Equine Husbandry 1 PDF

EQUINE HUSBANDRY 1 H O L LY L E N A G H A N LECTURER IN EQUINE CLINICAL PRACTICE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain the progression of equine domestication and describe how the evolution of the human-horse bond has shaped the modern equine industry Describe different housing and mana...

EQUINE HUSBANDRY 1 H O L LY L E N A G H A N LECTURER IN EQUINE CLINICAL PRACTICE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explain the progression of equine domestication and describe how the evolution of the human-horse bond has shaped the modern equine industry Describe different housing and management systems used in equine industry Understand potential impact of modern equine management on equine welfare, and outline strategies to optimise welfare. 2 P R O G R E S S I O N O F E Q U I N E D O M E S T I C AT I O N Later 3000-3500 BC Leisure Eurasian Steppes Entertainment Transport Evidence of bit wear Sport and corrals Agriculture Meat & Milk Warfare First Signs of Modern Horse Domestication 3 P R O G R E S S I O N O F E Q U I N E D O M E S T I C AT I O N Mutual co-evolution of traits both benefit from their coexistence in the form of domestication Horses started to linger around permanent human settlements Feeding off the agricultural fields Protection from predators Semi-domesticated and less aggressive More dependant over time 4 P R O G R E S S I O N O F E Q U I N E D O M E S T I C AT I O N Humans Use its strength and speed as a mount and transport Enabled people to travel to different resource rich areas and spread their culture Horses gained protection provided with food Horses valued as food source → near extinction Equine domestication → explosive increase in population over time 5 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS How do we keep them today? 6 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Stables Indications for the stabling of horses active in controlled exercise/work program schooled horses, racehorses, show insufficient land available for pasture housing city or suburbs, racetracks horses being treated for illness or injury horses living in cold climates Because we like it! 7 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Stables Comfortable Ease of access Poor design or management = Adequate drainage rapid spread of disease and Adequate ventilation injury All stabled horses should be inspected at least twice a day 8 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Stables Adequate space Sufficient space to lie down, readily rise and turn around in comfort Minimum size requirements Horses: 12ft x 12ft Pony: 10ft x 10ft Foaling box: 14ft x 14ft 9 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Stables Doors wide enough Height enables horse to look over the door Non-slip floor Surfaces capable of being disinfected No sharp edges on fixtures and fittings 10 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Stables Suitable bedding Warmth, protection, enable horse to lie down Non-toxic, absorbent, free of excessive dust Straw Shavings Pellets Chippings Paper Rubber matting “Mucked out” regularly 11 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Stables Individual Stables American Barn Loose / Communal Barns 12 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Pasture Closest to natural state Minimum requirement approximately 1 acre per horse Very dependent on needs of individual horse and type of grazing Consider worm control (poo picking) Maintain good drainage (hoof health) Control weeds / toxic plants Consider fencing Shelter 13 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Pasture Control weeds / toxic plants Ragwort Ragwort very toxic for horses and must be removed can result in fatal liver disease They won’t eat it whilst alive as tastes bitter but they will when it’s dead Care when cutting fields for hay Buttercups Less toxic but can cause liver damage Sycamore seeds and seedlings Atypical myopathy Sycamore seeds and seedlings 14 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Pasture Fencing Strong and high enough to prevent escape! Vinyl Post and Rail Designed and maintained with no sharp projections Wooden Post and Rail Electric Fencing Ideally NOT barbed wire 15 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Pasture Fencing Strong and high enough to prevent escape! Vinyl Post and Rail Designed and maintained with no sharp projections Wooden Post and Rail Electric Fencing Ideally NOT barbed wire 16 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Pasture Fencing Strong and high enough to prevent escape! Vinyl Post and Rail Designed and maintained with no sharp projections Wooden Post and Rail Electric Fencing Ideally NOT barbed wire 17 EQUINE HUSBANDRY Pasture Shelter Horse should be able to shelter from wind, sun and flies Not all horses require stable BUT all horses require shelter Shelter can be natural- trees/hedges Or man made-field shelter 18 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Rugs Some horses will need a rug during bad weather (winter months) Less hardy breeds Clipped Elderly Hardy breeds with thick coats capable of living outdoors all year round without rugs Correct fit and type Regularly removed to check underneath Ensure horse not too hot or cold 19 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Rugs Some horses will need a rug during bad weather (winter months) Less hardy breeds Clipped Elderly Hardy breeds with thick coats capable of living outdoors all year round without rugs Correct fit and type Regularly removed to check underneath Ensure horse not too hot 20 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Tethering Securing an animal by an chain to a centre point or anchorage causing it to be confined to a desired area Not suitable for long term management Risk of horse becoming entangled or injuring itself Regular supervision important At least every 6 hours 21 HOUSING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Fly Grazing Is the illegal grazing of horses on land where owners have not obtained permission The Control of Horses Act 2015 (England) The Act gives landowners the ability to remove horses that are being fly-grazed from their land quickly –before they suffer 22 SUPERVISION Horse should be inspected At pasture – at least once a day Stabled – at least twice a day Hooves should be picked out daily Regular grooming Check under rugs once daily 23 EQUINE HUSBANDRY IN THE UK We are governed by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 Requires owners/keepers (permanent or temporary) of any horse, pony, donkey or mule to ensure: A suitable environment to live in A healthy diet (including fresh clean water) Is able to behave normally Has appropriate company Is protected from pain injury, suffering and disease 24 EQUINE HUSBANDRY Suitable Diet Continuous access to clean, fresh water Break the ice in troughs/buckets in winter Automatic drinkers - need to be monitored Horses are trickle feeders Should have access to forage(grass, hay, haylage, straw) feed during most of their non-active hours Feeding from the floor Mimics the natural grazing position & allows mucus drainage from respiratory tract Haynets/Hayracks increase dust inhalation Concentrate feeds are not always required Overfeeding of concentrates can predisposed horse to clinical conditions e.g gastric ulceration, myopathy, equine metabolic syndrome, laminitis Over-feeding leads to Obesity Increases risk of disease 25 EQUINE HUSBANDRY Exhibit normal behaviour patterns Adequate exercise Training methods must be sympathetic to a horse natural instincts and behaviours All tack/training aids must be of a proper standard and only used by experienced personnel 27 EQUINE HUSBANDRY Have appropriate company Horses are herd animals Highly developed social structures in their natural habitat Any management system that isolates them from other horses or confines them to small areas goes against their basic nature = STRESS ✓Turnout with other horses whenever possible ✓Ensure horse can see other horses from their stable ✓Horses turned out in suitable groups or house in communal barns in suitable groups 28 EQUINE HUSBANDRY Protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease Anyone can buy a horse Inexperience or lack of knowledge Sufficient knowledge and training to be responsible for a horse's health and welfare Inspected once daily if kept at pasture Inspected twice daily if kept in stable Recognise signs of ill health and act accordingly Monitor body condition score Make a health plan 29 I M PA C T O F M O D E R N E Q U I N E M A N A G E M E N T O N W E L FA R E If we don’t get it right it can lead to: Stereotypies (Stable vices) Repetitive behaviours which can become fixed Crib biting Wind-sucking Weaving Box walking Wood chewing 30 I M PA C T O F M O D E R N E Q U I N E M A N A G E M E N T O N W E L FA R E Stereotypies (Stable vices) A sign that the horse is in a frustrating environment and stressed Confinement Lack of socialisation Temperament Boredom or over stimulation Sudden changes in routine Unnatural feeding schedules or feeds Insufficient exercise Uncomfortable stall situation Genetics Can lead to: weight loss, colic, injury property damage animal welfare issue 31  I M PA C T O F M O D E R N E Q U I N E M A N A G E M E N T O N W E L FA R E Stereotypies (Stable vices) – How to stop them Block the behaviour Weaving – anti-weave grill Crib biting/ Windsucking – anti-crib collar Doesn’t work effectively in the long term Correct the underlying cause Environment Management Stimulation Nutrition 32  I M PA C T O F M O D E R N E Q U I N E M A N A G E M E N T O N W E L FA R E Stereotypies (Stable vices) – Prevention Provide company Minimize confinement – exercise/turnout Stall toys & enrichment products Provide forage ad lib Windows Companionship 33 POINTS OF THE HORSE Presentation Name | Date | Version 0.0 34