Equine Characteristics and Welfare

Draft Horses

• Physical Characteristics
  • Heavier and larger in bone structure
  • This contributes to a larger circumference of bone, leading to large feet and more muscle mass.
  • Coarser features: larger head and feet.
  • Movement is coarse and muscular due to weight hitting the ground at once, making them less balanced compared to lighter breeds.

Warmbloods

• Physical Characteristics
  • Long and slender legs, typically larger foot circumference than Quarter Horses or Thoroughbreds.
  • More muscular appearance but looks balanced, suitable for agility and jumping.
• Breeding
  • Often cross-bred with Thoroughbreds for agility and strength, leading to athletic horses ideal for work or jumping.

Chromosomes and Breeding

• Hot and Cold Blood
  • Cold-blooded horses (like Draft breeds) have 64 chromosomes, compared to 62 in hot-blooded horses (Arabians, Thoroughbreds).
  • Breeding between different species (e.g., horse and donkey) results in sterile offspring (mules) due to mismatched chromosomes.
• Mules vs. Hinny
  • Crossing a male donkey and a female horse yields a mule; a female donkey and male horse yield a hinny, both sterile.

Mules and Their Usage

• Characteristics and Role
  • Known for strength and stubbornness, serving as capable pack animals.
  • Sturdier and sure-footed than horses, making them suitable for rugged terrain due to smaller foot circumference.
• Behavior
  • Often considered more aggressive, sometimes scared but still utilized in various horse events.

Coat Color and Patterns

• Distinct color patterns to be aware of include:
  • Bays, chestnuts, browns (varying shades of brown).
  • Blacks, grays, buckskins, and palominos.
  • Appaloosa pattern: white base with circular colored spots.

Housing and Welfare

• Stalling vs. Pasture
  • Stalls:
  • Easier to clean but can be harder on horses' feet if they are housed only indoors.
  • Allows for controlled feeding and protection from predators.
  • Pastures:
  • Offer a natural environment for grazing and exercise but expose horses to elements leading to potential injuries and conditions like rain rot.
  • Rain rot: a fungal infection resulting from excessive moisture next to the skin.
  • Combination Housing:
  • Smaller paddocks for daytime roaming and nighttime stall confinement is ideal for health.

Digestive System

• Unique Structure
  • Horses are nonruminant hindgut fermenters, meaning they digest food in the hindgut rather than the foregut like cattle do.
  • Horse feces appears as small pellets (or "apples") with visible grass/plant material, unlike cattle's wet, indistinct feces.
• Fermentation and Nutrition
  • Continuous eaters; ideally, horses should graze small amounts throughout the day for optimal health and digestion.

Anatomy and Growth

• Height Measurement
  • Horses' heights are measured in hands (1 hand = 4 inches).
  • Ponies are defined as horses under 14.2 hands; anything at or above is considered a horse.
• Gestation and Lifespan
  • Longest gestating livestock species, around 11 months.
  • Increasing lifespans with good care; old horses (20+) may require specialized soft diets for easier consumption due to dental issues.

Specialized Care and Feeding for Elder Horses

• Senior feed often more expensive due to additional nutritional requirements.
  • May require softer pellets or soaked food to aid in eating.

Management of Wild Horse Populations

• Significant concerns regarding overpopulation, welfare, and the struggle for resources.
• Horses viewed more as companions than livestock complicates management and ethical discussions surrounding their population control.

Influences on Growth and Development

• Genetics and Environment
  • Proper nutrition and management are vital to reaching genetic growth potential.
  • Different breeds grow at different rates; early vs. late maturing animals impact growth curves significantly.

Conclusion

• Understanding and managing horse welfare, breeding, health, and diet are crucial in equine care and agriculture.
  • Adaptations to management can lead to healthier, more productive horses ultimately benefiting various equine industries.