Stable Management Flashcards
Why stable a horse?
Protection from the elements/themselves/theft/straying/other horses
To ease management
What are the 2 main types of stable?
Loose boxes (access directly to outside) Barns (access is within a building)
What is a major issue of deep littered barns?
Poor respiratory condition unless good ventilation
Describe the main features of looseboxes
Wooden/stone
Frequently in rows/yards
Individual stables with individual or shared airspaces
Describe the main features of an American barn stable
Individual stables within a larger barn
Usually wide central passageway - sliding doors maximise space
Shared air space or overhead forage/bedding storage
What is the minimum stable size for large horses?
12 x 14 ft
What is the minimum stable size for horses?
12 x 12 ft
What is the minimum stable size for large ponies?
10 x 12 ft
What is the minimum stable size for ponies?
10 x 10 ft
What is the minimum stable size for a foaling box?
14 x 14 ft
What is the minimum stable size for a donkey?
10 x 10 ft
What is the minimum stable size for average-sized donkeys kept in pairs?
100 sq ft of covered space
Do donkeys need to be kept in pairs?
Yes
Is a donkey coat waterproof?
No
What are the main examples of bad design features in stables?
Poor drainage
Poor ventilation
Poor furniture design
What considerations should be made in terms of positioning of a stable block?
Upwind of dust sources
Trees can provide shelter (but also block drains)
South-facing for sunlight in winter
Shelter from prevailing wind
Avoid steep slopes around boxes
What considerations should be made in terms of doorways of a stable block?
Wide and high to reduce trauma risks Half-hinged good for ventilation/confinement as required Grills Safety catches Kick bolts for extra security
What considerations should be made in terms of draining in a stable?
Slight slope to stable floor
Drainage grooves
Keep drains clear of shavings and leaves
What considerations should be made in terms of fixtures/fittings in a stable block?
Safe positions for tie-ring, water and feeders
Position hay nets on air outflow
Ideally feed everything from floor
Why should you feed a horse from the floor?
Stimulates respiratory tract drainage
So that allergens are left and floor level while horse chews
What considerations should be made in terms of illumination in stables?
Sunlight provides UV light which helps kill pathogens
Clear perspex roof provides illumination in daylight
Electric lights essential at night
How can stable lighting affect reproductive activity in mares?
Daylight hours manipulated to bring mares into oestrus early in the season (requires artificial lighting)
What considerations should be made in terms of stable ventilation?
Need air inlet and outlets
Cobwebs evidence poor ventilation
Insulation and ventilation are linked
How well do horses tolerate low temperatures?
Hypothermia highly unlikely in well fed, rugged individuals - more economical to insulate horse than stable
List some of the different bedding types for stables
straw shavings auboise wood pellets paper hemp rubber matting
Which factors will affect bedding choice?
Personal preference cost effectiveness local availability time maintaining type of horse dust (respiratory health)
What are the major stable pollutants?
Dust - carries allergens
Ammonia - locally irritant and reduces mucocillary clearance
How can you reduce dust exposure in stables?
Quality forage/bedding selection
Soaking forage
Mucking out without horse in stable
How can you reduce ammonia exposure in stables?
Using more absorbent bedding
Increase frequency of mucking out
What is involved in normal mucking out?
Remove all faeces and any wet/soiled bedding
Lift all bedding and place clean in one place, allow floor to dry
Sweep floor
Place remaining bedding on floor
Add fresh bedding to banks as required
Why should you allow the stable floor to dry completely before putting fresh bedding down?
reduces ammonia and mould formation
what is involved in mucking out deep litter?
removing droppings
fresh bedding put over existing
need to remove all bedding at intervals
why isn’t deep litter hygienic?
buildup of ammonia
hooves exposed to damp bedding - can encourage thrush
what stable measures can you impose to protect the respiratory system?
feed forage from floor level
soak any dusty forage
provide quality bedding and muck out daily (not with horse inside)
air egress/ingress on at least 2 sides
what stabling considerations should be made for hospitalised patients?
type of bed will depend on patient
recumbency/procedure
daily full muck out and 2+ skip out
complete disinfect between patients
muck heap away from stables
what stabling considerations should be made for hospital isolation facilities?
distant and downwind from other horses
have own mucking out equipment, feed store, grooming and veterinary equipment
everyone wears PPE
dirty bedding treated as clinical waste
complete empty, disinfect and test between patients
what are the golden rules when feeding horses?
always provide clean water
forage should make up most of diet
feed little and often
avoid sudden changes in diet - keep same daily routine
allow time between concentrates and exercise
what methods can be used to restrict grazing?
muzzle
strip grazing
track system
time restriction
what factors should be considerated when feeding hospitalised horses?
starve 2hr pre-op, wet meal post-op
cross-tied patients should be given supervised meals from floor (on lead rope)
variety of sizes/depths of bucket
weigh patients at entry/exit/weekly
what are the ways to exercise horse?
ridden lunged horse walker walked in hand/lead out turned out
what is the advantage of turning out a horse in an arena?
saves fields from trample
what are the disadvantages of turning out a horse in an arena?
grass seeds from hay nets getting into arena
faeces in surface
what grooming tasks should be carried out daily?
pick out feet
ensure areas where tack touches is clean before riding
optimum = full groom daily
what methods of fly management are there?
topical repellant spray/cream
rugs
face masks
fly fringes
