Equine Husbandry

Question 1

What does standing or lying mean in a horse

Answer 1

Standing is normal for a healthy, bar horse. Lying down is only usually frequent in foals.

Question 2

Explain good/bad defaecation and normal urine

Answer 2

Good faeces are brown/green and regular on an indoor diet, grazing diets produce greener looser faeces. Bad faeces are watery and loose…Normal urine is a strong yellow colour

Question 3

How do you take the pulse? What is the normal rate?

Answer 3

By placing the two fingers on the transverse facial artery on the mandible. Normal rate is 35-45 bpm. Fitter horses may be lower, and while exercising can go as fast as 200.

Question 4

Explain MM

Answer 4

MM should be a salmon colour, with CRT being < 2 seconds. Pale would indicate anaemia, and yellow jaundice.

Question 5

Taking temp

Answer 5

Should be done with digital thermometer and lube. Normal is 37-38 degrees, Always stand in front of hid leg and always watch how the animal reacts to your presence.

Question 6

Respiratory rate

Answer 6

Normal is 8-16 or 10-25. If elevated it is usually due to the horses reaction to it’s environment. Can cause COPD which gives nasal discharge in the stable, should be given wood shavings without saw dust added.

Question 7

Skin health

Answer 7

Healthy skin should be able to pull the back and spring back quickly.
Health conditions: ring worm: oval/round patch where skin is lost
Sweet itch: scratching on maine/tail because they’re allergic to the saliva of midge

Question 8

Bedding

Answer 8

Should not be badly disturbed, if so it can indicate that the horse had colic during the night - abdominal pain