Basic knowledge of horse breeds and
breeding
 Understanding of proper conformation
and unsoundness
 Appreciation of various gates
 Knowledge of horse feeds and feeding
 Comprehension of horse management,
housing, and diseases in horses
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Domesticated for >5000 yrs.
 What has been their role?
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Many breeds have been developed for
the various wants/needs of man
 Light horse breeds
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› Racing, riding, exhibitions
› Name some breeds and other functions
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Draft horses
› Large and powerful
› For heavy work
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www.ansi.okstate.edu/BREEDS/index.htm
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Reproduction
› Sexual maturity
 12-18 mos. In light breeds
 18-24 mos. In draft breeds
› 21d estrus cycle during breeding season
 Estrus behavior for 5-7d
 Ovulation during the last two days
› 10% are multiple ovulations/only .5% twinning
rate
340d gestation cycle
 Mares can be bred back 5-12d after foaling
 Selection
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› Should be based upon the desired offspring
› Selection for other reasons will often result in
unsoundness
› Ideal environments for breeding programs
 Ample pasture/forage
 Ample Exercise
 Either natural or regular schedule
 Maintain proper condition
 Maintain sound feet/legs
 Worked in conditions for which they are bred
 Close observation is critical
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Purchasing
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Know your needs/abilities
Pre-purchase exam
Keep records
Sales contract
› Feet & Legs
 Most important functional parts of the horse
 Observe for correctness/unsoundness
 Ideal conformation
 Front-line from point of shoulder through center of:
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Knee
Pastern
Cannon
Foot
 Rear-line from point of buttocks through center
of:
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Hock
Cannon
Pastern
Foot
› Hoof
 Essential for soundness
 Regular cleaning, trimming, shoeing (every 6-8
wks.)
 Grow .25-.5 in/mo.
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Unsoundness
› Any defect interfering w/ the usefulness of
the horse
› Caused by:
 Injury, improper nutrition, genetics, poor
conformation
› Blemishes
 Defect that detracts from appearance
 Doesn’t affect usefulness
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Walk
› 4 beats
› Each foot strikes the ground independently
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Trot
› Two-beat
› Diagonal
 LF/RR hit ground in unison, etc.
› Straight travel w/ no swaying
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Pace
› Two-beat
› Lateral
 Both R/L hit ground in unison
› Is swaying from side to side
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Gallop
› 4-beat
› Fast
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Canter
› 3-beat
› Two diagonals hit at same time, while other
hind leg and lead leg hit at different times
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Rack
› 4-beat
› For showing purposes
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http://www.funnysnaps.com/igait.html
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Running walk
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Fast ground walk
Unique to the Tennessee Walker
Gliding motion
Hind leg oversteps front footprint by 12-18”
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Horses have natural shock absorbing
mechanisms
› Feet
› Legs
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Abnormalities
› Interference
 Toeing out
› Paddling
 Toeing in
› Overreaching
 Hind foot hitting front heel
 Stumbling
› Forging
 Hind foot hits shoe on front foot
› Which is least critical?
› Inspection of teeth
 Notice wear order of teeth
 Full mouth at five yrs. of age
Need both forages and concentrates
 Mechanical action of chewing grinds
the feed, so not necessary for cracking
or rolling
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Stomach only 10% of digestive capacity
 60-70% of protein & sol. Carbos. Digested
in S.I.
 80% of fiber digested in the Cecum &
colon
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› L.I. accounts for 60% of digestive capacity
1 – Poor
 2 – Very Thin
 3 – Thin
 4 – Moderately Thin
 5 – Moderate
 6 – Moderate to Fleshy
 7 – Fleshy
 8 – Fat
 9 – Extremely Fat
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Overfeeding and obesity is discouraged
 Pregnant mares
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› High forage diets are sufficient in first two
trimesters w/ little grain supplementation
› Last trimester-more concentrate (oats, corn,
barley)
› Do not drop below BCS 5
Lactating mares have the highest
nutritional requirements of any horse
 Evaluate feeds (hay) carefully for quality,
maturity, aroma, color, texture
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› Test if possible
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Colic
› Common digestive disorder causing severe
abdominal pain
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Gas
Decrease gut motility
Parasites
Ulcers
Twisted gut
Ingestion of sand
› Caused by:
 Abrupt diet changes
 Change in exercise regimen
 Change in housing
› Signs of colic
 Pawing
 Pacing
 Rolling
› Treatment of colic
 Varied treatments
 Veterinarian care recommended
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Breeding
› Be aware of any uterine problems due to
foaling
› Can check if a mare is in heat by exposing
them to a stallion, and observing behavior
 Violent reaction-not in heat
 Stand, squat, and urination-in standing heat
› Cleanliness is vital
 Natural service
 Both mare and stallion should be cleaned and
washed
 Mare’s tail wrapped
› Stallion use
 Breeding on 1st day of standing heat, and days
3&5
 Stallions can service twice daily for a short
time, or once daily for 1-2 mos.
 AI use can improve stallion management and
mating programs
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Foaling
› Normal foaling time is in spring
› Clean, straw-bedded box stall, or on clean
pasture
› Normal presentation should result in delivery
w/ no problems or assistance necessary
› Abnormal presentations
 Breech
 Assistance should be given
 No head presentation
 Push foal back in and bring head along w/ front legs
› Foal should be carefully monitored after birth
 Clear nostrils & mouth of mucus, membranes
 Dry if weather is cold
 Dip umbilical cord in iodine to prevent infection
› Pregnant mares should be exercised regularly
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Weaning
› Remove mare
› Leave foal in box stall, or secure fenced lot for
safety
› High quality hay and concentrate should be
provided
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Castration
› Do not do at weaning
› Castrated male called a gelding
› Safer for handling than stallions
› Testicles are exposed, clamped, and cut
› Careful observation and cleanliness is necessary
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Identification
› Tattooing
› Freeze branding
› Hot iron branding
› Electronic implants
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Care of Working Animals
› Proper cool-down period after exercise or
work
› Do not go directly to feed
 Can cause colic or founder
› Provide extra energy
› Protect against founder
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Consider drainage, accessibility, labor
intensity, durability, air quality, exposure
Place hay rack at head height
Grain feeder in separate location
Water bucket on outside wall
Stall size
› Foaling stalls
 14 X 14
› Regular stalls
 10 X 10 minimum
 Appropriate for size of horse
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Tack room
› Necessary for storage and care of
equipment
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Stock
› Care for injured or horses needing treatment,
breeding, palpation, injections
› Protection for handler
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Sanitation is key
› Clean stalls
› Clean horses
Vet assisted planning
 Bacterial infections
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› Tetanus
› Strangles (distemper)
 Highly infectious respiratory disease
› Rhinopneumonitis or Arteritis
 Abortion causing
› Vaccinations can aid in prevention
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Viral infections
› Equine Encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness)
 Affects the brain
 Transmitted by mosquitoes, and horse to horse
› Influenza
 Airborne
 Fever, cough
› West Nile
 Mosquitoes and birds
 Depression, loss of coordination, tremors,
paralysis
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Parasites
› Pinworms
 Consumed in contaminated feed/water
 Irritation of the anus
 May observe tail rubbing
› Bots
 Larval eggs laid on hair coat
 Skin irritation
 If ingested can burrow into body tissue, and
stomach
› Strongyles
 Attach to walls of L..I.
 Eggs passed in feces, hatch, and larvae
swallowed on blades of grass
 Can cause arterial clotting
› Ascaris Worms
 S.I.
 Eggs also passed in feces
 Larvae carried to liver/lungs
 Cause intestinal blockage
› Deworming should be done 2-4 times per yr.
 Rotate types of wormer
Strongyles