Horses

1. Horses Andrew Brock From: Modern Livestock and Poultry Production and Agriscience Fundamentals and Applications

2. Horse Terms • Light horses are those used for riding • Draft horses are those used for work • Donkeys are members of the horse family with long ears and short erect manes, they are primarily used as beasts of burden. • A jack is a male donkey and a jennet is a female donkey • A Mule is a cross between a jack and a mare • A cross between a stallion and a jennet is called a hinny

3. Horse Terms • Horses are measured in hands, a hand is 4 inches. • The withers of a horse is at the top of the shoulder where the neck meets the back. • To be considered a horse the animal must be 14.2 hands at the withers. • Any horse that measures less than 14.2 hands is considered a pony.

4. Horse Terms • Tack is horse equipment • The way a horse moves is referred to as it’s gait • Equitation is the art of horse riding • Walk is a slow 4 beat gait • Trot is a fast 2 beat diagonal gait • Canter is a slow 3 beat gait • Gallop is a fast 3 beat gait • Rack is a fast 4 beat gait • Pace is a side to side 2 beat gait

5. Horse Terms • Horsemanship is the art of riding and knowing the needs of a horse • The Jog is a slow, smooth, 2 beat diagonal gait • Lope is a very slow canter

6. Horse Safety • Always approach a horse from the front left side. • Pet a horse on it’s shoulder not it’s nose. • Never startle a horse. • Never wrap a lead rope around your hand. • Make sure the saddle is tight enough not to slip when saddling a horse. • Keep the horse under control, and do not let it misbehave undisciplined.

7. Horse Safety • Be calm and gentle when dealing with your horse. • Know the temperament and vices of your horse. • Never let someone else ride your horse unsupervised.

8. Horse Care • Groom a horse daily using soft brushes. • Inspect the horses hooves daily. • Trim a horses hooves every 4-6 weeks if not shod. • If a horse is shod it must be replaced every 4-6 weeks by a farrier (works on horses hooves) • Cool down a horse after riding before it is allowed to drink water. • Do not overfeed a horse, feed on a routine. • Maintain a strict health care program for horses.

9. Horse Nutrition • The stomach of a horse is much more sensitive than that of a cow. • Much of the digestion occurs in the large intestine, where horses can utilize large amounts of roughage. • For proper nutrition you must balance 4 groups. • Pasture grass • Hay • Supplemental feed • Vitamins and minerals

10. Pasture Grasses • Kentucky Bluegrass is considered the best all around pasture grass for horses. It is tough, palatable and provides the required nutrients. • Orchard Grass is also good. Can be combined with bluegrass. Tough under close grazing. • Bermuda Grass is a good grass for horses in the South. • Legumes such as clover, alfalfa or lespedeza are also good for horse pastures. They are a good source of protein and horses do not bloat. • Picture is bluegrass from wvu.edu

11. Tall Fescue • Tall Fescue is not a good pasture grass for horses. • It is less palatable and can carry a fungus that can cause fever and gestation problems in horses. • If fescue is the only available grass, seed legumes and make hay available. Also bush hogging the seed heads can help with toxicity. • Picture is Tall Fescue from wvu.edu

12. Hay • 2 Primary types of hay are used for horses. • Legume Hay • Grass Hay • Legume hay has a higher protein and mineral content than grass hay. • Alfalfa is the best legume hay, however lespedeza and clover hay is available. • The drawback of legume hay is availability and price.

13. Grass Hay • Common Southern Grass hays are orchard grass, tall fescue and bermuda grass hay. • Tall fescue hay should be avoided for horses. • Bermuda grass hay is the most common and most logical hay for Southern horse owners. • Grass hay is less nutritious than legume hay, but it is more affordable and easier to find. • It is best to supplement grass hay with supplemental feed in winter.

14. Supplemental Feed Grain • Oats and corn are the most commonly used grains in horse feed. • Oats is considered the best grain for horses. It is high in protein and reduces digestive problems. • Corn is high energy for horses that are worked hard. Corn may cause colic, so feed with care. A corn-oats mixture is excellent. • Grain sorghum, barley, wheat, wheat bran and cane molasses are common feed additives in mixtures.

15. Supplemental Feed Protein Feed • Soybean meal, cottonseed meal and linseed meal are common protein feeds. • Soybean meal is the best. It is high in protein and has a good balance of amino acids. • Cottonseed meal is a common alternative in the southwest. • Linseed meal can be laxative, but it is a good source of protein and produces a shiny coat on horses.

16. Vitamins and minerals • Horses require salt, calcium and phosphorous in their diet. • These minerals should be fed free choice. • Pregnant and lactating mares need more of these minerals. • Vitamins are usually not an issue, consult a vet if you think your horse has a deficiency.

17. Water • Horses drink 10-12 gallons of water per day. • More if worked hard or in hot weather. • A supply of fresh clean water should be available at all times. • Cool down a horse after working before you allow it to drink large amounts of water.

18. Common Horse Diseases and Disorders • Azoturia- this may be a nutritional disorder, it develops when a horse is put to work following a period of idleness. • The muscles are swollen and tense, and the horse becomes stiff. • This can be prevented by decreasing the amount of grain fed to an idle horse, making sure they exercise and starting them back to work slowly.

19. Colic • Colic is a disease complex encompassing a wide range of conditions that affect a horse’s digestive tract, usually in the form of a blockage • 90% of the time colic is caused by parasites. Usually large strongyles (bloodworms) • However, sudden feed changes, too much corn or improper chewing can cause colic. • To prevent colic follow a strict de-worming program. Also, check for chewing problems and follow a consistent feeding schedule.

20. Founder • Founder is a nutritional disorder caused by overeating concentrates, changes in feed, drinking to much water or standing in a stall for longer periods. • Symtoms are swelling of the sensitive laminae on one or more feet, lameness, fever and sweating in the acute form. • There is a chronic form which commonly causes distortion of the hoof. • Careful feed management are used to prevent founder. • Good hoof trimming and shoeing practices are used to treat founder.

21. Horse Training • Horse training begins when a colt is 10-14 days old. • Young foals should be brushed and their feet handled. • Training should be gradual so that the horse does not need to be broke.