Equine Husbandry

Year 1

FEI

the governing body of equestrian sport

British Horseracing Authority

governing body that regulates flat racing and jump racing horses

importance of horse height

to provide correct description for ID, certain classes have height eligibility, breed standards

requirements to measure horse height

measured to highest point of withers on level ground, no shoes on, feet trimmed, over 4 years old (fully grown)

hot blooded horse breeds

thoroughbreds and arabs

main use for thoroughbreds

racing

main use for arabs

endurance and showing

examples of cold blooded horse breeds

shire, clydesdale, suffolk punch, percheron, belgian draught (and more)

main use of cold blooded horses

working horses, meat, police horses

features of warm blooded horses

athletic and versatile, wide variation in size

main use of warm blooded horses

equine sports

native pony breeds

shetland, exmoor, dartmoor, fell, dale, connemara, new forest, highland, welsh (A, B, C, D)

horse passport scheme

all equids must have a valid passport for transport, veterinary treatment, slaughter for human consumption and sale and all must be microchipped

bay horse coat

brown coat, black mane and tale, black points

black horse coat

all black horse

chestnut horse coat

ginger coat, main and tail (can vary in shade)

What are the features of a brown horse coat?

dark brown coat with no black points, black mane and tail

grey horse coat

black skin, coat fades over lifetime (not called white)

possible hoof appearances

white, black or striped

Farriers registration act

legislation ensuring that all farriery is conducted by members of the farriers registration council (except vets and supervised apprentices)

riding establishments act

legislation enforcing an annual license to be issued by the local council following inspection

requirements for grass kept horses

access to fresh water, shelter options, 0.5-1 hectares of suitable quality grazing per horse, parasite management, field rotation, weed control, adequate drainage

reasons to stable a horse

for rehabilitation, lack of grazing space, easier to monitor individuals

housing considerations for indoor horses

enough space to stand, freely move head and neck, lie down and turn 360, and space for someone to get around, dry comfortable floor with enough traction and adequate drainage, doors low enough to look over and wide enough to pass through, access to water, ventilation, windows to alleviate boredom, light, ideal humidity

bedding types

straw, wood shavings, shredded paper/cardboard, sand, hemp, flax, wood pellets, rubber matting

advantages of using straw for bedding

comfortable, absorbent, easy disposal, cheap

disadvantages of using straw for bedding

edible so can cause colic, potentially allergenic, can cause dust and fungal spores

advantages of using wood shavings for bedding

comfortable, very absorbent, produces less dust

disadvantages of using wood shavings for bedding

expensive, difficult disposal, accidental ingestion can occur

bedding systems

daily mucking out, deep litter system, banking at walls, full or half beds

routine equine healthcare practises

worming, vaccinations, farriery, grooming

worms in horses

most found in GI tract, worm egg counts useful but don’t give full picture, important to use targeted worming program to reduce resistance, pasture management can reduce incidences

routine equine vaccinations

equine influenza, tetanus, strangles, equine herpes (competition horses and pregnant mares), equine viral arteritis (breeding stallions)

different types of rugs

waterproof, stable, insect barrier, sweat rugs

reasons to rug horses

metabolic weight loss, cleanliness, clipped to reduce sweating

dun coat

golden coat with black mane and tail

piebald coat

black and white patches

roan coat

base colour (any colour) is diluted with white hair

palomino coat

golden coat with cream mane and tail

skewbald coat

patches of white and any other colour

appaloosa coat

spotted coat

star face marking

mark between eyes that doesn’t extend down muzzle

stripe face marking

thin stripe down muzzle

what are all forages composed of?

protein, fat, soluble carbohydrates which decreases as forage matures and structural fibres which increase as forage matures

examples of preserved forage

hay and haylage

ways to improve quality of hay

steaming can destroy moulds, fungi and bacteria but not mycotoxins, soaking reduces respirable pathogens and water soluble macro minerals but can increase bacterial count

features of haylage

fermented grass stored in an anaerobic environment, increased digestible energy and palatability, reduced dust, spoils quickly once opened, fermented sugars so lower water soluble carbohydrates

source of fibre for horses

sugar beet but must be soaked before feeding (or will swell in throat)

features of sugar beet

high in fibre, low sugar, no starch, palatable, calcium rich

features of straight cereals

starch based so limited digestibility, grains must be appropriately processed/cooked, fed to meet energy shortfall of athletic horses, do not provide full balanced diet, calcium phosphate imbalance

examples of straight cereals

oats, barley, corn, bran

types of commercial feeds

complete feeds, balancer, supplements, complementary feeds

how to calculate maintenance requirements for horses

measure body weight, determine appetite, consider physiological status and age

energy requirements for pregnant mares in early gestation

maintenance only

energy requirements for pregnant mares during late gestation

slow increase from maintenance at 9 months to maintenance plus 20% at 11 months

energy requirements for breeding mares during early lactation

double maintenance requirement

energy requirements for breeding mares during late lactation

maintenance plus 25%

energy requirements for stallions in breeding season

maintenance plus 25%

rough daily weight gain for 4 month old foals

0.85 kg per day

rough daily weight gain for 6 month old foals

approx 700g per day

rough daily weight gain for yearlings

0.5-0.65 kg per day

rough daily weight gain for 2 year old foals

0.2 kg per day

features of a horse with a body condition score of 0

marked ewe neck which is narrow and slack at base, clearly visible ribs, skin tight over ribs, spinous processes sharp and easily seen, angular pelvis, very sunken rump, deep cavity under tail

features of a horse with a body condition score of 1

ewe neck which is slack at the base, ribs clearly visible, skin clearly shrunken either side of spine, spinous processes well defined, rump sunken but skin supple, pelvis and croup well defined, cavity under tail

features of a horse with a body condition score of 2

narrow but firm neck, shoulder blade clearly defined, ribs just visible, spinous processes felt but not seen, rump flat either side of spine, croup well defined, slight cavity under tail

features of a horse with a body condition score of 3

firm neck, no crest, shoulder blades defined, ribs just covered and easily felt, no gutter along back, spinous processes covered but can be felt, pelvis covered by fat and rounded, no gutter, pelvis easily felt

features of a horse with a body condition score of 4

slight wide and spongy crest on neck, ribs are well covered, gutter along spine to root of tail, fat stored either side of the spine to form slight apply bottom, pelvis only felt with firm pressure

features of a horse with a body condition score of 5

very wide and firm crest with creases of fat, shoulder blade difficult to feel, ribs cannot be felt, deep gutter along spine, broad and flat back, marked apple bottom, pelvis cannot be felt

blaze face marking

stripe that extends down muzzle but doesn’t cross the nasal crest

snip face marking

marking between the nostrils

white face

marking that extends past the nasal crest and covers most of face

ermine marks

black spots on white coronet on horse feet

rules for describing limb and foot markings

marks to be drawn and described on passport using layman terms

types of hair whorls

simple, feathered, linear

simple whorl

circular whorl

feathered whorl

whorl where hair meets along a line and then fans out in a feather shape

linear whorl

hair meets from opposite sides and stands up

What are the ways to make horses identifiable?

microchip and permanent brands

types of indoor housing

traditional stable/loose box, tether stalls, communal barn, American barn

natural horse eating habits

trickle feeders on seasonal, poor-quality pastures

horse saliva composition

mucus for lubrication, less bicarbonate than ruminants, limited amylase

which horse teeth are involved in prehension?

incisors

which horse teeth are involved in mastication?

molars

what type of forage do horses spend the most time chewing?

short fibre

what are the benefits of long-stem forage for horses?

provides a fuller range of dental excursions so promotes more even dental wear

components of horse diet

forage, concentrates, protein, macrominerals, microminerals, supplements

feeding methods

hay nets, racks, mangers, floor

complementary feed

any feed that is given alongside forage or grazing to provide a balanced diet

features of oat feed

palatable, can be fed whole or rolled, relatively high fibre, low digestible energy

features of barley feed

hard kernel needs to be treated, limited digestion in small intestine if uncooked which can lead to starch overload in hindgut

features of corn feed

lower fibre, higher energy than oats, limited digestion in small intestine if uncooked which causes starch overload in hindgut

features of bran feed

outer portion of wheat grains fed as a mash, high fibre, low protein

minimum forage for high intensity exercise horses

1% of body weight daily in dry matter

energy requirements for horses doing light work

maintenance plus 25%

energy requirement for horses doing moderate work

maintenance plus 50%

energy requirement for horses doing intensive work

double maintenance

what piece of tack does this image show?

tendon boots

what piece of tack does this image show?

overreach boots

what piece of tack does this image show?

brushing boots

what piece of tack does this image show?

travel boots