Transcript Horses
Andrew Brock From: Modern Livestock and Poultry Production and Agriscience Fundamentals and Applications 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 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. 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 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 1. Pasture grass 2. Hay 3. Supplemental feed 4. Vitamins and minerals 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 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 Hay 2 Primary types of hay are used for horses. Legume Hay 2. 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. 1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.