Working with Horses Flashcards
What is the scientific name for a horse?
Equus Caballus
What are the 3 ‘bands’ that occur in horses social structure?
Harem/Offspring
- Stable core of mares ( >4 years old)
- 1+ Stallion
- Immature offspring
Mare & Offspring
- No stallions
- Together for around 6 months
Bachelor
- Young males
- Older males that are no longer in harem
What are the 3 modern uses of horses?
Companion
Athlete
Work
What is the underlying cause of the majority of horse problems?
Most issues with horses are man made as the way they now live goes against their instinctual and natural state.
What are the issues with human dictated ‘herds’?
- No natural bands
-Unstable hierarchy - Separated based on age and/or gender
Apart from herds what are other things that humans now dictate in a horses life that is unnatural?
Reproduction, exercise, diet, used individually, horse-to-horse contact
Why do most donkeys that are referred to the vet put down?
They are prey animals so they mask their pain so well that when it is finally noticed it is too late
What is the main way in which horses will communicate to each other?
Through their body language
This includes:
- facial expressions
- ear position and head height
- limb and tail movements
What is the less common way in which horses communicate and what are their main reasons for using this?
They will use vocalisation (whinny, squeal, nicker, snort) for dominance, discipline, danger or separation
Why do horses have strong flight or fight?
Because they are prey animals
What are the 5 main signs of low arousal (calm) in horses?
- Ears neutral
- Ears occasionally moving
- Head level with withers
- Resting hind leg
- ‘Droopy’ bottom lip
What are the 8 main signs of high arousal (excitement, stress, aggression) in horses?
- Head above withers (no longer level)
- Limbs moving
- Ears alert
- Ears flat against head
- Teeth bared
- Vocalisation
- Whites of eyes showing
- Tense neck muscles
What are the two types of vision that horses have?
Monocular
Binocular
Where are horses blind spots?
Directly in-front, behind or below their noses
What is binocular vision?
Seeing with two eyes together to form a single image
What is monocular vision?
The eyes work separately allowing a wider field of images on each side of the head
What is the ‘near-side’ of a horse?
Its left side
What is the ‘off-side’ of a horse?
Its right side
Which side of a horse do you always work from?
The ‘near-side’ (LEFT SIDE)
What are the two most common methods of restraining?
- Head collar and lead rope
- Bridle
What are 4 less common forms of restraint?
- ‘Chifney’
- Chemical (sedation)
- Holding one leg
- Neck or nose twitch
When, by law, are all equids required to have a passport?
6 months of age
What must an equine passport contain?
Record of routine vaccines
If horse is intended for human consumption
Written narrative with drawn silhouette
Breeding history
Microchip number and owner details
What organisations hold all horses passport info and microchip details and who manages this?
Held by: Central equine Database and National ChipChecker
Managed by: Equine Register for DEFRA
When writing a passport what must vets follow for certification and who supports the guidance on this?
10 Principle of Certification - RCVS
Can anyone make and certify an equine passport?
No, it must be done by a veterinary surgeon.
Where should microchips be placed?
In or adjacent to the nuchal ligament at the top of the left mid crest
What must you do prior to microchip implantation?
What must you do after implantation?
Scan the neck for presence of a microchip
Test that the microchip is functioning correctly
Re-scan the implantation site to confirm successful implantation
How should the microchip appear on the silhouette and on the narrative?
Silhouette: circled letter M, if the microchip moves the new location should be shown via an arrow attached to the microchip
Narrative: description of microchip location
What is the gestation period for horses?
When do horses hit puberty?
320-340 days
12-24 months
How would you describe these horses sex…
Female under 4 years
Female over 4 years
Uncastrated male under 4 years
Uncastrated male over 4 years
Castrated male of any age
Filly
Mare
Colt
Stallion
Gelding
What is the gestation period for a donkey?
When do donkeys hit puberty?
340 to 370 days
12-24 months
How would you describe these donkeys sex…
Female
Male
Jenny
Jack
What is the offspring from a Jack and a Mare called?
A mule
What is the offspring from a Stallion and a Jenny called?
Hinny
When measuring a horse what is one hand equal to?
4 inches
When measuring a horse where do you take the measurement from?
From the ground to the highest point of the withers
How many HH must a horse be to be considered a horse?
How many HH must a horse be to be considered a pony?
14.3 hh or over
14.2 hh or under
What are the definitions for these equine terms…
Yearling
Broodmare
Dam
Sire
Yearling: Horse between 12-24 months old (thoroughbreds, 1st jan after birth date)
Broodmare: female horse kept specifically for breeding
Dam: mother of horse/pony
Sire: father of horse/pony
When describing a horse what is the difference between type and breed?
The type of horse refers to its function, the breed of horse refers to what is is
ie. Breed: Shire horse
Type: Draught horse
What colour pen should be used to indicate a white marking on a passport silhouette?
Which pattern indicates a white marking on a passport silhouette?
If a white mark has a border of mixed colours and white hairs, how do you indicate this?
Red
Scores
Hatching
What are lay terms and can they be used when describing equine markings on a passport?
Lay terms are terms such as ‘sock’ and ‘stocking’ but these can NOT be used on the passport, they must be described using their anatomical location
Apart from white markings what are other characteristics that could be recorded on both the silhouette and narrative of the passport?
Flesh marks, ‘prophets thumb’, acquired marks eg. scars, brand, freeze mark, whorls, black spots on white markings
What are whorls and how are they drawn on the silhouette of the passport?
Whorls are areas of hair that change direction or flow and they are shown by marking an X
What are the two types of equine housing that exist?
Individual
- traditional stabling
- American barns
Group
- crew yards
What are the advantages to individual housing (especially traditional)?
What are the advantages to group housing?
They are ideal for box rest and prevention of disease spread
Allow more natural environment as horses are kept in small social groups
What would a well-designed stable include?
- suitable size (horse should be able to lie down both laterally and recumbently for REM sleep)
- adequate ventilation and drainage
- free from draughts and water damage
- allows free access to water (adults drink up to 50L a day)
How big should a stable be for horses over 14.3hh?
12ft by 12ft
What are the basic bedding requirements for horses?
Must be free from dust as its bad for the respiratory systems, must be non-edible (straw is a big no for bedding)
What is beneficial about ‘grass-kept’ horses?
Able to show natural behaviours like foraging, increases exercise and fitness, enables horse-horse contact, brakes up routine
What does good grassland management look like?
Access to fresh clean water, well-maintained field, regular removal of droppings to reduce risk of endoparasites, appropriate well-maintained fencing, natural or artificial shelter, appropriate stock density
What is the minimum numbers of acres recommended per horse?
1-1.5 acres
What are some of the consequences associated with poor grassland management?
reduced access to appropriate nutrition, increased risk of injury and disease, increased risk of endoparasites, development of undesirable behaviour
What is a poached field?
A field with lots of churned up mud resulting in no grass and a high risk of injury or illness
What causes mud fever in horses?
Standing constantly in wet soggy mud (shows as red sores just above hoof)
What are 3 poisonous plants for horses that can be found in the UK?
Ragwort, Oak, Sycamore
What is the mortality of ragwort, oak and sycamore for horses if ingested?
Ragwort: Fatal due to late onset clinical signs
Oak: Severe illness (must consume large quantities)
Sycamore: Rapid onset of clinical signs, deterioration within 6-12 hours, mortality rate of 75%
What are the lasting effects ragwort digestion can cause to horses?
Irreparable liver damage
What in oak/acorns causes illness to horses once ingested and what does it cause?
Tannic acid, it causes signs of colic and/or can kill them due to toxicity
Why must ragwort be removed before it flowers?
Once it flowers it is already releasing seeds
What in sycamore causes illness in horses?
The toxin Hypoglycin-A or HGA
How many sycamore seeds must horses consume for it to be fatal?
30g
Why do horses eat sycamore seeds?
They only chose to eat them when there isn’t enough grazing available to them
What does routine pasture management involve?
Frequent removal of droppings (removes worms found in poo so horses don’t ingest them again)
Fertilising and ‘topping’ pasture
‘Resting’ paddocks
Routine harrowing
What are the essential daily checks that must occur to maintain good grassland?
Checking water access
Checking fence damage
Checking for, debris, poisonous plants, rubbish etc.
What are the main impacts that horses have on the environment?
- Overgrazing and/or overstocking
- High parasite burden due to high faecal load
- Destruction of turf
- Disposal of waste bedding
- Carcass disposal
How can equine carcasses be disposed?
- Cremation
- Abattoir
- Hunt kennels
(- They cannot usually be buried)
