basic equine care kristen m. wilson regional extension horse specialist mce equine in-service...
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Basic Equine CareBasic Equine Care
Kristen M. WilsonKristen M. WilsonRegional Extension Horse SpecialistRegional Extension Horse Specialist
MCE Equine In-ServiceMCE Equine In-ServiceFebruary 12, 2008February 12, 2008
Areas To ConsiderAreas To Consider
• Horse BehaviorHorse Behavior
• HousingHousing
• NutritionNutrition
• HealthHealth
Why think like a horse?Why think like a horse?
• To be safeTo be safe
• To make a horse feel relaxedTo make a horse feel relaxed
• To have a satisfying experienceTo have a satisfying experience
• To achieve goalsTo achieve goals
Prey vs. PredatorPrey vs. Predator
• Evolved as small mammals whose Evolved as small mammals whose survival depended on their ability to survival depended on their ability to flee from predatorsflee from predators
• Same survival instincts are in today’s Same survival instincts are in today’s modern horsemodern horse
• Natural behavioral patterns are Natural behavioral patterns are linked to their prey statuslinked to their prey status
Fight or FlightFight or Flight
• Flee first and ask questions laterFlee first and ask questions later
• Distance must be put between the Distance must be put between the horse and the situation/objecthorse and the situation/object
• Use all senses to investigate their Use all senses to investigate their surroundingssurroundings
• Must recognize a horse’s curiosity Must recognize a horse’s curiosity and take steps to reduce accidentsand take steps to reduce accidents
Safety in NumbersSafety in Numbers
• Very social animalsVery social animals
• Comfortable with the presence of Comfortable with the presence of other animalsother animals
• Instinctively want to be in a herd and Instinctively want to be in a herd and readily form herds if on pasturereadily form herds if on pasture
• Establish pecking ordersEstablish pecking orders
Diagram from “Fence Planning for Horses” Pennsylvania State University Eileen Wheeler and Jennifer Smith Zajaczkowski. See: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/
Housing RequirementsHousing Requirements
Housing RequirementsHousing Requirements
• Things to keep in mind:Things to keep in mind:
– FencingFencing
– PasturePasture
– Barn / ShelterBarn / Shelter
– BeddingBedding
– VentilationVentilation
FencingFencing
• Type of fencing safe for horsesType of fencing safe for horses
• Should be sturdy, visible and Should be sturdy, visible and durabledurable
• 4 ½ to 5 feet high4 ½ to 5 feet high
• Bottom of fence and gates Bottom of fence and gates should be 8 – 12 inches off the should be 8 – 12 inches off the groundground
• No sharp edges, narrow corners No sharp edges, narrow corners or projectionsor projections
Diagram from “Fence Planning for Horses” Pennsylvania State University Eileen Wheeler and Jennifer Smith Zajaczkowski. See: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/
Diagram from “Fence Planning for Horses” Pennsylvania State University Eileen Wheeler and Jennifer Smith Zajaczkowski. See: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/
Types of Safe
Fencing
Wood Board
V-Wire Mesh
Plastic PVC
PasturePasture
• Good pasture can meet Good pasture can meet most nutritional most nutritional requirements of horsesrequirements of horses
• Provides area for exerciseProvides area for exercise
• Stocking ratesStocking rates
– 2-3 acres/animal2-3 acres/animal
Pasture Management PracticesPasture Management Practices
• Avoid over or under grazingAvoid over or under grazing
• Soil Test, fertilize and lime as neededSoil Test, fertilize and lime as needed
• Identify weeds and poisonous plantsIdentify weeds and poisonous plants
• Choose plant species wiselyChoose plant species wisely
• Rotational grazing systemsRotational grazing systems
• Utilize sacrifice areasUtilize sacrifice areas
• Nutrient Management PlanNutrient Management Plan
ShelterShelter
• Provides horses protection from Provides horses protection from wind, extreme weather and moisturewind, extreme weather and moisture
• Important questions:Important questions:– What are the horse’s needs?What are the horse’s needs?
– What do I want to do with the horse?What do I want to do with the horse?
– What can I afford?What can I afford?
– Does my county have housing Does my county have housing regulations for horses?regulations for horses?
Shelter - StallShelter - Stall
• Size: 12ft x 12ftSize: 12ft x 12ft
• Well ventilatedWell ventilated
• Free of hazardsFree of hazards
• Good footing and Good footing and drainagedrainage
Shelter – Run-In ShedShelter – Run-In Shed
• Allow 90 to 150 sq ft per Allow 90 to 150 sq ft per animalanimal
• Usually three-sidedUsually three-sided
• At least 12ft tallAt least 12ft tall
• Back to prevailing Back to prevailing windswinds
BeddingBedding
• PreferredPreferred – Wood shavings or Straw – Wood shavings or Straw
• OthersOthers – Saw dust, Peat moss, Shredded – Saw dust, Peat moss, Shredded newspaper, Stall matsnewspaper, Stall mats
• Avoid black walnutAvoid black walnut
• Amounts:Amounts:
– 3 to 4 inches with dirt floor3 to 4 inches with dirt floor
– 8-10 inches with concrete floor8-10 inches with concrete floor
VentilationVentilation
• Poor ventilation can cause Poor ventilation can cause respiratory problemsrespiratory problems
• Keep fresh air moving inKeep fresh air moving in
• Exhaust out air contaminants, Exhaust out air contaminants, moisture and heatmoisture and heat
• Barn temp should be within 5 Barn temp should be within 5 degrees of outside temperaturedegrees of outside temperature
Nutritional NeedsNutritional Needs
• Feeding program should be tailored to meet the Feeding program should be tailored to meet the needs of each horseneeds of each horse
• Hard Keeper vs. Easy KeeperHard Keeper vs. Easy Keeper
• Requirements based on:Requirements based on:
– AgeAge
– Breed / TypeBreed / Type
– ActivityActivity
– SizeSize
– WeatherWeather
– Reproductive statusReproductive status
Nutritional Program ComponentsNutritional Program Components
• WaterWater
• Forage *Forage *
• ConcentrateConcentrate
• Vitamins & Vitamins & MineralsMinerals
WaterWater
• Most important nutrientMost important nutrient
• Always cleanAlways clean
• Available in turn-out Available in turn-out areas and stallsareas and stalls
• 10-12 gallons 10-12 gallons consumed dailyconsumed daily
ForageForage
• Very important for proper Very important for proper digestiondigestion
• Types of hay:Types of hay:
– LegumeLegume
– GrassGrass
– MixedMixed
• Horse will consume 1 ½ to 2% Horse will consume 1 ½ to 2% of body weight per dayof body weight per day
ConcentratesConcentrates
• Used to:Used to:
– Supplement and balance Supplement and balance nutrients in foragesnutrients in forages
– Supplement higher caloric Supplement higher caloric needs of working and needs of working and lactating horseslactating horses
Vitamins & MineralsVitamins & Minerals
• Most commercial grain Most commercial grain mixes will contain a mixes will contain a vitamin/mineral mixvitamin/mineral mix
• Free choice trace Free choice trace mineral and plain salt mineral and plain salt blocks can be providedblocks can be provided
Nutrition Management TipsNutrition Management Tips
• Establish and maintain feeding scheduleEstablish and maintain feeding schedule
• Feed several small meals per dayFeed several small meals per day
• Horses consume 2 to 2.5% of b.w. / dayHorses consume 2 to 2.5% of b.w. / day
• At least 50% of diet should be from At least 50% of diet should be from foragesforages
• Know what and exactly how much your Know what and exactly how much your horse is being fedhorse is being fed
• Provide fresh waterProvide fresh water
GroomingGrooming
• Important for health, hygiene and Important for health, hygiene and appearanceappearance
• Stimulates blood circulation & helps Stimulates blood circulation & helps maintain muscle tonemaintain muscle tone
• Basic equipment:Basic equipment:– Curry CombCurry Comb
– Brush (Dandy & Body)Brush (Dandy & Body)
– Hoof pickHoof pick
– Mane & tail combMane & tail comb
Health CareHealth Care
• VaccinationsVaccinations
• CogginsCoggins
• DewormingDeworming
• Teeth CareTeeth Care
• Hoof CareHoof Care
• Emergency CareEmergency Care
DewormingDeworming
• Recommended every 6 to 8 Recommended every 6 to 8 weeksweeks
• Rotate commercial Rotate commercial productsproducts
• Read labels for frequency Read labels for frequency and dosage and dosage recommendationsrecommendations
Teeth CareTeeth Care
• Important to ensure Important to ensure that your horse can that your horse can chew and digest chew and digest foodfood
• Recommended 1-2 Recommended 1-2 times/yeartimes/year
Hoof CareHoof Care
• Recommended every 6 to 8 weeksRecommended every 6 to 8 weeks
• Costs depends on what is doneCosts depends on what is done
• Types of services:Types of services:
– Hoof Trim Hoof Trim
– Front Shoes Only Front Shoes Only
– Four Shoes Four Shoes
– Specialized CareSpecialized Care
Vital SignsVital Signs
• Observe horse dailyObserve horse daily
• Know normal vital signs:Know normal vital signs:
– Temperature – 100Temperature – 100° ° FF
– Pulse (Heart Beat) – 30 to 40 BPMPulse (Heart Beat) – 30 to 40 BPM
– Respiration Rate – 8 to 16 BPMRespiration Rate – 8 to 16 BPM
• Establish norms for your horseEstablish norms for your horse
ExerciseExercise
• Level of adequate daily exercise will Level of adequate daily exercise will vary with each horsevary with each horse
• Free exercise - use of a pastureFree exercise - use of a pasture
• Forced exercise can be used if free Forced exercise can be used if free exercise area is not accessibleexercise area is not accessible
– 15 to 45 minutes per day on a regular 15 to 45 minutes per day on a regular basisbasis
SummarySummary
• Horse BehaviorHorse Behavior
– Fight vs. FlightFight vs. Flight
– Herd BoundHerd Bound
• HousingHousing
– FencingFencing
– PasturePasture
– ShelterShelter
SummarySummary
• NutritionalNutritional
– Every horse is uniqueEvery horse is unique
– Water, Forage, Concentrate, Water, Forage, Concentrate, Vitamins & MineralsVitamins & Minerals
• HealthHealth
– Vaccinations, Hoof Care, Vaccinations, Hoof Care, Deworming, Dental CareDeworming, Dental Care
– Vital SignsVital Signs
– ExerciseExercise