VET 110 Unit 3 - Horses

Horse scientific name

Equus caballus

Horse heart rate

23-70 bpm

Horse respiratory rate

12-15 bpm

Horse body temperature

99-101

Horse lifespan

15-25 years

Horse birth weight

8-10% of the mare’s weight

Adult horse weight

1000-2000 lbs

Horse age of puberty

18 months

Estrous cycle of horses

Seasonally polyestrous; 21-22 days; no metestrus or proestrus

Estrus of horses

4.5-7.5 days; follicular phase; referred to as in heat or hot

Signs of estrus in horses

Mare may seek stud, break down (excessively urinate), evert clitoris (winking), elevate tail

Horse gestation period

336-340 days (11 months)

Stallion

Intact male horse

Colt

Intact male horse less than 4 years

Mare

Intact female horse over 4 years

Filly

Intact female horse less than 4 years

Gelding

Castrated male horse

Foal

Baby horse or donkey

When a horse gives birth

Foaling

Donkey scientific name

Equus africanus asinus

Jack

Intact male donkey

Jenny

Intact female donkey

Mule

Offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; has 63 chromosomes, born sterile

Hinny

Offspring of a female donkey and a male horse; born sterile; less common; usually smaller than mules

How are horses measured?

From ground to withers, measured in hands (hh = 4 inches)

Wolf teeth

Teeth of horses that are typically removed as they are nonfunctional and nearly rootless

Floating

Act of filing the teeth reduce sharpness/points

How do you determine age of a horse?

Number of teeth, size of teeth, degree of tooth wear, degree of forward angle

Horse sense of hearing

Keen, ears can move independently

Horse sense of sight

Can see long distances and nearly 360 degrees, but have blind spots directly in front and behind; monocular and binocular vision

Horse gait

A rhythmic movement of the feet and legs; walk = 4 beat, trot = 2 beat, canter = faster 3 beat, gallop = rapid 4 beat

Unsoundness

Defect that interferes with the horse’s usefullness

Blemish

Defect that affects the horse’s value, but not its usefullness

Characteristics of horse nutrition;

Feed needs vary depending on age, work, lactation, etc.; high-energy requirements may need grain; all need minerals & salts, especially selenium; consistency in diet

Colic

Manifestation of abdominal pain; sings = flank watching, pacing, pawing, stretching, rolling, lying down, groaning, perfuse sweating

Where is the strike zone of horses?

In front of the shoulders

Horse restraints

Twitch, neck cradle, halter/lead, hobbles, crossties, stocks

Horse hoof care

Starts as foals; trim every 8-12 weeks or as needed; shoeing protects the hoof, aids in traction, and corrects some foot issues

Horse behavioral problems

Cribbing, tail rubbing, weaving, rearing, swelling up

What does natural breeding of horses center around?

Length of daylight

Ovulation of horses

Occurs 1-2 days before the end of estrus

Diestrus of horses

Lasts 14-15 days; luteal phase; mare is considered cold or out of heat, will reject the stud

When is a horse embryo visible on transrectal ultrasound?

At 21 days

When is a horse embryo’s heartbeat visible on transrectal ultrasound?

At 23 days

When is a horse embryo called a fetus?

After day 35-45

When can sex of a horse fetus be determined?

At 70 days

When does the most dramatic growth of a horse fetus occur?

During the last 3 months of pregnancy

When can a horse pregnancy exam first be done?

14 days post breeding

What are some characteristics of foaling?

Rapid process; usually occurs between 11pm and 7am; mare’s teats wax over 1-2 days before foaling; foal should be born nose and front feet first

What can an annual vaccine booster for pregnant mares do and when is it given?

It improves quality of the colostrum, enhances foals immunity; given at 10 months gestation

What are some methods of follicular monitoring?

Rectal palpation, ultrasound

What are the components of a breeding soundness exam in horses?

Rectal palpation, ultrasound, vaginal speculum exam, and uterine culture, sensitivity, and biopsy

When should meconium pass in foals?

Within 24 hours

What are some artificial gaits of horses?

Pace, slow gait, rack, running walk

Horse sense of smell

Not exceptional; Flehmen response

What horse breed was used as war horses, pulled coaches, on farms, heavy artillery?

The Percheron

What is one of the biggest horse breeds in the world?

The Shire

What is the difference between sorrel and chestnut?

Sorrel is used in quarter horses, mane and tail are usually the same color as the body, but can be lighter; chestnut is breed specific, body color varies from light to dark, and the mane and tail can be lighter or darker than the body

What characteristics are unique to appaloosas?

Mottled skin, striped hooves, visible white sclera, Indian shuffle gait, coat pattern

Which horse breed provides most of bloodlines of the horses we have today?

The Andalusian

What is believed to be the first American horse breed?

The Morgan

Which horse breed has a smooth, 4 beat lateral gait, with little movement in the croup and shoulders?

The Paso Fino

Which horse breed is commonly used as harness horses?

The Standardbred

Which horse breed was used on plantation and farms, is gaited, has a 4 beat run with flashy movement, and is commonly seen in movies & TV shows?

The Tennessee Walking Horse

Which horse breed has the largest registry in the world?

The Quarter Horse

Which breed is one of the strongest horse breeds?

The Belgian

Which breed is a light draft that originated in the Netherlands?

The Friesian

Which pony is one of the strongest for their size?

The Shetland Pony

What are the characteristics of the Pony of America?

Developed by one man, has the appearance of a mini quarter horse and arabian cross with appaloosa features, a slight dish face, and is thickly built