Basic Equine Care. Horse groom activities

Equine Science. Equine basic care

1. Basic Equine CareBasic Equine Care
Kristen M. WilsonKristen M. Wilson
Regional Extension Horse SpecialistRegional Extension Horse Specialist
MCE Equine In-ServiceMCE Equine In-Service
February 12, 2008February 12, 2008

2. Areas To ConsiderAreas To Consider
•Horse BehaviorHorse Behavior
•HousingHousing
•NutritionNutrition
•HealthHealth

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Diagram from
“Fence Planning for
Horses”
Pennsylvania State
University Eileen
Wheeler and
Jennifer Smith
Zajaczkowski. See:
http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/
Housing RequirementsHousing Requirements

8. Housing RequirementsHousing Requirements
•Things to keep in mind:Things to keep in mind:
–FencingFencing
–PasturePasture
–Barn / ShelterBarn / Shelter
–BeddingBedding
–VentilationVentilation

9. 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

10. Diagram from
“Fence Planning for
Horses”
Pennsylvania State
University Eileen
Wheeler and
Jennifer Smith
Zajaczkowski. See:
http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/

11. Diagram from “Fence
Planning for Horses”
Pennsylvania State
University Eileen Wheeler
and Jennifer Smith
Zajaczkowski. See:
http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/

12. Types of
Safe
Fencing
Wood Board
V-Wire Mesh
Plastic PVC

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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?

16. Types of Types of
SheltersShelters
Run – In Shed
Stall

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Nutritional Program ComponentsNutritional Program Components
•WaterWater
•Forage *Forage *
•ConcentrateConcentrate
•Vitamins & Vitamins &
MineralsMinerals

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. Health CareHealth Care
•VaccinationsVaccinations
•CogginsCoggins
•DewormingDeworming
•Teeth CareTeeth Care
•Hoof CareHoof Care
•Emergency CareEmergency Care

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. Vital SignsVital Signs
Anderson, K. “Tips for New Horse Owners”. Nebraska Cooperative Extension

35. 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

36. Forms Forms
of of
ExerciseExercise
Longeing
Hot Walker
Riding

37. SummarySummary
•Horse BehaviorHorse Behavior
–Fight vs. FlightFight vs. Flight
–Herd BoundHerd Bound
•HousingHousing
–FencingFencing
–PasturePasture
–ShelterShelter

38. 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

39. Kristen M. WilsonKristen M. Wilson
[email protected]@umd.edu
301-596-9478301-596-9478