Horses

Fast Facts

•Type: Mammal•Diet: Herbivore•Size: Height at the shoulders, 30 to 69 in

(76 to 175 cm)•Weight:120 to 2,200 lbs (54 to 998 kg)•Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

History• Asian nomads

▫ 4,000 years ago• Culturally honored for heroics• Only one domestic horse

▫ Around 400 specialized breeds• All horses are grazers.• Domestic and wild

▫ Feral▫ Mustangs▫ Wild gather in groups of 3-20▫ A stallion (mature male) leads the group,

Mares and young foals Two yr colts are sent away by stallion

Fun Fact

•The Przewalski's horse is the only truly wild horse whose ancestors were never domesticated.

•Ironically, this stocky, sturdy animal exists today only in captivity.

•The last wild Przewalski's horse was seen in Mongolia in 1968

Vocab•Ascarids

▫Parasites that can seriously compromise a horse’s health; roundworms that can lead to serious complications that may even lead to death.

•Bay▫Hair coat color of horses, characterized by a

reddish brown body color with a black mane, tail, ear edges, and lower legs; most common coloring

•Equine▫Includes horses, donkeys, and zebras

Vocab• Equitation

▫The art or practice of horse riding or horsemanship

• Frog▫Part of a horse's

hoof, located on the underside, which should touch the ground if the horse is standing on soft footing

Vocab

•Gelding▫A castrated horse or other equine such as a

donkey or a mule•Horsemanship

▫The art of riding horses (equitation)

Vocab

•Mare▫An adult female horse or other equine

•Stallion▫A male horse that has not been gelded

(castrated)•Mustang

▫A free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish

Vocab•Bronco

▫An untrained horse or one that habitually bucks. It may refer to a feral horse that has lived in the

wild its entire life, but is also used to refer to domestic horses not yet fully trained to saddle

•Colt▫A male horse, under the age of four

•Farrier▫A specialist in equine hoof care

Including the trimming and balancing of horses' hooves and the placing of shoes on their hooves

Vocab

•Filly▫A young female horse too young to be

called a mare Usually younger than four

•Foal▫An equine, particularly a horse, that is one

year old or younger•Foaling

▫The act of giving birth; parturition

Vocab•Gait

▫The various ways in which a horse can move, either naturally or as a result of specialized training by humans

•Tack▫Any of the various equipment and accessories

worn by horses Saddles, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits,

harnesses, martingales, and breastplates •Mule

▫Offspring of a male donkey and a female horse

Vocab

•Pleasure horse▫A privately kept horse maintained for

pleasure or casual riding, rather than competition or work

•Stock horse▫A horse that is trained to herd livestock

Breeds

•Canadian▫Developed in Canada▫Influenced many other

North American breeds, including the Morgan, American Saddlebred, and Standard bred

▫Known for soundness, hardiness and endurance.

▫They are willing horses and easy keepers.

Breeds

• Irish Draught▫National horse breed

of Ireland ▫Developed primarily

for farm use▫Popular for crossing

with Thoroughbreds and warm bloods

▫Excel at the highest levels of eventing and show jumping.

Breeds• Arabian (Egyptian)

▫Distinctive head shape and high tail carriage

▫One of the most easily recognizable breeds

▫Versatile breed▫Arabians dominate the

discipline of endurance riding

▫One of the top ten most popular horse breeds in the world

Breeds• Andalusian

▫ War horse; prized for nobility▫ Strongly built▫ Long, thick manes and tails▫ Known for their intelligence,

sensitivity and docility▫ Originally used for

Classical dressage Driving Bullfighting Stock horses

▫ Modern Andalusians are used for: Dressage Show jumping Driving Movies, especially historical

pictures and fantasy epics.

Breeds• Shire

▫Draught horse ▫Black, bay and grey▫Tall breed

Mares standing (64 inches) Stallions (68 inches)

▫Enormous capacity for weight pulling

▫World records for largest overall horse and tallest horse

▫Popular for pulling brewery wagons

Breeds• Dole Trotter

▫ Subtype of the Dole Gudbrandsdal and a separate breed ▫ Considered a part of the Coldblood trotter type▫ Smaller, faster horse used for harness racing▫ Originally used as a pack horse▫ Today, used mainly for agricultural purposes

Breeds• Nez Perce

▫longer and leaner than the Quarter Horses

▫Lean runner's appearance▫Excel at long rides ▫Compete well in endurance

races▫Excellent jumpers▫Often "gaited," with a fast

and smooth running walk.▫They "allow" people to ride

them

Breeds

•Hackney▫High-stepping gait ▫Attractive choice for

show work: Harness Elegant carriages

▫Extremely popular today as a show horse.

Breeds•Tinker (Gypsy Vanner)

▫Come in a variety of colors Predominantly are of

piebald ▫Many draft

characteristics Heavy bone Abundant feathering on

the lower legs. ▫No exact known history

Breeds

•Azteca▫Well-muscled horses▫May be any solid color▫Known to compete in

many western riding disciplines

Breeds• Falabella

▫ One of the smallest breeds of horse in the world

▫ Rare breed, Only a few thousand in worldwide

▫ Miniature horse-NOT a pony▫ Considered intelligent, easily

trainable▫ Can only be ridden by very small

children▫ Generally shown in-hand ▫ Can be taught to drive▫ Jump obstacles up to 3 feet

Breeds•Finnish

▫Both riding horse and draught horse influences

▫Agricultural and forestry work, harness racing, and riding

▫Fastest and most versatile "coldblood" breed in the world

▫Strong, versatile horse with pleasant disposition

Breeds• Pinto

▫Coat color that consists of large patches of white and any other color

▫Mot a "breed” Several competing color

breed registries encourage the breeding of pinto-colored horses

▫Visually and genetically distinct from spotting patterns characteristic of horses such as the Appaloosa

Breeds

•Mongolian▫Largely unchanged since Genghis Khan▫Horses, not ponies▫Mare's milk is processed airag▫Some are slaughtered for meat▫Serve as riding animals

For the daily work of the nomads In horse racing.

Breeds• Thoroughbred

▫Best known for its use in horse racing

▫Thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, Technically refers only to

the Thoroughbred breed. ▫Considered "hot-blooded"

horses▫Known for their agility,

speed and spirit.

Breeds• Clydesdale

▫Originally one of the smaller breeds of draught horses Now a tall breed

▫Often bay in color Significant white

markings ▫Originally used for

agriculture and haulage▫Still used for draught

purposes today

Breeds

•Westphalian▫Appealing, long-lined,

correct riding ▫Bold, expansive, elastic

gaits, ▫Suitable for all types of

riding due to temperament

▫Pleasure riding and competitive in dressage and show jumping

Breeds

•Barb▫Desert breed

Great hardiness Stamina

▫Generally possesses a fiery temperament ▫Atypical sport-horse conformation▫Light riding horse

Breeds

•Lusitano▫Any solid color

Generally gray, bay or chestnut▫Heavy muscling, intelligent and willing

natures▫Agile and elevated movement▫Originally bred for war, dressage and

bullfighting▫Bloodless bullfighting today

Breeds

•Belgian▫Strongest and heaviest breed▫Still used as working animals▫Popular as show horses, and pleasure

riding horses. ▫The Brabant and related breeds remaining in

Belgium today are also desirable for horse meat, producing a tender meat that is considered a delicacy

Breeds

•Palomino▫A coat color in horses

Gold coat and white mane and tail.

▫Standard definition of a palomino is based on the coat color visible, not the underlying presence of the dilution gene.

Breeds

•Mustang▫Free-roaming horse▫Often referred to as

wild horses▫Descended from

once-domesticated horses Can be classified as

feral horses.▫Very hardy

Breeds

• Caspian▫ Believed to be one of the oldest horse or pony breeds in the world▫ Valued for their speed and ability to pull or carry heavy▫ Known for their good temperaments and ‘horse-like’ personalities▫ Excellent children's mounts▫ Level pace, natural grace and balance▫ Sensible but active, impressive in mounted games

Breeds• Quarter Horse

▫excels at sprinting short distances▫Name: ability to outdistance other breeds of horses

in races of a quarter mile or less▫Most popular breed in the United States today▫Race horse; rodeos, horse shows and ranch horse▫Well-suited for:

Reining Cutting Working cow horse barrel racing calf roping

Breeds

•Percheron▫Well-muscled▫Known for their intelligence and

willingness to work▫Originally bred for use as war horses▫Used for pulling stage coaches ▫Later for agriculture and hauling heavy

goods

Tack

•Saddle•Stirrup•Headgear

▫Halter▫Bridle

•Reins•Bit•Harness•Breastplates & martingales

Saddles

•Attaches you to the horse

Stirrup

•Attaches yourfoot to the horse

Halter/Bridle

•Difference?

Reins & Bit

•Control the horse

Harness

Harness

•Simplified:

Breastplate & Martingale

Cost??

•Average tack cost:▫Saddle: $100-$5000▫Bridle: $25-$100▫Bit: $50-$100▫Reins: $25-$50

Costs of horse ownership• Rough expense list:

▫ Feed: $36▫ Hay : $48 ▫ Bedding if needed: $16▫ Wormer. generic ivermectrin: $3 every other month▫ Salt or mineral blocks: $2 for the stall ones, $5 for 50#▫ Trims: $20-$40 ▫ Yearly vaccines by vet: $100 ▫ Dental care: $100▫ Tack = depends

$500-$10,000▫ Other expenses: Grooming tools, shampoos, fly spray, first aid kit.

Budget at least $100 and up.▫ Slush fund for emergency vet care: set aside $200 if something easy to

treat. Plan for the worst if you can.• Monthly total: $723.50• Yearly total: $8,682.00

Uses

•Sport•Work•Entertainment•Therapuetic•Warfare•Product

Sport• Dressage• Eventing• Show jumping• Rodeo• Sport/Fox hunting• Horse racing

▫ Flat▫ Steeple chasing▫ Harness racing

• Competitive driving• Endurance racing• Horse shows• “In-hand”• Polo• Jousting• Buzkashi

Work• Mounted police• Cattle Ranches• Search and rescue• Disaster relief assistance• Park Rangers• Game wardens• Transportation• Land management• Draft animals• Forestry

Entertainment• Historical Reenactments• Ceremonial• Convey Royalty

▫horse drawn carriages• Public exhibition• Circus• Parades• TV & Film• Advertising• Mythology• Zodiac

Therapeutic Use• Riding

▫ Improved balance & coordination

▫ Increase self-confidence thru freedom

• Paralympic games• Hippotherapy• Therapeutic Horse Back

riding• Equine assisted

psychotherapy• Companion Animals• Prison

Warfare

•Long history•4000-3000 BC•Still seen today

▫Ceremonial▫Reconnaissance▫Transport in rough terrain

•Janjaweed militias (Darfur)

Products• Mare’s milk

▫ Kumis▫ Airag

• Horse blood▫ Food

• Drugs▫ Premarin (estrogens in urine)

• Tail hair▫ Bow strings

Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass• Meat

▫ Common vs Taboo• Horsehide

▫ Boots, gloves, jackets, baseballs, ball gloves

• Glue• Bones

▫ Implements▫ Spinto (made from tibia)

Diet & Nutrition

•Grazing animals•Good quality forage•2-2.5% body wt dry feed

▫990 lb animal eats 24 lbs of hay•Concentrated feeds

▫Grain▫Active animals

•50% or more of diet should still be forage•Clean water

▫10-12 gal/day

Housing

•Adapted for outside•Need wind/precip shelter

▫Shed/stable

Grooming & Care

•Routine hoof care▫Farrier

•Vaccinations•Dental examinations•Regular exercise

▫Physical & mental well-being•Sturdy fences

▫Safe containment•Regular grooming

▫Maintain good coat & skin health

Repro• Gestation: 340 days

▫ One foal▫ Twins are rare

• Precocial▫ Foals able to move soon after birth

• Estrus Cycle▫ 19-22 days▫ Seasonal▫ Anestrus (winter)

• Weaning▫ 4-6 mos

• Puberty▫ 18 mos▫ Rarely before age three

• Training▫ Saddle (2-4 yrs)

Depending on use

Anatomical Uniqueness

•Skeletal:▫Horses have no collar bone▫Horse’s “knee” similar to human wrist▫No muscle in the legs below the hock▫Cannon bone

Similar to a giant toe▫Hoof

Tissue, not bone!

Sleep Uniqueness

•Sleep both standing and lying•“Stay apparatus”

▫Keeps them from falling down•Sleep better in groups•No solid sleep

▫4-15 hours/day in standing rest▫Avg: 2.9 hrs/day sleep

•Must lie down for REM▫1-2 hrs/every few days

Common Diseases• Horse hoof diseases• Acute laminitis in horses• Diseases of the bones• Buttress foot• Contracted foot• Sand-crack• False quarter• Anasarca or Purpura Hemorrhagica• Hydrophobia Rabies or Madness• Horse Colic• Indigestion or Gastro-intestinal Catarrh

Horse Hoof Diseases• Brittle hoof

▫Horn is hard and stony▫Hereditary

• Club-foot▫Alteration of foot angle▫Hereditary

• Ringed or ribbed hoof▫Ridges on the hoof horn▫Alternating moist vs dry

• Spongy hoof▫Soft an non-resistant horn▫Common with large, flat hooves

Acute laminitis in horses

•Spontaneous inflammation of the foot▫Usually two front▫Often all four▫Occasionally just hind

•General term•Long-term result=

lameness

Diseases of the bones• Periostitis• Ostitis

▫Rarely occur as individual ailments

▫ Irritants cause healthy tissue reactions

▫Heat, pain, redness & swelling

▫Forms abnormal tissue amounts

Buttress foot & Contracted Foot

•Buttress Foot▫Usually caused by violent injury

Fracture Deformity of hoof

▫Symptoms: Lameness

•Contracted Foot▫Frog damage & discharge▫Mild to extremely severe

Sand-crack

•Classified by:▫Length▫Severity▫Position▫Duration▫Starting point

•Hereditary (due to conformation)•“Internal” vs External

False Quarter

•Gap in foot•Incomplete hoof wall•Sensitive structures still covered•Form of hypertrophy•Results from other diseases

Anasarca or Purpura Hemorrhagica

• Post influenza▫Frequently in animals with especially quick recovery

• Lesions and swelling▫Mouth▫Tongue▫Legs

• DANGER!▫Swelling of head

Closure of nostrils Throat, lung & intestine edema

▫Septicemia Blood poisoning

Hydrophobia Rabies or Madness

•Transmitted from rabid animals•Central nervous system•Horse becomes:

▫Irritable▫Vicious

•Will fracture jaw with biting•Eventual paralysis

▫Death from hemorraging

Horse Colic

•Diseases of organs in abdomen•Types:

▫Engorgement colic▫Obstruction colic▫Tympanitic colic▫Spasmodic colic▫Worm colic

•Pain▫How do you know an animal is in pain?

Indigestion or Gastro-intestinal Catarrh• Irregular appetite• Refusing all food• Eating ravenously• Depraved appetite• Irregular bowels

▫ Loose and bad smelling one day▫ Bound the next

• Grain is often passed whole• Hay passed in balls or impacted masses• Passes large amounts of highly sour gas• Loses flesh• Shin presents as hard and dry; seems very tight