Yard & Pasture Management

Question 1

Stable dimensions sizes?

Answer 1

Stable dimensions sizes?

.Pony under 13hh = 3mx3m or 10ftx10ft

.Pony under 14.2hh = 3mx3.7m or 10ftx12ft

.Horse up to 16hh = 3.7mx3.7m or 12ftx12ft

.Horse over 16hh = 3.7mx4.2m or 12ftx14ft

.Walls should be at least 3.7m or 12ft high

Question 2

Stable walls?

Answer 2

Stable walls?

.Bricks make good solid walls but can be expensive

.Breeze blocks are relatively inexpensive, use metal rods which are set in the concrete floor and go up through the breeze blocks to strengthen walls.

.Wood walls should be lined with wooden kick boards up to a height of 1.2m or 4ft for strength and security.

Question 3

Stable roof?

Answer 3

Stable roof?

.Should slope to allow rain water to run off to the guttering. Ensure adequate guttering & down pipes are used ideally above a drain & both kept clean.

.Should be strong, noiseless, non - flammable and maintain an even temperature in all weathers (insulation in the roof will help maintain an even temperature).

.Suitable materials = tiles and slates.

.Roofing felt is water proof.

.Corrugated plastic maintains an even temperature all year & is fairly quiet but not clear plastic.

Question 4

Stable flooring?

Answer 4

Stable flooring?

.Should be non - slip, impervious to moisture, hard - wearing & not strike cold.

.Common is concrete, which is roughened to prevent the horse from slipping. A herringbone pattern set in the concrete aids drainage.

.Rubber matting designed to be used with minimal or no bedding material.

.Have a downwards slope of 1 in 60 towards the rear of the stable, leading to an external drain. There should be an open drain, protected with a grid outside the stable. The gutter leading to the drain should have a 1 in 40 slope.

Question 5

Doors?

Answer 5

Doors?

.Stable door minimum 1.2m (4ft) wide & 2.1m (7ft) high.

.Should be two halves, opening outwards.

.Must have top bolt & kick bolt at the bottom.

.Bottom door should have metal strip to prevent the horse from chewing the wood.

Question 6

Fixtures & fitting?

Answer 6

Fixtures & fittings?

.Tying rings - there should be a tying ring at the horse’s eye level & another just above his eye level for tying up the haynets.

.Rings need to be securely fitted into the wall & must have a weak link (a loop of baler twine) for tying the horse. Haynets tied to ring not twine.

Question 7

Feed bowls?

Answer 7

Feed bowls?

.Hard wearing, difficult to knock over, easy to clean and no sharp edges.

.Heavy duty rubber or plastic bowls fulfil these criteria.

.Take out of the stable once eaten.

.Use wall manger if horse kicks bowl over, fit next to door in the corner, so you can feed easily, or place a hook manger over the door.

Question 8

Water supply?

Answer 8

Water supply?

.Constant supply of clean, fresh water.

.Heavy duty rubber buckets or automatic drinkers.

.All water buckets & bowls must be kept clean & free of hay or straw & scrubbed & rinsed daily.

Question 9

Automatic waterers disadvantages are?

Answer 9

Automatic waterers disadvantages are?

.You cannot monitor the amount of water the horse is drinking.

.Pipes freeze in winter

.Bowls can clog with food & hay

.If bowl becomes uneven the bowl over flows & bedding gets soaked.

.Bowls small & take time to refill so can discourage a thirsty horse from drinking.

Question 10

Lighting?

Answer 10

Lighting?

.Electric lights in stables & yard. Need to be well maintained & encased in approved casings.

.Bulbs protected by a metal grille & clean.

.Windows & doors for lighting during the day.

Question 11

Ventilation?

Answer 11

Ventilation?

.Change the air in the stable frequently. If not ventilated the air will become stale, warm & affect the respiratory system as not enough clean air is coming in.

.Use rugs if the horse is cold but never close the top door.

.Window should be on the same side as the door to prevent a cross draught.

.Ventilation cowls & tubes can be fitted in roof.

.Bad ventilation causes stale air which is co2, ammonia & dust.

Question 12

Barn stabling?

Answer 12

Barn stabling?

.Barn conversion must have ventilation, should be light & airy.

.Must have fire safety equipment in barn.

Question 13

Paddock management?

Answer 13

Paddock management?

.Size - one acre per horse is the minimum land requirement. Ideal size 1.5 - 4 acres per horse or 0.5 - 1.5 hectares.

.More than 1 acre per horse so parts can be left to rest.

.Away from main roads.

.Flat as possible & near yard.

.Factors which affect the amount of land;

• quality of grass
• stabled or not
• ponds or boggy patches
• number of horses

Question 14

Soil types?

Answer 14

Soil types?

• Sand
• Medium loam & clay
• Loam soils are most common

.The quality & feed value of grasses grain on a paddock depends on the balance of nutrients being present in the soil.

Question 15

Soil nutrients?

Answer 15

Soil nutrients?

.Water .Nitrogen(N) .Phosphorus(P)

.Potassium(K)

.Calcium(Ca) - also controls soil acidity

.If soil becomes water logged oxygen will be lost

.Horse pasture must not be overloaded with quick acting phosphate.

Question 16

Fertiliser types?

Answer 16

Fertiliser types?

.Organic - seaweed, manure, blood, hoof, bone & meat meals.

.Semi-organic - organic mixed with inorganic nutrients. Good for horse pasture.

.Inorganic - metal carbonates

Question 17

Drainage?

Answer 17

Drainage?

.Is important as good drainage reduces poaching. Well drained soils get oxygen to help roots grow.

.Ditches must be checked for blockages and must be fenced.

.Underground drainage - improves quality of land.

Question 18

Grasses?

Answer 18

Grasses?

.There must be a balance between too much fibre & not enough.

.A mixture of early & late heading grasses are good for spring & summer.

.30lb of seed per acre.

Question 19

Weeds?

Answer 19

Weeds?

.Paddocks must be kept as free of weeds as possible because they spread using up valuable ground for grass.

.Most are not eaten & some are poisonous.

.The injurious weed order - must eradicate some weeds from your land.

.Weeds in the IDO - dock, creeping thistles & spear thistles, ragwort (poisonous), nettles, chickweed, buttercups (poisonous when fresh).

Question 20

Toxic plants?

Answer 20

Toxic plants?

.Alkaloids - organic compounds that are toxic to horses in varying degrees.

.Types;

• Ragwort
• Groundsel
• Laburnum, broom & lupins
• Bracken
• Buttercups
• Hemlock
• Foxglove

Question 21

Ragwort?

Answer 21

Ragwort?

.Yellow flowered plant with lobed leaves.

.Around from July to Sep.

.Only buy hay from a farmer you know does not have ragwort.

.The alkaloid in ragwort causes permanent liver damage as it stops the liver from repairing itself.

.No cure

Question 22

Groundsel?

Answer 22

Groundsel?

.Contains the same poisonous alkaloid as ragwort but smaller quantities.

Question 23

Laburnum, broom & lupins?

Answer 23

Laburnum, broom & lupins?

.These all come from the same family of legumes & contain alkaloids, which are fatal in small quantities.

.Seeds most poisonous

.Poisoning results in convulsions & coma prior to death.

.Lupins - horses that have eaten highly toxic lupins die from respiratory failure. Lupins can also cause lupinosis a fungal disease causing liver damage.

Question 24

Bracken?

Answer 24

Bracken?

.Horses will have to eat a large amount of bracken before symptoms of poisoning are seen.

.Contains the toxin thiaminase that attacks vitamin B. Giving a vitamin B supplement and the horse should recover.

Question 25

Buttercups?

Answer 25

Buttercups?

.Are poisonous in large quantities.

.Once dried the protoanemonin is destroyed so in hay they are fine.

Question 26

Hemlock?

Answer 26

Hemlock?

.Contains alkaloids & all parts are poisonous.

.Is fatal

.Symptoms include - inactive, coma like state & paralysis followed by death.

Question 27

Foxglove?

Answer 27

Foxglove?

.Are more palatable if eaten in hay.

.Digitalis in it causes contracted pupils, convulsions, dyspnoea & death.

.Small amounts can kill approx 100g.

Question 28

Toxic trees & hedges?

Answer 28

Toxic trees & hedges?

.Yew

.Oak

.Rhododendron

.Privet

.Laurd

.Box

Question 29

Yew tree?

Answer 29

Yew tree?

.Most toxic plant in British isles.

.Extremely dangerous tree can be easily identified by red berries.

.All is toxic even when dried.

.One mouthful approx can cause cardiac arrest within minutes.

.Symptoms - trembling, dyspnoea & collapse.

.No antidote.

Question 30

Oak tree?

Answer 30

Oak tree?

.Leaves & acorns are poisonous.

.Acorns contain a large amount of tannic acid, which causes dullness, lack of appetite or colic.

Question 31

Rhododendron?

Answer 31

Rhododendron?

.Usually seen in gardens & should be fenced off or removed from horse pasture.

.Small quantities are extremely toxic & causes the respiratory system to fail.

Question 32

Fencing?

Answer 32

Fencing?

.Height approx 1.5m (4ft 6in) high.

.Lower part of fence should not be too low.

.Ideally all corners should be rounded off to prevent horses being cornered or running into it.

.Leave space Inbetween each field so horses don’t fight.

.Barbed wire should never be used in horse paddocks.

Question 33

Fencing post & rails?

Answer 33

Fencing post & rails?

.Ideally all posts & rails should be made from hardwood.

.Posts should be sunk at least 75cm (2ft 6in) into the ground & the base of the posts must be treated with a non-toxic preservative i.e. creosote.

.The top of the posts should be cut on a slant to encourage rain water to run off.

.Nailing on should always be done from the inside to prevent a horse from leaning on it if loose.

.Posts should be at least 2m (6ft 6in) in length for a fence 1.2m (4ft) high & each rail should span three posts. The top rail should be level with the end of the post to lessen the risk of injury.

Question 34

Sawn rails?

Answer 34

Sawn rails?

.Must be a minimum of 75x38mm (3x2 1/2in)

Question 35

Hedging?

Answer 35

Hedging?

.Hedges make good fencing provided they are very thick.

.Gaps should be fenced.

.The best fencing for horses would be hedging lined entirely with post & rails.

.Hedging provides a wind break e.g. Hawthorn & beech.

.Yew, privet, laurd & box must not be used as poisonous to horses

Question 36

Gates?

Answer 36

Gates?

.Should be hung so they can open & swing easily without scraping the ground or crashing wildly open or shut.

.The hanging posts must be substantial and in concrete.

.Must be safe so a horse cannot get legs stuck & high to stop jumping.

.Drain the gateways & put down a hard base to prevent poaching.

Question 37

Shelter?

Answer 37

Shelter?

.An open-fronted three sides shelter is ideal.

.It should face south-west & sit on a concrete base which should extend to prevent poaching.

.Opening must be wide.

Question 38

Water supply?

Answer 38

Water supply?

.Troughs (self-filling) type is ideal. Buckets stand in two old car tyres to stop from being kicked over.

.Have rounded edges to prevent injury.

.Tap must be covered to prevent injury.

.Must be cleaned regulary.

.Pipes should be lagged

.If iced it should be broken & removed at least three times a day & filled with water.

.Concrete the area around the trough & use shingle on it.

Question 39

Stream?

Answer 39

Stream?

.Check is not polluted

.Has a stony base not sandy if not it should be fenced off & ponds should always be fenced off so horses won’t get stuck.

Question 40

Considerations for paddocks?

Answer 40

Considerations for paddocks?

.Make sure the field is well drained.

.Have the soil analysed & deficiencies corrected.

. Fertilise & lime as necessary.

.Make sure the sward consists of useful & palatable grasses.

.Clear field of weeds & toxic plants.

.Yearly harrowed, fertilised & limed to promote good grass growth.

Question 41

Paddock daily checks?

Answer 41

Paddock daily checks?

.Fencing

.Holes

.Toxic plants

.Droppings

Question 42

Horse droppings?

Answer 42

Horse droppings?

.Regular removal of droppings helps to reduce the numbers of worm larvae on the grass stalks, prevents wastage of grazing & improves the appearance.

.Horses will not graze around faeces.

.Yearly harrowed, fertilised & limed to promote good grass growth.

Question 43

Pasture management?

Answer 43

Pasture management?

.Nov - Jan = turn horses out on the best drained paddock only to save all other paddocks from poaching.

.Feb - April = soil analysis check pH. Ideal pH is 6.5. Lime every 3-6 years. Harrow, fertilise, re-seed & roll. Rest to establish new grass. If a hay crop is to be taken, clean the pasture, eradicate weeds & fertilise the rest. Treat wooden fencing with preservative.

.May - July = repair & strengthen fencing. Ground dry to allow heavy machinery on. First crop of hay may be ready. Keep all weeds under control.

.Aug - Oct = harrowing may be done in dry weather only. Seeding may be done in autumn. Attend to drainage.

Question 44

General care of the horse?

Answer 44

General care of the horse?

.Horses out at grass must be checked at least twice a day for any injuries or lameness.

.If a horse is standing alone check them if not grazing to see if they are okay.

.In hot weather, horses will stand head to tail flicking flies from each others faces & groom with their teeth.

.All horses should be freeze marked, microchipped & have a passport.

Question 45

Spring?

Answer 45

Spring?

.In the late spring the grass normally starts to grow & can become very rich & lush. At this point some horses get fat & may need a small fenced off area to graze.

.Laminitis - if a horse has access to a lot of grass, there is a risk he will eat too much & get Laminitis, an ailment which affects the blood supply & tissues within the sensitive laminae of the hooves. Causes great pain & lameness.

.Horses prone to laminitis should be restricted from grass.

.Sweet itch - horses who suffer cannot be outside at dawn or dusk, so can only go out for a few hours during the middle of the day.

Question 46

Summer?

Answer 46

Summer?

.During a very dry summer the grass may not grow well, so horses may need hay or feed.

.Horseflies bite, so fly repellents & masks are good.

.Shade & shelter from the sun is essential, so stabling may be good when hot.

.Troughs - should be emptied & scrubbed out once a week because algae grows more quickly in warm, sunny weather.

Question 47

Autumn?

Answer 47

Autumn?

.The grass is not normally as abundant & starts to lose its feed value.

.Later in autumn you must start feeding hay to supplement the diet.

.Thin skinned horses may need a new Zealand rug.

.A late flush of grass & the first frost can trigger laminitis.

Question 48

Winter?

Answer 48

Winter?

.When winter arrives the grass has no feed value & may be frozen or covered in snow.

.Horses must have lots of hay & if riding feed too i.e. cubes, sugar beet pulp, chaff.

.Avoid haynets in fields as horses can get caught in them.

.Check pipes are not frozen & remove ice from troughs three times a day.

.Check horse is warm enough. Signs are shivering, staring coat, tips of ears cold, head hanging low.

.Mud fever & cracked heels watch for.

Question 49

How to warm up a horse?

Answer 49

How to warm up a horse?

.Thick, dry turn out rug & maybe under rug.

.High carbohydrate feed & lots of hay.

.Walking for 20 mins & rugged after.

.Bring into stable

.Check rug is waterproof & if soaked replace. Regular re-proofing with a water repellent spray or cream.

Question 50

Health & safety while turning out & in?

Answer 50

Turning out & in?

.Wear gloves to avoid rope burns

.Close gate properly

.Lead the horse away from the gate & turn them so they’re facing the gate before leaving.

.Don’t leave head collar on but if you have to use a leather one as this would break if caught.

.Speak to horse when catching so they know you are there & approach at left shoulder.

Question 51

Working/ riding?

Answer 51

Working/ riding?

.Working/ riding too fast on a full stomach of grass can lead to colic.

.Horse must be dry before tacking up

Question 52

How to dry a horse fast?

Answer 52

How to dry a horse fast?

.Thatch - place lots of clean straw over the horses body & put a sweat rug on.

.Put more straw under the sweat rug & hold in position with a surcingle.

.After approx 45 mins he should be dry or use a thermal rug.

Question 53

Over grooming?

Answer 53

Over grooming?

.Grass kept horse developes a greasy coat for warmth & waterproofing.

.Too much grooming, particularly with a BODY BRUSH, will remove this important grease.

Question 54

Grooming grass kept horse?

Answer 54

Grooming grass kept horse?

.Pick out feet

.Brush mud off with currycomb but never wet mud as it pushes the mud into the skin & can cause mud fever.

.Brush main & tail

Question 55

After riding?

Answer 55

After riding?

.Winter - put thermal rug on & allow him to cool & dry off before putting the turn out rug on.

.Summer - wash them off & scrape off the surplus water then turn out.

Question 56

Look at yard & pasture management file on laptop for more info

Answer 56

Look at yard & pasture management file on laptop for more info