Horses

Question 1

Name two breeds of horse that are hot blooded and their measurements

Answer 1

• Arab and thoroughbred. 14-16HH, 350-550kg. 15-17HH, 400-650kg.

Question 2

Name two breeds of horse that are warm bloods and their measurements

Answer 2

• Dutch warmblood and Oldenburg. 14.2-17.5HH, 400-650kg.

Question 3

Name two breeds of horse that are cold bloods and their measurements

Answer 3

• Clydesdale, shire and Cleveland bay. 16-19HH, 650-1100kg.

Question 4

At what height does a pony become a horse?

Answer 4

• Over 14.2HH.

Question 5

Why is a lighting regime used in horse fertility

Answer 5

• Mares are seasonal polyoestrous animals. They are long day breeders as they are sexually receptive in spring. The decreasing melatonin stimulates GnRH and so cyclicity occurs during long daylight hours.
• The light period in breeding horses should be increased to 16 hours a day. At the end of the day, switch on the lights 30 minutes before sunset. Automatic timers are useful to ensure constant lighting. This has an effect in 60-90 days.

Question 6

Describe the oestrus cycle of the mare

Answer 6

• The normal oestrus cycle is 21 days. Oestrus has a mean duration of 3-7 days. Ovulation occur 24-48 hours before the end of oestrus. The corpus luteum is not palpable and a 2nd follicular wave is possible. Ovulation occurs if the follicle is over 35mm.

Question 7

Why is an injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin given immediately after covering?

Answer 7

• hCG readies the follicle for ovulation.

Question 8

What things are listed on a horse passport

Answer 8

• Name, age, sire and dam of the horse, breed, microchip number, vaccinations details.

Question 9

Why is the conceptus present in the uterine body and then in the left horn?

Answer 9

• The equine conceptus attaches to the uterine wall by fixation on day 16. Until this point, the conceptus moves between the uterine horns and body.

Question 10

When did horse passports become compulsory

Answer 10

• Under the horse passport regulations act of 2009.

Question 11

What are the methods of diagnosing pregnancy in the mare

Answer 11

• Ultrasound can be used to diagnose pregnancy from day 11.
• Manual palpation via rectal exam can be used. From day 30, the foetus is egg sized and by day 50 it is the size of a grapefruit.
• Blood endocrinology can be used from day 40 to assess the blood concentrations of eCG. This is used from day 40 as eCG production begins once the endometrial cups form on days 35 of the pregnancy.

Question 12

What are the signs of oestrus in the mare

Answer 12

• Less time devoted to eating and drinking
• Elevated tale
• Opening and closing of the vulval flap “winking”
• Reduced levels of activity

Question 13

What are the signs of parturition in the mare

Answer 13

• Udder increases in size 3-6 weeks before parturition
• Teat waxing occurs 6-48 hours prior to parturition
• Ligaments soften
• Drop in body temperature
• Last weeks before parturition sees a decline in oestrogen and an increase in progesterone

Question 14

How do we assess passive transfer of immunoglobulins in the foal

Answer 14

• Colostrum quality can be assessed by using a hydrometer- this assesses the specific gravity of colostrum and correlates it with protein and IgG content. Refractometers can also be used to assess colostrum quality.
• The zinc sulphate turbidity test can be used in the foal. Zinc sulphate is mixed with colostrum and a precipitate forms.

Question 15

What actions should be taken with the mare before mating

Answer 15

The mare is teased with a vasectomised stallion. The horses are presented head to head and then the stallion is allowed to sniff the back end. hCG or deslorelin is given and over 90% of females ovulate in under 48 hours. Post service check are provided at 24 hours to confirm ovulation and check for persistant mating induced endometritis (PMIE).

Question 16

What actions should be taken with the stallion before mating

Answer 16

penis should be washed immediately before covering the mare. Use a teaser mare to arouse the male. Erection occurs in less than 2 minutes and the stallion is ready to mount 5-10 seconds after erection. Ejaculation occurs after 5- 6 pelvic thrusts. The stallion is also trained for in hand breeding.

Question 17

How big is the follicle at the time of ovulation? How much does the follicle grow each day? What changes occur in the follicle before ovulation?

Answer 17

• The follicle must be over 35mm in order to ovulate.
• The follicle grows by a rate of 3-5mm per day.
• The follicle becomes tear drop shaped within 24 hours of ovulation. Follicle becomes softer within 6-12 hours of ovulation. Slight thickening of the follicular wall occurs 24 hours prior to ovulation.

Question 18

What is the aftercare for the foal?

Answer 18

• The naval of the foal should rupture within 6-8 minutes and leave a 3-5cm stump. This should be disinfected with chlorhexidine.

Question 19

colostrum requirements

Answer 19

in the first 20 minutes of the animals life, the animal requires 5% of its body weight as colostrum.

Question 20

What are the nutritional requirements of the mare?

Answer 20

• Maintenance energy of horses= (1.4 + 0.03 x BW) x 4.18
• Early gestation energy= maintenance energy only
• Late gestation (9-11 months)= maintenance + 20%
• Early lactation energy= maintenance + 50%
• Late lactation= maintenance + 25%
• Stallion during breeding season= maintenance + 25%

Question 21

Grass based nutrition?

Answer 21

• Horse appetite= 2.5-3% of body weight
• Forages= grass= can be used to provide maintenance energy. Each horse needs 2 acres of grass land. The grass should be poo picked and the ragwort removed.
• Hay= grass or alfalfa. Should be mould and dust free.
• Haylage= reduced dust. Spoils once opened. Increased nutrient density, digestibility and palatability.
• Straw= oat straw is preferred. Introduce gradually as it can cause a colon impaction. Ideal for dieting animals. Needs protein supplementation. Should not be used in pregnant animals.

Question 22

4 housing types

Pros and cons of each

Answer 22

Traditional loose box. Some social intervention. Shared air space(disease transmission)
American barn. Social interaction. Shared air
Tether stalls. Better for work horses. Require training
Communal barn. Easy management, esp. young stock. Easier for disease transmission.

Question 23

Hoof care

Answer 23

Pick daily, before and after exercise
Trimmed and shoed every 6-8 weeks
Farrier has to be registered.

Question 24

Forage proportion of diet
Maintenance
Work- light, moderate, intensive
Late gestation
Lactation

Answer 24

Maintenance 80-100%
Work- light 80-90% moderate 50-80% intensive 30-50%
Late gestation 50-60%
Lactation 40-60%

Question 25

Common feeds
Hay
Haulage
Straw

Answer 25

Hay, low DM, High ME. Mould and dust free
Haylage. 50% DM, high ME and protein. Spoils once opened
Straw. Very high DM, very low ME. colon impaction. Ideal for dieting animals. Not for pregnant animals

Question 26

Consideration when feeding cereals with regards to minerals?

Answer 26

Ca:P balance. Should be 2:1

Question 27

3 underlying reasons for energy imbalances

Answer 27

Decreased energy uptake
High energy requirements
Combination of the two.

Question 28

5 causative factors for negative energy balance

Answer 28

Low food quantity
Decreased appetite
Low ability to prehend food eg dental problems
High energy loss
High energy requirements

Question 29

Body compositions

Answer 29

60 water
20 protein
12 fat
7 mineral
1 carbohydrate

Question 30

Re feeding syndrome

Answer 30

Re introduction of CHO food
Rapid increase in blood glucose and insulin
Drives glucose into cells with Mg and K
Hypophosphataemia- neuromuscular/ cardiac dysfunction