Selecting Equine for the Herd
Equine Science II
Importance of Age
The productive life or period of an equine’s
usefulness is comparatively brief.
1.
a.
b.
Equine reach their physical peak between 0-10
years of age, with the prime age between 7-9
years.
Market value for similar conditioned and trained
animals increases up to the peak and decreases
after the peak.
c.
d.
The chance of
unsoundness goes up with
age.
Buyers must decide if a
top-quality older horse
can be purchased for the
same or less than a
younger equine of lesser
quality
2.
Age is also important when equines
are used for competitive events such
as racing and showing. January 1st is
considered the universal birth date for
foals.
a.
b.
Affects the class horses are shown or
raced in and is especially important in the
younger age groups such as the racing
and halter futurities.
A foal born on May 30, 2003 is
considered a year old for racing/showing
on January 1, 2004 and would lack the
growth advantage of a foal born closer to
January 1.
The Importance of Height
1.
2.
Height can influence usefulness and price.
Ponies are usually cheaper because their
use is limited.
Equine height is measured in hands with 1
hand = 4”. The measurement is made on
level ground and is made from the ground
to the highest point of the withers. A pony
that measure 10 hands is 40” tall.
The Importance of Weight
Weight depends on breed, type and
age of equine and is often missed
when evaluating equine.
1.
a.
b.
Weight is most often underestimated when
visual guesses are made
The best method to determine equine
weight is too weigh the trailer and equine
on a truck scale and then weigh the trailer
empty.
c.
Weight tapes are available
for rough estimates.
d.
A more accurate estimate of
weight can be accomplished by
measuring the equine’s body
length, heart girth and using a
formula to calculate weight.
1.
2.
Avoid using noisy tapes or cloth tapes
that might stretch.
A cord or string that has no stretch may
be used, marked and then measured in
the place of using a measuring tape on
the equine.
Knowing an equine’s weight is
important for several management
decisions
2.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Amount of feed needed
Breeding efficiency
Potential health problems
Medical treatment
A.
Stance indicates structure and how
an animal will move; therefore, view
equine from at least three positions
Position 1

Front view of the forelimbs

A vertical line drawn downward from the
point of the shoulder should fall on the
center of the knee, cannon, pastern, and
foot.
Position 2

View from the side


When the hind legs are set properly, a vertical line
drawn from the point of buttock should just touch the
rear of the cannon from the hock to fetlock and meet
the ground behind the heel.
When the forelimbs are in the correct position, a
vertical line drawn downward from the center of the
elbow point should fall upon the center of the knee
and pastern and back of the foot.
Position 3

View from the back

When conformation
of the hind legs is
correct, a vertical
line can be drawn
from the point of the
buttock through the
center of the hock
cannon, pastern, and
foot.
Body Dimension and
Performance
1.
Shoulders should be long and sloping
so that they extend the stride in
running, absorb shock and reduce
stumbling.
2.
Short backs and long underlines
contribute to style and action and
increase the height and length of
stride. In addition, short backs are
stronger
3.
Long smooth muscling in the
hindquarter is of particular importance
since all the power used in motion
comes from the hindquarter.
Determining Age
1.
Age affects usefulness and value of an
equine. Type, number, and
appearance of incisor teeth help one
determine the correct age.
a.
Equine which are 5 years of age or
less will have some combination
ranging from all milk teeth (first
temporary teeth developed) to all
permanent incisors.
b.
Noting the number of cups (or
indentations) in the permanent incisor
teeth for equine between 6-12 years
of age.
c.
Examining the cross section and slant
of the incisor teeth for equines over
12 years of age.
2.
How to know the difference
a.
Temporary teeth are small, white, oval
shaped and wider from side to side than
from front to rear; whereas, permanent
teeth are yellow in color, larger than
temporary teeth and have a general
round surface.
b.
Molars are the teeth used for grinding
on each side of the mouth; incisors
are the front teeth used for cutting.
b.
c.
There are three sets of incisors called
the central, intermediate and corner
incisors (6upper and 6 lower).
Incisors have a cup on indentation in
the center of the tooth that wears
down with age and disappears.
3.
The numbers make the difference
a.
b.
Immature horses have a total of 24
temporary teeth.
Mature mares have a total of 36-38
permanent teeth; stallions and gelding
have 42-48 permanent teeth.
4.
Examples
SEE HANDOUT
Determining Approximate
Weight
1.
Measure and record in inches the
heart girth just behind the elbow after
making sure the equine exhales prior
to taking the reading.
2.
Measure and record in inches the body
length in a straight line from the point
of the shoulder to point of the
buttocks.
3.
Body weight = heart girth X heart girth X body length
330
Example:

For an equine measuring 70 inches at the heart
girth and 62 inches in length:
Body weight= 70 X 70 X 62 = 921 pounds
330
Formula for body weight of light horse
foals from 1-6 weeks of age
Body Weight= heart girth in inches – 25.1
0.07
4.
THE END!!!