Test 9 Flashcards
How some knowledge of the care of a competition horse
Be aware of feed requirements and competition rules regarding prohibited substances.
Shoeing with stud holes and accustoms horse and rider to the use of studs.
Clipping is done more regularly, as are manes, tails and trimming of legs and whiskers.
A planned programme of suitable work is used in the run up to a competition.
Know what to take on a journey to a competition for an overnight stay
Make a list of equipment, clothing for you and horse, tack, feed, bedding, tools, paperwork, first aid etc.
Know how to look after a horse after a competition/outing
Competition aftercare
When you have finished riding whatever the competition or event is, your horse should, if hot, be allowed to cool off slowly. Remove any boots or bandages and tack, and unplait if necessary. If needed wash the horse off with warm water, scrape off surplus water with a sweat scraper and check for injury. Cover the horse with sweat rug or cooler rug. Allow to graze or tie up to eat hay. Offer a drink. Prepare for journey home. Once home remove travelling gear and put horse in stable with clean dry rugs and haynet and water. Most horses will stale as soon as they get in their own stable and may even roll. Leave horse to rest at least one hour before feeding.
Know why we clip and types of clip
There are various types of clips:
a. full clip - the whole coat is taken off
b. Hunter clip - the leg and a saddle area are left on
c. trace clip - hair is removed from the horse’s belly and lower neck and lower thigh
d. blanket clip - hair is removed from head and all the neck, the belly and lower thigh
e. bib clip - a very popular clip for the riding school horse, removes hair from the gullet down between the front legs and over the lower belly, very useful for horses living out. Less need to rug a horse with a bib clip, unless weather is very cold.
It is very important to clip accordingly to the type of horse and the work he is doing. Horses are clipped mainly in the winter months because they grow thick coats and sweat very easily therefore loosing condition. A clipped horse will dry a lot quicker than a horse with a woolly coat, therefore less chance of your horse catching a chill.
Some cobby type horses are clipped all year round as they tend to have a lot of hair.
Clip a horse
Check for safety first. An ideal floor for clipping is a rubber floored stable. If this is not possible, wear rubber-soled boots. You should also wear overalls, a hard hat and a face mask.
Before you start clipping make sure your horse is clean and dry and the bedding is up. Let the horse see the clippers when you turn them on. Don’t stand too close in case he jumps. Start at the shoulder moving the clippers against the lay of the coat. Do not force the clippers onto the coat - the weight of the clippers only should give you a smooth looking line. Whilst clipping keep your blades clean and oiled. Have someone to assist even if the horse is quiet, it is much easier to do tricky places like in the elbows if someone else can hold up a leg.
Know how to store and clean rugs
Before you store any rugs make sure they are clean and mended. Fold the rug and put it in a plastic bag. Store in a dry, vermin free container.
Have an awareness of stable and yard maintenance
You should be aware where things belong and any repairs that may need dealing with ie broken mucking out tools, squeaky wheelbarrows, loose kicking boards, screws missing from bolts and hinges, leaking taps, holes in roof, pest control, painting and using wood preserving liquid as necessary.
Knowledge of studs
Studs are small metal objects screwed into shoes to help stop the horse from slipping. There are various types of studs depending on the competition and the ground conditions. Horses wear either one or two in each shoe.
How to use:
Firstly have your farrier put stud holes in the shoe. Discuss it with hi and he will recommend if both front and hind are necessary. In your stud kit you will have a ‘tap’ as before you put studs in, the thread may need cleaning.
Firstly clean the hole with a nail or tool provided in the kit.
To avoid the holes becoming blocked they can be filled with Vaseline cotton wool or special hole stoppers.
Next, with the tap clean the thread. Make sure you keep and firm hold of the horse’s leg. Immediately put in the chosen stud and tighten with the ratchet tool.
When using studs always remember to remove them as soon as you’ve finished needing them as it will damage your horse’s legs to stand on any hard surface for any length of time in them. Road studs are the only ones not removed.
To remove studs reverse the process described above.
Name the three types of stud
Road stud
Jumping stud
Hard ground stud
