Horses: Basic Management

1. Horses:Basic Management D. Karen Hansen, PhD 2001 University of Wyoming Stephen R Schafer, EdD 2007 University of Wyoming

2. Information Development Much effort and time was devoted to: developing accurate/current information incorporating appropriate pictures/graphics providing proper credit of pictures/graphics obtaining user/educational permission Any and/or all errors, omissions, etc. are purely unintentional and/or accidental. This presentation was developed for use as resource and is provided as an educational service. User and/or purchase fees are not associated with this presentation.

3. Basic Management • Housing Facilities • Daily Monitoring • Vital Signs (TPR) • Teeth and Hoof Care • Nutrition/Feeding • Disease Awareness

4. Housing Facilities • Housing that provides safety, comfort, and room • For the horse • For the workers • Permits ease of sanitation (removal/disinfecting) and allows for ease of the facility (design/layout) • Meets/exceeds Environmental Concerns • Meets/exceeds Animal Welfare Issues • Meets/exceeds Animal Health Requirements

5. Daily Monitoring • Behaving Differently (stands off, not hungry, etc) • Looks Differently (head/ears droopy, hump back, etc) • Cuts and/or Scrapes (cause….nail, screw, board, etc) • Bruises and/or Swellings (cause…stall, insect bite, etc) • Limping/Lameness (not always serious, but check it) • Cosmetic/Appearance Issues (grooming, clipping, etc) • Other Minor Items (dirty eyes/ears, etc)

6. Restraint • It is common/recommended practice to use some sort of restraint when performing management procedures • Provides protection and safety for the horse • Provides security and safety for the handler/worker • Common types of restraints: 1. Stock 2. Twitch 3. Hobbles

7. Vital Signs • Important to be familiar with normal/typical TPR (temperature, pulse, and respiration) of your horse • Temp = 99.5-101.5 (ave. 100.5) degrees…at rest • Pulse = 28-42 bpm (ave. 35)…at rest • Respiratory rate = 8-20 (ave. 12) breaths/min…at rest

8. Vital Signs Drawing: Wyoming 4-H Horse Manual

9. Injections • Injections should only be given with the approval and direction of a veterinarian • Always use sterile needle and syringe….never share a needle or re-use a needle (infection or transmittal) • Most commonly given via: • Intramuscular (IM), many/most vaccines are IM and they are given in muscles in neck or lower in stifle….also it is important to rotate sides if long-term treatment • Subcutaneously (SQ), given under the skin….usually in the neck or loose skinned areas such as the elbow or flank • Intravenous (IV), given directly into the blood stream

10. Injections Drawing: Wyoming 4-H Horse Manual

11. Teeth • There are two types of teeth: • Incisors….for cutting and ripping • Molars….for grinding and smashing • The total number of teeth vary according to the age and sex of the horse: • 24 teeth in foals • 36-40 teeth in mature females • 40-44 teeth in mature males Photo: EQUUS

12. Teeth—Visual Tooth Schematic Photo: EQUUS

13. Teeth—Whole Tooth Schematic Photo: EQUUS

14. Teeth & Aging • Age horses by the incisors teeth: • Type, for younger horses • Wear, for more mature horses • Permanent incisors in: • Center, 2 to 2 ½ years old (typically, we say 2 years) • Intermediate, 3 to 3 ½ years old (tend to say 3 years) • Corner, 4 to 4 ½ years old (typically, we say 4 years) • All permanent incisors are in, this has greater than variation than the previous indicators…this typically occurs between 6 and 9 years of age, the horse term for this is “full mouth”

15. Teeth & Aging • The incisor teeth of a horse are cupped on the grinding surface of each tooth • These cups wear down with use (age) • When all cups are worn from the permanent incisors the horse is about 12 years of age, the horse term for this is “smooth mouth”

16. Teeth & Aging • Past the age of smooth mouth, it becomes more difficult to tell age • However, the teeth continue to become more and more angled when viewed from the side • Also, the gums recede (hence the terminology of “long in tooth” or “getting long in tooth”)

17. Teeth & Aging Photos: EQUUS

18. Normal Tooth Care • Horse teeth need to be checked yearly, every six months is even better • Top jaw is larger than lower jaw, as a result normal chewing wears teeth unevenly • Sharp points (known as “hooks”) develop and these need to be filed off, this filing is known as “floating” • Equine dentists are becoming more and more popular/accepted, just like farriers

19. Hoof: Purpose & Physiology • Wall is thickest in the toe, thinnest in the quarter • Absorbs the concussion of the weight of the horse • As foot hits ground, heels are expanded due to frog action (flattens out….more softness/cushioning) • Digital cushion expands lateral cartilages; compress blood veins in hoof • Third phalanx descends slightly, sole yields slightly, and laminae absorb the concussion • Some weight transferred to navicular bone, which is supported by deep flexor tendon

20. Proper Angle Of The Hoof • Proper angle should be the angle of the pastern • Front Legs: 48 - 50 degrees or so • Hind: 50-55 degrees or so • Regardless of the horse or the exact angle, the rear angle should be greater than the front angle

21. Parts Of The Hoof • FROG: very elastic tissue • V shaped • Helpful in blood flow in hoof and leg • SOLE: protective outer covering • Should be concave • Sensitive to bruising • HOOF WALL: • Primary weight carrier • Inside of hoof wall---LAMINAE: sensitive on inside and insensitive on the surface • WHITE LINE: where laminae connects to hoof wall

22. Parts Of The Hoof Wall • Heel (located at the rear of the hoof) • Quarter (located at the side of the hoof) • Toe (located at the front of the hoof)

23. The Hoof: Blood Circulation Photo: EQUUS

24. Parts Of The Hoof: Side View Photo: EQUUS

25. Parts Of The Hoof: Bottom View Photo: EQUUS Photo: Unknown Source

26. Hoof Drawing: Bottom View

27. Normal Hoof Care • Clean daily, hoof pick from the hoof heel to hoof toe • Examine for injury, whenever the horse is showing signs of lameness or whenever cleaning the hoof • Add or limit moisture, via dressings or sealants • Trim or shoe : EVERY 6-8 WEEKS or more frequently depending on horse and season

28. Hoof Problems • Bruises (stone bruises) • Cracks – quarter and/or toe • Laminitis (inflammation/infection of laminae) Photos: Unknown Source

29. Hoof Problems • Founder, typically caused from over-feeding • Navicular Disease: not actually a disease, it typically starts from an injury such as stepping on a stone or something else that causes injury to navicular bone • Thrush, a bacterial disease that occurs in hooves that are not cleaned out on a regular (and often) basis and the horse tends to spend much time in mud, manure, and/or in other moist conditions

30. Horse Shoes/Shoeing • Often times referred as a “necessary evil”: • Nailing an iron plate to foot doesn’t make walking easier • The weight of the shoe does not increase agility • Nail holes weaken the hoof wall • Nail holes facilitate entry ease for bacteria and infections • Must change the shoe every 6-8 weeks because of hoof growth • Positive Purposes: • Protects the hoof against wear, especially when working • Better traction in unfavorable conditions and terrain • Helps to correct defects in stance or gait • Helps to cure hoof diseases and hoof defects • Helps to prevent a multitude of hoof problems

31. A Good Shoeing Job • Balance • The nails are evenly spaced around the hoof • All of the clinches firmly set • The shoe fits foot….it is the right size shoe • The heels of the shoe extend 1/16 of an inch beyond horse’s heel, this allows for expansion

32. Corrective Trimming • Can be used when foal is young • Must be done on a gradual basis or it will cause lameness (or worst) • Should only be undertaken by an individual with experience and knowledge

33. Therapeutic/Corrective Shoeing • Should only be done by someone who is very experienced and knowledgeable • Bar shoes are an example of something that is becoming more and more common….the purpose of bar shoes is for support • There are many types of corrective/therapeutic shoes and shoeing, but each has a specific goal/purpose • WEBSITE: www.horseshoes.com

34. Summary: Horse Basic Care • Housing that provides safety and comfort • Proper sanitation (removal and disinfecting) • Always provide clean and fresh feed/hay • Always provide only clear and cool water • Proper management • Health---care and maintenance • Teeth---care and maintenance • Hooves---care and maintenance