Horses

Are horses considered livestock?

no

How many horses globally?

57 million

How many horses in HK?

3000

What kind of breeding do all thoroughbreds undergo?

live service

When are thoroughbreds:

Weaned

Yearling sales/Breakers

Enter training

First race

Racing career ends

9 months

14 months

18 months

2 or 3 years old

7 years old

What does the production cycle depend on?

intended use of horse

What is semi-feral housing?

horses run freely, caught when needed

minimal intervention

private or government owned

Where is pasture-based housing most common?

temperate climates

What is key to pasture-based housing?

pasture management because it forms primary part of diet

What are the pros to pasture-based housing?

reduced nutrition-related disorders

reduced stereotypy

greater freedom to express normal behaviors

exercise

What are the cons to pasture-based housing?

safety

parasitism

pasture-associated toxins

Where is stabled housing more common?

cold or warm climates

What type of housing are race horses typically kept in?

stabled

What are the pros of stabled housing?

feed management & efficiency

temperature control

prevent exposure-related disease

cleaner

easier to catch

safer

What are the cons of stabled housing?

cost

intensive cleaning & feeding

flies

waste management

increased risk of stereotypy

may not be able to express normal behaviors

What are solutions to mitigate problems of solitary confinement?

decrease stable time

increase turn out time

mirrors

varied feed types

enrichment

grooming

socially compatible neighbors

group housing

What are the two possible orientations during transport?

forward/rear facing

angled backwards

What is the height of a pony?

14.2hh

How tall is a hand?

10.16cm

Near side

horse’s left side

Off side 

horse’s right side

What is the closest thing to an ancestor?

przewalski’s horse

class

order

family

genus

species

mammalia

perissodactyla

equidae

equus

caballus

When were horses domesticated and where?

4000-6000 years ago

ukraine and europe

Home range

1-70km²

What are hotblood horses known for?

agility and speed

What are warmblood horses known for?

sport

trainability

athleticism

What are coldblood horses known for?

strength

What are the different social groups?

natal/family band

bachelor band

mixed bands

What does the natal/family band comprise of?

1-3 stallions

2-11 mares

young <1 year old

What does bachelor band comprise of?

mixed age stallions

up to 10 individuals

What social group do fillies join and at what age?

Weaned 3 year old females join natal band

What does rank/status depend on?

age

length of time in band

Are horses territorial?

No but will defend band/maintain group

Who is usually the lead horse?

older mare, not necessarily high ranking

What are the advantages and disadvantages of group living ?

advantages:

survival

eyes for predators

defend resources

adoption of young

disadvantages:

offspring injury

competition

infectious diseases

How long do horses graze for per day?

12-16 hours

Are horses grazers or browsers?

mainly grazers but browse too

How many kg of forage per day?

5.5-7

What activity pattern do horses have?

crepuscular

How many % intake is at night?

25

What is defecation prompted by?

gastro-colic reflex

What is urination dependent on?

water intake

exercise

How many km do horses travel per day?

8-50

What is stay apparatus

allows light sleeping while standing

How many hours do horses sleep?

3-5

How many minutes on average in sternal recumbency?

23

How many minutes on average in lateral recumbency?

50 

What are some maintenance behaviors?

grooming

rolling

water splash

What is the horizontal field of vision?

350

What is the vertical field of view?

178

Where are the blind spots?

rear

in front of long nose

What color vision do horses have and what colors do they see?

dichromatic

blue yellow

Where are some sensitive areas?

withers

mouth

flank

What social behaviors do horses exhibit?

mare-foal bond

mutual grooming

tail-tail fly swatting

What are some stress/threat behaviors?

flight

fight

freeze

fiddle

What are some aggressive threat behaviors?

nose wrinkling & ear flattening

head jerk

teeth bearing

foreleg stamping

charging

bite threat

bite

striking

What are some defensive threat behaviors?

nose wrinkling & ear flattening

blocking body movements

rump presentation

hind leg kicking

What are submissive behaviors?

turn head

lower head

move away from threat

foal- jaw snapping

When do females reach puberty?

free range

domesticated

3rd spring

12-15 months

How long is diestrus?

14-15 days

How long is estrus?

7 days

Ovulation occurs ___ days into estrus

5

What are estrus behaviors in mares?

prancing, squeal

swollen vulva

seek out stallion

flagging

urination

clitoral winking

standing to be mated

What happens during courtship?

stallion nibble mare’s hindquarters

flehmen

female displays

How long is gestation?

11 months

What are pre-parturient behaviors?

udder starts to fill 2-4 weeks prior

vulva relaxes

teats engorge 4-6 days prior

teats have waxy discharge 1-4 days prior

may drip milk/colostrum

____of foals are born at night

80

How long does it take for foal after birth to

stand

suckle

20-80 mins

2 hours

Play behavior is ____% of foal activity

75