Horse

• Safely and appropriately approach a horse

  Enter the stable quietly and calmly, locking the stable door behind you.

  Make the horse aware of your presence.

  Don't enter any blind/kick zones as this is a health and safety hazard - never walk behind the horse at any time.
• Within a stable, restrain a horse to put a on a head collar and lead rope


  After approaching the horse appropriately, stand next to it on its left side, near the shoulder.

  Pass the lead rope around the horses neck to allow for some restraint.

  Place the nose band over the horse’s nose.

  Pull both cheek pieces up towards the ears and pass the headpiece over the horse’s head, behind the ears.

  Fasten the head collar using the buckle.
• Select and put on/remove a head collar and lead rope

  Be patient

  Select an appropriate size for the horse

  Lead rope should remain attached to the ring of the head collar for restraint.

  To remove, just undo the buckles and gently slip the head collar off the horses nose.
• Tie a quick release knot and identify an appropriate fixture to which to tie it.


  Knots shouldn’t be tied to a fixed point such as a metal ring, as this can’t break if the horse needs to escape.

  Instead, tie the knot to the stable twine through the ring as this would break under pressure if needed.
• What is the first step in putting on a rug?

  Select a stable rug
• Why should you lay the rug over your body?

  To prevent it dragging on the ground
• How should the surcingles be secured when putting on a rug?

  Tie them together in a knot
• Which hand should hold the head end of the rug?

  The right hand
• What should you do with the two ends of the rug?

  Meet them together in your left hand
• How should you hold the rug before entering the stable?

  Hold it on your arm like a waiter
• How should you approach the horse when placing the rug?

  Quietly and calmly
• Where should you unfold the first quarter of the rug?

  Over the horse's withers
• What direction should you aim the rug when unfolding it over the withers?

  Slightly too cranially
• What should you do with the remaining half of the rug?

  Unfold it backwards over the tail
• What should you do after unclipping the front of the horse?

  Move past it while holding the cheek straps of the head collar
• What should you do with the surcingles after placing the rug?

  Untie them and let them dangle loosely
• How should you return to the left side of the horse?

  The same way you approached
• Where should the breast strap be fastened?

  At the front of the horse
• How should the surcingles be fastened underneath the abdomen?

  Diagonally, crossing them over
• What should you do with the horse's tail when securing the rug?

  Lift it and place it through the fillet string
• What is the first step to remove the rug?

  Undo all straps
• How should the rug be folded when removing it?

  In half caudally over the back half of the horse
• Where should you remove the rug from?

  Over the horse's bottom
• Walk the horse between its stable and a trot up area

  Level with your horses left shoulder

  Hold rope under horses chin and loosely in other hand.

  Turn horses head away from you to push it round a corner

  Firm directional language

  Don‘t look at the horse
• Walk a horse away, turn, and then walk/trot the horse back


  ”Walk on” directional terms

  Push horses head round corner with “turn” instruction

  “TRRROT!” firmly, let go of chin rope hold and run next to horse keeping by its shoulder

  Hand back to chin rope and “Walk” to slow it down

  Round corner again by moving the head

  Walk back

  “Stop.”
• Select key components of a grooming kit and demonstrate their use


  Body brush

  • Used to remove dust and grease from within coat

  
• Select key components of a grooming kit and demonstrate their use

  Metal curry comb

  • Used to clean body brush
  • Not for use on horses

  
• Select key components of a grooming kit and demonstrate their use

  Dandy Brush

  • Used for removing dried mud
  • Not for use on the body of fine coated horses

  
• Select key components of a grooming kit and demonstrate their use


  Mane comb

  • Used to brush the horse’s mane and tail

  
• Select key components of a grooming kit and demonstrate their use


  Hoof pick

  • Used to remove mud and debris from within the hoof

  
• Select key components of a grooming kit and demonstrate their use

  Plastic curry comb

  • Can be used to remove dried mud

  
• Select key components of a grooming kit and demonstrate their use

  Sweat scraper

  • Used to remove water from the main muscle area of the horse’s body

  
• Select key components of a grooming kit and demonstrate their use

  Rubber curry comb

  • Used to remove loose hair and dried dirt

  
• Select key components of a grooming kit and demonstrate their use


  Stable rubber

  • Used to give a final polish to the horse

  
• Lift any limb of a horse and return it safely to the ground


  To pick up a front foot:

  Ensure the horse is aware of your presence

  Stand side on to the horse, facing caudally

  Run your hand down the caudal aspect of the leg

  Cup hand round the palmar aspect, behind the cannon bone

  If horse doesn’t lift its leg, say “up/pick up” and lean into the horse to encourage it to shift its weight.

  To lift up a back foot:

  Same as front, but run hand down cranial aspect of leg, and place hand over the dorsal aspect of the cannon bone.
• Pick out the hoof of a horse


  Pick up desired hoof using the appropriate technique.

  Hold the pick facing downwards, with the hook closest to your little finger and facing away from you.

  Pick from the heel towards the toe, being gentle around the sole and the frog. Never dig pick into frog - it is very soft.
• Apply a stable bandage to any leg of a horse


  Adopt a crouch position, do not kneel on the floor.

  Types of bandages

  • Stable: Wool/wool mix. Padding required.
  • Exercise: Elasticated. Padding required.
  • Tail: Elasticated. No padding required.

  Padding for a stable bandage - fibregee - large pad

  Wrap padding front to back, and roll bandage front to back, maintaining tension. Ensure fetlock is wrapped and that the bandage covers the distal band of the hock to the coronary band.
• Identify sites for intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous injection


  Intramuscular

  • Gluteals
  • Neck muscles
  • Pectorals

  Subcutaneous

  • Over the shoulder
  • Neck

  Intravenous

  • Jugular groove