management and nutrition

• box-stall


  provides the horse with freedom to move around and thus obtain some exercise even when housed
• tie-stall


  Uses considerably less space and can house more animals in a given size barn;

  Reduce slightly the work associated with manure removal, especially with mares
• box-stalls (floors)


  packed clay or earth
• tie-stalls (floor)


  concrete or wood laid on top concrete
• wood


  difficult to keep clean, odor problem
• concrete


  tend to be slippery when wet; causes stiffness and excessive hoof wear
• 8 ft

  minimum ceiling height for small barns
• 9 1/2 ft


  suggested when tractor is used in the center alley to bring feed into the barn or to remove manure
• 12 ft


  recommended if a horse is to be mounted inside the barn
• straw


  best for use in a foaling box
• wheat straw


  first straw preference
• barley straw


  tends to be eaten and has barley awns
• oat straw 


  too expensive
• rye straw


  tends to be too long
• flax hemp


  -Dust extracted, (for animals with COPD), highly absorbent and bio-degradable
• rubber flooring


  Requires well-drained flooring
• equine management practices

  • Identification
  • Daily Maintenance (Grooming, Waste Removal, Exercise)
  • Castration
  • Breeding Management
  • Lactating Foal Management
  • Weaning
  • Management of Weanlings¡
  • Caring for the Aged Horse
  • Record Keeping
• identification: permanent physical traits

  • Body Markings-Chestnuts , cowlicks, dimples
  • Head Markings
  • Leg Markings
  • Body Color
• lip tattoo


  ¡consist of a letter which corresponds to the year the horse was born and a number which matches the registration number.
• lip tattoo


  •most commonly places on the inner upper lip
• freeze branding


  has many advantages over fire branding. A freeze brand produces minimal changes in the hide, is more distinct and legible, does not produce an open wound, and is relatively painless
• freeze branding


  is used by the Arabian Registry to identify purebred Arabians. An "A" is placed in the first position of the system of marks to indicate "Arabian."
• dark coated


  placed on skin for few seconds, hair grows white
• light coated


  placed on skin for 45 seconds, hair don’t grow back brand is hairless
• hot iron branding


  oldest method of permanent iden
• blood typing 


  •8 blood types; A,C,D, K, P, Q, T, U
• microchipping


  use transponders about the size of grain enclosed in a glass vial implanted on the left nuchal ligament; transponder contains 15-digit alphanumeric code that can be read by radiofrequency indenfication (RFID) reader
• grooming

  • Removes excess dirt and hair
  • Allows for regular inspection for injuries, swellings, and abnormalities
• quartering


  Less comprehensive grooming to prepare the horse for exercise
• exercise horses at least

  60 mins per day
• castration


  ¡Performed on 12-18 months old colts to make them more tractable and easier to handle
• gelding


  castrated before reaching sexual maturity
• stag


  castrated after reaching sexual maturity
• ridgeling


  – laymans term for cryptorchid horse
• castration methods

  • Standing or Under General Anesthesia
  • Open or Closed (using an emasculator)
  • Immunocastration (anti-GnRH vaccination)
• castration after care

  • keep horse quiet in small paddock for 18-24 hrs after surgery
  • Force exercise for 20 minutes twice a day from day 2 for a minimum of 2 weeks
  • Observe for excessive bleeding, swelling, or discharge, depression, fever, decreased appetite, refusal to move or stiffness, draining after 3 weeks and intestinal herniation
  • 25% will still have stallion like behavior
• equine health care management

  Biosecurity

  Vaccination

  Parasite Control

  Dental Care

  Foot Care

  Nutrition
• anaphylaxis


  -Can result in collapse or even death-Extremely rare
• major parasites of horses

  Large Strongyles (bloodworms)

  Small strongyles

  Ascarids (hookworms)

  Pinworms

  Bots

  Tapeworms

  Threadworms

  Lungworms
• methods of administration

  -Oral paste syringe

  -Nasogastric tubing

  -Feed additive