Equine Signalment, Breed, and Color Lecture

Neonatal foal

describes a foal lass than 30 days of age

Colt

Male foal

Fillies

Female foal

Normal weaning time for a foal

4 to 6 months

Weanling

a horse less than one year of age that is separated from the mare

yearling or long yearling

horses born the previous year

Regardless of the actual date of birth for a horse, all have the same birthday, ____________ ___

January 1st

Timing of birth is particularly important for what sport?

thoroughbred racing

Adult horse

2 years and older

Senior horses

20 years of age and older

The key to longevity in the equine world is related to what?

good dental care

Horses have ______________ teeth, meaning teeth that continually erupt and must be managed by routine dentil floating.

hypsodont

Stalions

male horses, not castrated

Gelding

castrated male horse

Mares

adult female horse

What reproductive related procedure is not usually performed on a female horse?

ovariohysterectomy

Light horses are typically greater than ___ hands and typically weigh less than ________ pounds

15, 1500

Ponies measure less than ____ hands tall

15

How is height measured in horses?

distance between the withers and the ground

One hand is equal to ___ inches

4

What may be used to estimate weight of a horse?

a weight tape placed around the barrel, or thorax, of the horse at the level of the whithers

Weight tapes are indicated for _______ horse breeds.

light

Where did light horse breeds descend from?

harsh, desert climates of ancient Babylonia and Egypt

Thoroughbred horses are know for what qualities?

agility, speed, and spirit

All modern thoroughbreds can trace their pedigrees to three _____________ (breed) stallions.

Arabian

Characteristics of Arabian horses

large eyes, dished head, arched neck and flighty personality

Where were American Quarter Horses developed?

in the US in the 1600s along the eastern seaboard

American Quarter Horses are a cross between what breeds?

English Thoroughbreds and horses used by Native American tribes.

What are Standardbreds known for?

ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of a gallop

Characteristics of a Standarbred

well muscles, long body and head, slightly heavier than a Thoroughbred, with solid legs and powerful shoulders and hindquarters.

American Saddlebred is known for what?

a learned gait called the "rack"

What are the two primary coat patterns of the American Paint Horse?

overo and tobiano

Overo description

color over the top line (across the back) and colors on the legs and the tail is typically one color.

Tobiano description

dark color covering one or both flanks and generally all four legs are white, at least below the hocks and knees. Tail is typically 2 colors and the color patterns down the neck and over the chest give the appearance of a shield.

Appaloosa characteristics

spotted coat patterns, mottle skin around their eyes, lips, and genitalia, white sclera, striped hooves, and a thin mane and/or tail.

To be considered an Appaloosa, a horse must have ___ of the 5 characteristics

3

Draft horse breeds are taller than __ hands are typically weigh more than _______ pounds.

17, 1500

Draft horses are known as _____-blooded breeds.

cold

List the light horse breeds covered in class.

Thoroughbred, Arabian, American Quarter Horse, Saddlebred, American Standardbred, American Paint Horse, and Appaloosa.

Characteristics of a Belgian horse.

largest of the draft breeds. smaller head, thick and muscular neck, powerful shoulders and quarters, short legs with small amount of feathering. Chestnut in color with a white main and tail and a variation of white markings on the face and legs.

Clydesdale breed primary use.

exhibitions, parades, and known for their grace and versatility

Description Percheron breed

usually black or gray in color. well-muscled and known for their intelligence and willingness to work

Use of Percheron breed

Used extensively for farm work in Europe, but in the US, they are used for parades, sleigh rides, hayrides, and carriage rides in large cities.

List the draft horse breeds mentioned in class

Belgian, Clydesdale, Percheron

List the horses covered in class that do not fall under either category of light horse or draft horse breeds.

Friesian and American Miniature Horse

Description of Friesian breed

typically have a lighter frame than draft breeds. They are black in color and are bred in the Netherlands. Graceful, nimble for their size.

Popular use for Friesian breed

harness and under-saddle disciplines, including dressage.

American Miniature Horse is measured in _______

inches

To qualify as a miniature horse, they must be less than ____-____ inches tall.

34-38

Description of the American Miniature horse

hardy, sure-footed, great with people and used in a variety of disciplines.

A warmblood horse does not necessarily imply what?

That they are a cross between a hot and a cold-blooded breed.

What are two saddle types?

Western and English

What are four gaits horses perform at?

walk, trot, canter, and the gallop - each increasing in speed

The walk is a __ - beat gait, where each limb contact the ground independently.

4

How many feet are always on the ground during a walk?

3

The trot is a __ - beat gait on the diagonal, meaning the alternate forelimb and hindlimb pairs move together.

2

The canter is a __ - beat gait where one limb remains in contact with the ground.

3

The _________ is the gait wherein all forelimbs contact the ground nearly simultaneously, leaving a time within the stride where there are no limbs in contact with the ground.

gallop

What are the learned gaits discussed in class?

pace, the rack

Pace

a two beat gait - but the hindlimb and forelimb on the same side move together

___________ (breed) race horses are considered trotters or pacers

Standardbred

The rack

a flashy, exaggerated walk, with every foot hitting the ground independently as with the walk.

Dressage is an equine discipline where riders use an _________ saddle.

English

Bay colored horse

Chesnut horse

Palomino horse

Black horse

Sorrel horse

Chesnut with Flaxen mane and tail

Liver Chesnut Horse

Dun colored horse

Buckskin colored horse

Gray colored horse

Dapple Gray horse

White Horse

Sports performed under English saddle

dressage, hunter-jumper, police force, Polo

Common breeds used for racing in America

thoroughbreds, standardbreds, quarter horses, and Arabian

Performed with western saddle

pleasure performance, cutting and roping, barrel racing, ranch work, trail riding

Top 3 causes of poor performance in horses are related to:

1) musculoskeletal, 2) respiratory dysfunction, 3) cardiac abnormalities