CHAPTER 14 & 15HORSES &

DRAFT ANIMALS

 General Information for Horses:

Racing horses is the largest spectator sport in the world

In the 1800s and early 1900s horses were used for power and transportation

The United States had 20 million horse in the 1900s

In 1977 – 9 million horses In the late 1980s fewer

than 6 million In 2004 horse numbers

have increased to 6.6 million

General Information for Draft Horses:

Uses – work, companions, and hobbies, as well as animal-pull events.

Animals used for - draft, horses, oxen, donkeys, mules, camels, and buffalo.

, mules, camels, and buffalo.

Types of Draft Horses

Oxen Mules Draft

Shire Clydesdale Percheron Belgian Suffolk

Types of Light Horses: Riding horses Gaited horses Stock horses Polo Mounts Hunter and

Jumpers Ponies Racehorses Driving Horses

Horses as Organisms:

Scientific name – Equus caballus

Age and sex classes of horses: Mare – mature female horse 4 +

years Stallion – mature male horse 4 +

years Foaling – giving birth in horses Foal – young horse either sex;

not weaned Stud horse – male horse used of

breeding Filly – young female horse under

3 years Colt – young male horse under 3

years Gelding – castrated male horse

Size classes of horses: Hands – equal to

4 inches Classified by size

Light Horses – 14.2 – 17 hands (900 – 1400 pounds)

Draft – 14.2 – 17.2 hands (1400 + pounds)

Ponies – 14.2 and under (500 -900 pounds)

Selection of a Horse:

Use Price range Disposition Size Gait Breed Color

Breeding Practices for Horses: Normal Breeding Artificial

Insemination Parturition – best

sign of parturition udder is distended

Care after parturition – imprinting

Draft Animal Reproduction:

Oxen – Duration of their cycle – 12-20 hours every 21 days. Gestation – 9 months 270-295 days

Draft Horses – puberty at 12-15 months, estrous cycle is every 21 days, heat is 4-6 days in length; gestation is 11 months or 330-340 days.

Draft Capacity – can pull 1/10 of its body weight

Draft Animal Selection – Social ranking in herd

Feeding: Concentrates – Grains (oats,

corn, and barley) Monogastric One pound of grain for every

1000 pounds of horse per day Colic – common problem if over

feeding concentrates Forages – pasture or hay. 1-2

pounds for each 100 pounds of body weight each day.

One horse per 3 acres on which to graze.

Supplement minerals and vitamins

Water – clean and plenty of it (10-12 gallons per day)

Nutritional Requirements for Draft Horses:

Feeding Oxen - ruminants

Feeding Draft Horses - Monogastric

Feeding Schedules – hand-feeding, self-feeding, automated feeding

Health – Common Ailments

Colic Sleeping

Sickness Swamp Fever Equine influenza Founder Tetanus (lock

Jaw) External

Parasites Internal

Parasites

Health Practices for Horses and Draft Horses:

Condition animal - Groom

Consider health General health – temp

100.5 F Horses; 101.5 F Oxen

Parasites – internal and external

Foot Care – trim every 6 months

Farrier Clean Frog

Care of the Teeth :

Determine age by teeth – slanted teeth - older

Floating the teeth – smooth out sharp edges on the teeth.

Facility and equipment requirements:

Barn Feeding equipment Grooming Saddle and bridle

(Western or English) Strong fences and

stalls Equipment –

harness or yoke

Equitation: Mounting and

Dismounting – left side Seat Position – sit tall;

erect Horse Control

Hands Legs Voice Weight

Movement Walk Gallop Backing Stopping Jog Lope

The End