horses?

8%

At what age are horses typically weaned?

5 months

When does a female horse typically hit puberty?

13 months

When would be a good time for breeding a female horse?

When she is about 3-5 years old

• allows for full growth to happen

What is the gestation length of horses?

336 days or about 11 months

What are some options for housing?

Barn or Pasture

Barn housing

Individual stall

• at least 10×10 ft

• size depends

weather protection

more labor input

vices

Pasture housing

fence must be easy to see, materials matter

shelter should be provided

What gastric type do horses have?

hindgut fermenter

What type of nutrition is important?

forage-based nutrition, high-quality roughages

What are some routine care for horses?

dental care- annual, usually in older horses

hoof care- trimmed every 6-8 weeks, type varies on horse

internal parasite control

vaccines

What are some common problems in horses?

bacterial/viral infections (vaccines critical)

Biosecurity is nearly impossible due to travel and mingling

quarantining new animals from others (about 30-60 days)

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)- horses get it for life and can’t be around others

colic

• abdominal pain

• can be fatal

• prevention is critical

• can be treated

Founder

• bone breaks away from laminae tissue

• laminitis- infection

• can be caused by excessive weight or high-grain diet/lush pasture

What is the term for 1?

bars

What is the term for 2?

White line

What is the term for 3?

Walls

What is the term for 4?

sole

What is the term for 5?

Frog