Module 2 Flashcards
Description of horses and ponies depends on identifying many features such
Sex
Height
Color
Marking
Age
Description
Is a young horse of either sex up to 1 year of age
Foal
Is a female less than 3 years old
Filly
Is a male less than 3 years old
Colt
A mature female, 4 years of age and older
Mare
Is a mature male, 4 year of age or older
Stallion
Male that is castrated
Gelding
A male horse that has retained one testicles within althea abdominal cavity
Rig
The points of the horses are used l for more accurate assessment of color and refer to:
-muzzle
-legs
-mane & tail
-eyelids
-tips of the ear
A horse with no white marking at all is termed
Whole colored
Horse marking includes:
Scars
Brands
Acquired marks ( from Injury or saddle sore)
Is a white mark on the forehead.
Star
Is a narrow white mark down the face which may be a continuation of a star
Stripe l
Is a wide covering of a white hair runing down the face over the nose
Blaze
Exaggerated blaze covering much of the horse’s face
White face
A white mark between the nostrils
Snip
Describes white skin covering both lips and nostrils
White muzzle
White skin at the edge of the lips
White upper lip and under lip
Describe an eye that is grey-blue in color, the right sight us unaffected
Wall eye
Describe the dark line found along the backbone of dun horses and donkeys
Dorsal stripe
Describe any stripes on the body
Zebra marks
Small areas formed by changes in the direction of hair growth, occurring on the head, neck, body and upper limbs.
Whorls
An obvious indentation in the muscle on the neck, shoulder or hindquarters said of good luck and often seen in Thoroughbred and Arabs
Prophet’s thumb mark
Patches of pink that grow white hair.
Flesh marks
Resulting in white hair are commonly used method of protecting horses against theft.
Freeze brands
It’s indicate breed or country of origin and may be situated on the neck, shoulder or quarters
Brands
May also be placed on the hooves or tattooed on the lips or gums.
Identification brands
White markings on the legs such :
Sock
Stocking
Leg
Black spots on the white marks are called
Ermine marks
Will note down a description of all markings and color on a sketch
Identification certificates
Actual breed is unknown then it may be described as a
Thoroughbred-type
Different horse type to survive in different climates known as :
Hotbloods
Cold bloods
Warm bloods
Sometimes referred to as blood horses,owning a high temperatures they developed fine skins and coats
Hotbloods
This includes heavier breeds such as draughts horses. They are heavier and more thick set with deep wide bodies and shorter legs to maintain their body heat.
Coldbloods
Result from crossbreeding hotbloods and coldbloods
Warmbloods
Refers to the horses inherited structure
Conformation
Conformation has two main aspects:
- Static conformation - the shape of horse
- Dynamic conformation - the way the horse moves.
If the upper jaw is longer lower it said to be ‘
Parrot mouthed
Upper jaw is shorter than the lower to be ‘
’ sow mouthed ‘
If neck dips down in front of the withers it is said to be a ‘
’ ewe necked ‘
If the withers are lower than the croup, the horse termed ‘
‘Croup high’
The line from the withers to the point of the shoulder is known ‘
‘Slope of shoulder’
Horses are Saud ti be when they are back at the knee
Calf knees
Horses are said to be when they appear to be forward from elbow to the top of the pastern
‘Over at knee’
The horse describe as “” on below the knee if the cannon bone is narrower just below the knee than just about the fetlock.
“Tied”
Forefeet toed in are known as ‘
“Pigeon toed”
Forefeet turned out are known as splayed footed
“Splayed footed”
A horse with flat ribs is known
“Slab sided”
Eight pairs of ribs knows as
True ribs
Strong but less comfortable for the rider
Short backs
Gives a more comfortable ride, but are more liable to injury
Long back
Often seen in older horses as a sign of age , but may sign if of weakness in young horses
Hollow backs
Arched upwards, these backs are uncomfortable for the rider even though they are strong
Roach back
High croup is known as a
‘Jumping bump’
Feet turned out and point of hocks close together
Cow hocks
Feet turned in and point of hocks wide apart
Bowed hocks
Excessive angulation of the hock with feet placed more towards the forelimbs.
Sickle hocks
Too little angulation of the hock and breed or type
Straight hocks
Hocks stand out behind the horse
Hock out behind
- Off hind 2. Off fore
- Near hind 4. Near fore
Walk
- Near hind 2. Off fore
- Off hind 4.Near fore
Trot
1.left hind
2 left fore and right hind qtogether
3. Right fore
Canter
Different types of faulty action
Exagerrated movements may lead to unsoundess:
Dishing
Planting
Forging
Over reaching
Brushing/ sleedinf cutting
Forefoot appears to be thrown out from below the knee, particularly at trot
Dishing
At walk and trot the horse places one foot in front of the other and is more often associated with narrow chest confomation.
Plaiting
The hind shoe strike the fore shoe and usually it may be corrected by good schooling to build up muscle.
Forging
The hind leg over extends and the toe cuts into the forelimb somewhere between the hell and knee
Over reaching
The hind feet pass close by to one another and may brush against each other
Brushing / speedy cutting
Five-stage vetting procedure
- Preliminary examination
- Trotting
- Strenuous exercise
- Period
- Second trot and foot examination
The vet may stand and observe the horse at rest quietly in its environment, allowing hear and breathing rates to return to normal
Stage 1: Peliminary examination
The horse is trotted on a fir, flat surface
Stage 2: trotting
The horse is exercise to the point of exertion not exhaustion
Stage 3: Strenuous Excersie
The horse is untacked and allowed to rest and stand quietly in the stable for 20-30mins.
Stage 4: Period of rest
The horse is brought out of the box and trotted away, and then vet is looking for the hood pattern axis, balance, uneven wear and state of sole and frog.
Stage 5: Second trot and foot examination
Is a defect that affect the usefulness of the horse.
Unsoundness
Is an imperfection that does not affect the usefulness of the horse.
Blemish
Because of long periods of idleness or poor handling, horses sometimes develop bad habits that are called
Vices
Most common vices
Cribbing
Wind sucking
Hatler pulling
kicking
Is a behavior in which a horse bites down on some part of a solid object called
Cribbing
Take place when a horses presses the upper front teeth on some object and pulls back
Wind sucking
Occurs when a horse pulls back against the hatler while tied
Hatler pulling
Another vices refers to the horse using its front feet to paw or dig.
Pawing
Is greatest important when selecting race and show horses.
Pedigree
Smaller than light horse
Ponies
Are larger than light horses
Draft horses
Horses should be selected on the basis of :
Confomation
Use
Age
Sex
Soundness
Five basic colors of horses
Bay
Black
Brown
Chestnut
White
Gaits of the horses are the way in ehich it moves. Common gaits :
Walk
Trot
Canter
Gallop
Stepping pace
