Equine

Question 1

Equine general behaviour

Answer 1

Hierarchical herd animal
Hierarchy is dynamic
Prey animals
Flight>Freeze>Fight
“Shoot first, ask questions later”
Communication
Facial expression
Body position
Vocalization

Question 1

Equine environment

Answer 1

Tolerant of many different climates with appropriate acclimatization
Hot weather–sweating, increased respiration, nostril flaring
Cold weather–shivering,heat production from hindgut
Blanketing
Geriatric, sick, non-acclimated horses only

Question 1

Equine pasture and fencing

Answer 1

Pasture
1-3 horses per acre
Free of debris
Well maintained fencing
Wire for large enclosure
Wood plank, metal pipe for small enclosures

Question 2

Equine stable requirements

Answer 2

More intensive and less natural
Still require daily turn out for several hours
Horses height x 2.5= stall width
Well maintained boarded sides
Horse proof latch
Regular stall cleaning

Question 3

Equine digestion

Answer 3

Constant eating/grazing for get GI health
1.5-2% body weight
Hindgut fermenters
Produce most of their own trace vitamins
Fiber to stimulate motility

Question 4

What to feed equine

Answer 4

Good quality grass hay
Small amounts of alfalfa
Concentrate/pelleted feed
Geriatric
Performance
Immunocompromised
Mineral block

Question 5

What is the most important nutrient and ho much do horses need

Answer 5

Water is the most important nutrient
Clean, fresh, always available
Heater in the winter
5L per 100 kg per day
25L for average sized horse
Snow is not an acceptable in most cases

Question 6

What type of breeders are equine and their fertility

Answer 6

Long day breeders
Spring
Poor fertility
Selectively bred for performance not fertility
Well planned selective breeding
Do not add to the unwanted horse problem

Question 7

Stallions reproductive parts and what they look like

Answer 7

Large jowls, crest neck, musculature, deep vocalization
Unpredictable behaviour
Seasonal influence
Sperm production, libido
Musculocavernous penis
Erection obtained through increased blood flow

Question 8

Estrous cycle of mares

Answer 8

21 days

Question 9

Estrus of mares

Answer 9

• 5 days
  Posturing, urinating, exposing clitorus, vocalizing

Question 10

What type of breeders are equine

Answer 10

Intermediate duration breeders
After courtship, stallion obtains erection, mounts mare, ejaculates directly into uterus

Question 11

Pasture breeding in equine

Answer 11

Natural cover
Stallion and mares allowed to natural breed as mares come into heat
Greater risk of injury to horse
Cannot guarantee stallion bred every mare

Question 12

Hand breeding in equine

Answer 12

Natural cover
Mare is restrained, stallion is led to mare by handler and allowed to cover, then removed
Greater risk of injury to handlers
Ensures mare was appropriately bred

Question 13

AI in equine

Answer 13

Artificial insemination(AI)
Stallion mounts a live mare of phantom, penis is directed into artificial vagina for semen collection
Semen is evaluated for fertility
Fresh, cooled, or frozen
Stallion can sire more goals in one season
Closely monitor mares with decreased fertility
Decreased disease transmission

Question 14

Average gestation for a foal

Answer 14

340 days

Question 15

What type of placenta do equine have

Answer 15

Diffuse cotyledonary placentation
Minimal transfer of maternal antibodies to fetus

Question 16

Parturition of foal

Answer 16

Rarely needs assistance, but complications can be life-threatening to both mare and foal
Grassy pasture or well bedded foaling stall
Impending parturition
Hollowed gluteals, relaxed vulva, complete mammary development, colostrum on teats
Do not intervene unless absolutely necessary!

Question 17

Stage 1 parturition of equine

Answer 17

1-4 hours
Early labour
Weak uterine contraction,foal moves into normal dorso-sacral position
Chorioallantois becomes visible at vulva

Question 18

Stage 2 parturition of equine

Answer 18

15-30 mins
Rupturing of membranes to delivery of fetus

Question 19

Stage 3 parturition of equine

Answer 19

<3 hours
Usually immediately detaches but can take longer

Question 20

When do foals need colostrum

Answer 20

Foals must consume adequate colostrum
6 hours within birth

Question 21

What is the IgG snap test

Answer 21

This tests for the amount of antibodies the foal got from the colostrum
Adequate transfer >800 mg/dl
Incomplete passive transfer 400-800 mg/dl
Failure of passive transfer <400 mg/dl

Question 22

What to monitor in neonate foals

Answer 22

Monitor for common foal disease
Diarrhea
Pneumonia
Umbilical infection
Septic arthritis

Question 23

Ways to identify horses

Answer 23

Microchip
Lip tattoo
Freeze brand
Face and limb marking

Question 24

How to handle equine

Answer 24

Safest place to stand is at the shoulder
Always make sure everyone is in a safe place
Always stand at the same side of the person working on the horse
Never kneel or sit
The person at the horse’s head is in charge of everyone else’s safety!

Question 25

Things used for physical restraint of equine

Answer 25

Halter and rope
Chain shank
Stocks
Twitch
Nose, shoulder, ear
Madigan squeeze
foals

Question 26

Chemical restraint used on equine

Answer 26

Alpha 2 agonist
Short minimally invasive and painful procedures
Alpha 2 agonist+opioid
Longer more invasive procedures
Acepromazine
Mild long term effects
Diazepam +/- alpha 2 agonist
For foals >1 month

Question 27

Routine invasie procedures

Answer 27

Castration
Most common surgical procedure
Most complications
Emasculators
Dental care
Yearly checks
Uneven wear and fractured or abscess teeth
Float molars
Dental equipment
Hoof care
Regular trimming 6-8 weeks
Showing if indicated
Navicular syndrome
Laminitis
Farrier equipment

Question 28

How to do a physical exam on a horse

Answer 28

Start at the heart and work around the horse
Cardiovascular
Gastrointestinal
Mucous membranes
Digital pulses
Temperature
Feces and urine
EXAM QUESTION

Question 29

BCS on equine

Answer 29

Nine point scale
1 emaciated
5 ideal
9 obese

Question 30

Core equine vaccines

Answer 30

Eastern equine encephalitis
Western equine encephalitis
Tetanus
West nile
Rabies
Annually may or june

Question 31

Routinely check for parasites and given Anthelmintics

Answer 31

Parasite resistance increasing problem
Maintain refugia
Fecal egg count
Identify high shredders
Strategic dewormer selection

Question 32

Humane euthanasia considered when and can be done by what in equine

Answer 32

Unmanageable pain
Condition with poor outcome
Unsafe behavioural issues
Unfit for human consumption
Unwanted
Lethal dose of IV barbituates
Burial or rendering
Gunshot or captive bolt
Intrathecal 2% lidocaine
IV MgSO4 or KCl
Exsanguination
Safe for wildlife scavenging

Question 33

Normal temp of a horse

Answer 33

36.5-38.5*C

Question 34

Normal HR of a horse

Answer 34

24-48 beats/min

Question 35

Normal RR in horses

Answer 35

8-20 breaths/min

Question 36

How to take a temp in horse

Answer 36

a. Apply lube or vaseline to the tip of the thermometer.
b. Approach the horse safely (practice this properly with Dobbin). Run your hand along the back and rump of the horse, then the base of the tail. Lift the tail or move the tail to the side to expose the anus.
c. Insert the thermometer into the anus until the digital window is to the anus. Feces on the window is expected.
d. Remove the thermometer when it beeps.
e. Release the tail. Run your hand along the rump then the back as you move back to the head of the horse so he knows you are finished.

Question 37

How to take a HR on a horse

Answer 37

listen to the heart under the triceps muscle of the left limb, at a location halfway between the point of the elbow and the point of the shoulder. Count how many beats in 15 sec and multiply by 4 to obtain a HR/min

Question 38

How to take a RR on equine

Answer 38

You can listen for respirations with your stethoscope over the
trachea/lungs, or by watching the rise and fall of the flank. The lung field in horses is larger than cattle, and is a triangular region bordered by the triceps muscle cranially, the ventral surface of thoracic vertebrae dorsally, and a diagonal line from the tuber coxae (palpable wing of the ilium) to the point of the elbow. Count respirations for 30 sec, and multiply by 2 to obtain a RR/min.

Question 39

How to place a halter on a horse

Answer 39

a. Arrange the halter so that the buckle is to the left, the central D-ring is ventral and rostral, and the poll strap (the part that goes over the poll) is to the right. The buckle and poll strap should be undone.
b. Connect the lead rope to the D-ring.
c. Approach the horse quietly at the shoulder.
d. Lay the lead rope across the horse’s neck and hold it loosely ventral to the neck.
▪ This establishes control and the horse knows what is going to happen.
e. Hold the halter with the left side of the noseband (the side attached to the buckle) in your left hand and your right hand holding the right side of the nose band (the side with the poll strap).
▪ Don’t place your fingers between the noseband and the horse to prevent your fingers from getting caught if the horse moves quickly.
f. Hold the nose band by the webbing or leather and slide their muzzle into the opening of the noseband.
g. Once their muzzle is in the halter, flip the poll strap over the horse’s neck, just caudal to their ears, and buckle the poll strap to the buckle on the left side of their cheek.
* The halter should fit snuggly. A loose halter is dangerous for horse and handler.
* You should be able to get 2-3 fingers between the noseband and the horse’s muzzle, and 1 hands width between the buckle and the side of the horse’s face.

Question 40

Using a nose twitch

Answer 40

Using a nose twitch: Distracts the horse to facilitate mildly painful procedures and releases endorphins. Twitches may be chain (more humane) or rope (more prone to overtightening).
a. Hold the chain in your left hand, with your thumb and pinky finger (or pinky + ring finger) on the inside of the loop, and the rest of your fingers outside and above the loop. Hold the handle in your right hand.
b. Grasp the muzzle and slide the chain over your fingers and onto the muzzle of the horse. You may use a partner’s hand, or a rolled towel to simulate the muzzle of a horse.
c. Twist the handle to tighten the chain and maintain tension.
d. The twitch may stay in place for up to 15 minutes, then must be released.
e. If further restraint with the twitch is needed it must be off for at least 5 minutes before being reapplied.
f. A tong twitch is applied by simply closing the handles over the muzzle and wrapping a tie around the end of the bars to maintain tension

Question 41

Skin twitch

Answer 41

a. Pinch and twist a fold of skin on the neck.
b. Similar in principle to the twitch device

Question 42

How to retrain a horses head

Answer 42

Restraint of the horse’s head is necessary for passage of a stomach tube or for oral exams.
a. Stand in front of the horse’s chest, facing the same direction as the horse. Your right shoulder should be under the horse’s neck, and your body should be close to the front legs.
b. Extend your right leg in front of both of the horse’s front legs.
c. Place your right hand over the horse’s nasal bones, not over the soft tissue of the muzzle.
d. Hold the lead rope with your left hand.

Question 43

How to tie a tail tie

Answer 43

a. Used to keep the tail out of the way during procedures or to keep the tail from swishing into a sterile field during a procedure.
b. NEVER use it to tie the tail to a stationary object; only tie the tail to the animal itself.
c. Palpate for the most distal caudal vertebrae and grasp the hairy part of the tail just below the last vertebrae.
d. Lay a rope over top of the hair, with one end short and one end long.
e. Flip the hair over top of the rope, so the rope is sandwiched between the hair and hold the 2 sheaves of hair in 1 hand.
f. Wrap the short end of rope around the tail once.
g. Make a U-shaped fold of rope (a “bight”) in the short end, and push the fold through the rope that has been wrapped around the tail.
h. Pull on the long end to tighten the knot.
i. Release the quick-release knot by pulling on the short end of the rope

Question 44

Estimate weigh of horse and cattle

Answer 44

You can estimate the weight of a cow or horse using a special tape measurement device around
the girth. This method works for averaged sized cattle and horses. Be sure to use the correct
tape for the species you intend to weigh.
1. Hold onto the zero end of the weight tape.
2. Drop the tape over Dobbin’s back, just behind their triceps muscle mass and over the
whither.
3. Reach under the animal and grasp the tape.
4. Bring it up and in line with the zero.
5. The tape should run just behind the triceps muscle.
6. Pull snugly, but not tightly. On a live animal it should indent the skin slightly. Read the
weight on the tape.
7. Repeat twice and take an average.
8. This method works for average sized horses. It does not work for foals, minis or draft
horses.