Equine Science Pretest—Key
Instructions: Circle the correct response. There may be multiple answers—circle all that are correct.
Multiple choice questions are worth 1.5 points each; essay question points are indicated with the
questions.
1. What are the main points we consider in evaluating horses?
a. Balance
b. Structure
c. Muscle
d. Quality
e. Travel/Movement
2. Where can we easily look to find muscle?
a. In the width of the chest and stifle
b. Over the back and neck
c. In the heart girth
d. In the flank
3. Where can we easily look to find quality?
a. Shoulder and hip
b. Head, throat latch, and neck
c. Over the croup
d. Width of the stifle
4. What parts do we compare to determine balance?
a. Length of face and neck
b. Length of cannon bones
c. Length of neck, back, and hip
d. How low the hock is to the ground
5. Why do most people own horses?
a. Recreation and entertainment
b. Making money
c. Transportation
d. Work in the fields
6. How does the equine industry have an economic impact on our state?
a. employment
b. racing
c. recreational activities
7. What would likely average cost of owning a horse be in our community?
a. Less than $100/month
b. More than $2000/month
c. Around $500/month
8. Which of the following are three horse related activities we might find in our state?
a. Rodeo
b. Racing
c. Showing
9. Which system is responsible for supporting the body?
a. Muscular
b. Respiratory
c. Skeletal
d. Circulatory
10. Which system is responsible for moving parts of the body?
a. Muscular
b. Respiratory
c. Skeletal
d. Circulatory
11. Which system is responsible for breathing?
a. Muscular
b. Respiratory
c. Digestive
d. Circulatory
12. Which system is responsible for oxygenating blood?
a. Muscular
b. Respiratory
c. Digestive
d. Circulatory
13. Which system is responsible for absorbing nutrients from food?
a. Muscular
b. Respiratory
c. Digestive
d. Circulatory
14. What type of digestive system does the horse have?
a. Hind Gut Fermenter
b. Monogastric
c. Ruminant
15. What is a body condition score?
a. Scoring system from 1-9 (thin to fat)
b. Scoring system from 1-9 (fat to thin)
c. Scoring system from 1-5 (thin to fat)
d. Scoring system from 1-5 (fat to thin)
16. How do we use the body condition score in equine nutrition?
a. Adjust vaccinations and turn out time
b. Adjust vet and farrier visits
c. Adjust nutrients and exercise
17. For which of the following are nutrient requirements lower?
a. Pregnant or lactating mare
b. Working horse such as a barrel racer
c. Young growing horse
d. Mature horse turned out on pasture
18. What is a concentrate?
a. Mixed feed such as pellets or sweet feed
b. Hay or pasture
c. Supplements
d. Water
19. What is a roughage?
a. Mixed feed such as pellets or sweet feed
b. Hay or pasture
c. Supplements
d. Water
20. Which of the following would be considered normal for a horse?
a. shiny coat
b. eyes clear and bright
c. nostrils soft and clean
d. able to move easily
e. appears content
f. stools firm but not hard
g. eating and drinking
h. appears to be in good flesh, but not obese
21. Which of the following symptoms might indicate a problem.
a. Horse has a runny nose, is not eating, and appears to be in discomfort
b. Horse is grazing in the pasture
c. Horse rolls one time then gets up and shakes off
d. Horse is running across the pasture
22. What do you do if there is a health problem with your horse?
a. Call a veterinarian
b. Call a friend
c. Look up symptoms on the internet
d. Buy something at the feed store.
23. Which of the following is the most serious horse health problem?
a. Thrush
b. Biting flies
c. Intestinal parasites
d. Colic
24. How many days is the breeding cycle of the mare?
a. About 5 Days
b. About 21 Days
c. About 30 Days
d. About 45 Days
25. How many days is the estrus cycle of the mare?
a. 3-5 Days
b. 10-12 Days
c. 13-15 Days
d. 17-20 Days
26. What is the gestation period for the horse?
a. About 9 months
b. About 10 months
c. About 11 months
d. About 12 months
27. Which of the following is an advantage of artificial insemination?
a. Cheaper
b. Less time intensive
c. More expertise
d. Precise
28. Flushing the embryo and inserting it into a recipient mare; allows the dam to continue to
perform or allows mares who cannot carry to produce offspring.
a. Embryo Transfer
b. Superovulation
c. Cloning
29. Multiple offspring in one breeding; requires recipient mares.
a. Embryo Transfer
b. Superovulation
c. Cloning
30. Taking genetic material from one horse to create an exact offspring.
a. Embryo Transfer
b. Superovulation
c. Cloning
31. Why is safety such a concern when handling horses?
a. Horses are flight animals; you could be injured if they become frightened
b. Horses are gentle creatures who would never intentionally hurt anyone.
c. Horses are crazy and never to be trusted.
d. Horse are similar to cattle in the way they respond to fear.
32. Which of the following is a good rule of thumb when handling horses?
a. Don’t stand directly in front or behind the horse
b. Stay on the same side as the vet
c. Touch the horse to let it know where you are
33. Which of the following are restraint methods used on horses in an emergency situation.
a. Twitch
b. Neck pinch
c. None of the above
34. Which of the following is likely if a horse becomes frightened?
a. Horses will stand and fight by kicking and pawing.
b. Horses are flight animals that run from their prey or when frightened.
c. Horses will cower in a corner, hiding from the fear.
35. In which of the following situations would a horse likely need shelter?
a. Bright, sunny day
b. Cold, snowy day
36. Which of the following is the primary factor considered in developing horse facilities?
a. Safety
b. Beauty
c. Design
d. Structure
37. Which type of fencing should we avoid?
a. Wood
b. Pipe
c. Vinyl
d. Barbed Wire
38. Why is it important that equipment be in good condition when working with horses?
a. Horses are flight animals, so we need to be prepared if they become frightened.
b. Horses are large animals that can move with much more force than expected.
c. To prevent injury to the horse or the handler.
39. Which of the following is the most common type of halter?
a. Nylon
b. Leather
c. Rope
40. What side do we halter, bridle, and saddle from primarily?
a. Left side
b. Right side
c. Front
41. What are the two primary riding styles?
a. Pony and horse
b. English and western
c. Racing and driving
d. Dressage and Hunter
42. Which of the following best describes animal rights?
a. Animals have a right to live free
b. Animals should humanely care for and used
c. Animals should not live outside
d. Animals should not be chained
43. Which of the following best describes animal rights?
a. Animals have a right to live free
b. Animals should humanely care for and used
c. Animals should not live outside
d. Animals should not be chained
44. Which of the following is an animal welfare issue impacting the equine industry.
a. Inhumane practices related to training for a variety of events including western
pleasure, saddlebreds, cutting, and racing
b. Breeding mares for the purpose of using them as nurse mares or progesterone
c. Inhumane horse slaughter and transport practices domestic and international
45. In your own words, describe the ideal horse. (4 points)
Answers will vary but should correspond to Selecting a Horse lesson and include terms related to
balance, muscle, structure, quality, and movement as well as form to function/purpose.
46. Why is the equine industry important in Texas? (4 points)
Answers will vary but should include data related to the Importance of the Equine Industry lesson
including the uses of horses for recreation and entertainment as well as the economic impact of
the horse industry related to careers and related industries (feed, etc.).
47. How might you use the knowledge gained in this course in the future? (7 points)
Answers will vary.
48. Name the concept you enjoyed most in this course. Describe what you learned and why you
feel it is important. (6 points)
Answers will vary.
49. List two careers related to horses you might be interested in. For each, describe why it appeals
to you and the next steps to attain this type of position. (6 points)
Answers will vary.
50. If you were stuck on an elevator with someone who claimed that horses are not part of
agriculture or should not be used for any human purpose, what would you say to them to
convince them of your position? (7 points)
Answers will vary. Did the student state a position and support this position with facts?
Developed by the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications,
Texas A&M University
for the Texas Education Agency, Educational Excellence Project for AFNR
©Texas Education Agency, 2015