Equine Husbandry 2 Practice Notes PDF

EQUINE HUSBANDRY 2 H O L LY L E N A G H A N LECTURER IN EQUINE CLINICAL PRACTICE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe basic training and management strategies used in the production of horses suitable for different leisure and sporting pursuits. Understand the various roles u...

EQUINE HUSBANDRY 2 H O L LY L E N A G H A N LECTURER IN EQUINE CLINICAL PRACTICE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe basic training and management strategies used in the production of horses suitable for different leisure and sporting pursuits. Understand the various roles utilised in routine equine husbandry and preventative medicine. Outline the regulations and legislation that exists in relation to keeping horses, including transportation, importation and exportation E Q U I N E B E H AV I O U R Fight or Flight response Response to danger / perceived threats Horses are a ‘prey’ species Flight Primary response for horses Can result in injury to horse or human Fight Activated when; Flight not possible Maternal behaviour Aggressive Stallion 3 E Q U I N E B E H AV I O U R Warning signals Ears back (flat to poll) Head tossing / thrown up Agitated / stamping ground Tail swishing Vocalisation Threatening to bite / kick / strike Rearing 4 HOW TO HANDLE HORSES Equine Learning Theory Horses are trial and error learners Great long-term memory Poor short-term memory BEVA - ‘Don’t break your vet’ videos Articles on Equine Learning Theory 5 E Q U I N E B E H AV I O U R Warning signals Ears back (flat to poll) Head tossing / thrown up Agitated / stamping ground Tail swishing Vocalisation Threatening to bite / kick / strike Rearing 6 WEANING Generally, 4-6 months of age Very stressful period in foals' life Feeding very important at this stage Undernourishment can result in poor health and growth Overall deficiency problems Overfeeding can result in developmental orthopedic diseases Developmental orthopedic disease - osteochondrosis, physitis, cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy, contracted tendons etc Pre-Weaning Preventative medicine (Deworming and vaccinations) Creep Feeding (after 4 months) 7 WEANING Total and abrupt weaning most common Partial and gradual weaning shown to be least stressful 8 BASIC TRAINING & MANAGEMENT Traditional “Breaking-in” of wild horses Adult horses with little previous exposure to humans Rapidly introduced to equipment & rider Allowed to buck & rear until they have exhausted themselves and became accustomed to gear/rider “Breaking” the flight response and enforcing their trust 9 BASIC TRAINING & MANAGEMENT “Breaking-in” horses from domesticated populations Training is very gradual Foals are handled from a young age – imprinting Early training includes being led with the mare, halter training & learning to have the feet picked up 10 T R A I N I N G A N D M A N A G E M E N T S T R AT E G I E S Race Horses vs Sport Horses 11 T H E T B Y E A R L I N G P R E PA R AT I O N P R O C E S S Begins 8-10 weeks prior to sales Handling get used to being handled, feet picked up taught to walk up correctly Exercise routine program to gradually build up strength and muscle combination of turnout in field, handwalking, exercise on a walker and lunging. Breaking in Image from Wikipedia They are broken in at breaking stables at around 18 months old The “breaking in” process takes about 3 weeks Following breaking in they undergo fitness training Often racing as 2-year-old horses 12 T H E S P O R T S H O R S E P R E PA R AT I O N P R O C E S S Further training begins at 2-3 years of age for sports horses Ground-based techniques such as lunging & long-reining are initially used New equipment is introduced gradually Eventually horse is ‘backed’ (rider is placed on its back) & taught the riding aids 13 BASIC TRAINING & MANAGEMENT Natural Horsemanship Based on premise of working with horses in tune with their natural social behaviours. Seen by many to be a ‘kinder’ form of breaking in – less confusing. Techniques used at all ages. Elements of natural horseman-ship training incorporated into older style training regimes. 14 PAT I E N T H A N D L I N G A N D R E S T R A I N T How to handle our patients Be observant and work with their body language Be confident – use definite movements Avoid tentative, hesitant movements Avoid sudden, startling movements Head Collar Bridle Methods of ‘restraint’ Head collar/bridle/chifney Stocks Twitch Chifney Sedation Equine Learning Theory 15 PAT I E N T H A N D L I N G A N D R E S T R A I N T Types of twitch How to handle our patients Be observant and work with their body language Be confident – use definite movements Avoid tentative, hesitant movements Avoid sudden, startling movements Methods of ‘restraint’ Head collar/bridle/chifney Stocks Twitch Sedation Equine Learning Theory 16 E Q U I N E H U S B A N D R Y I N P R E V E N TAT I V E M E D I C I N E Monitor daily for signs of ill health Demeanour & behaviour Appetite Water intake Defecation/Urination Coat Body Fat Score Obvious clinical signs e.g lameness Vital Signs Temperature Pulse Respiration rate 17 S I G N S O F I L L H EA LT H – W H E N TO C A L L A V E T Wounds Laminitis Any acute lameness 18 18  Choke Colic Signs Opthalmic issues Diarrhoea 19 19 R O U T I N E H E A LT H C A R E P L A N S Management strategies to optimise health and minimise risk of injury, disease and illness 1. Parasite control programme 2. Vaccination programme 3. Foot care 4. Dental Care 5. Fly control in summer months 6. Infectious Disease Isolation procedures on yard 20 R O U T I N E H E A LT H C A R E P L A N S 1. Parasite control programme High worm burden can result in weight loss, colic, diarrhoea and even death Anthelmintics aka “wormer” administered to treat high worm burdens Resistance to anthelmintics is a rising problem The aim now is to only treat high egg shedders NOT all horses Faecal Worm Egg Counts (FWEC) used to assess worm burdens Programme Remove faeces from pasture (“poo-pick”) at least twice weekly and preferably every couple of days Avoid overstocking and overgrazing Rotate grazing with sheep or cattle or rest pastures regularly Avoid moving horses to clean pasture within 2 weeks of worming Muck out stables regularly especially when they contain foals and weanlings Targeted worming programs 21 R O U T I N E H E A LT H C A R E P L A N S 2. Vaccination Programme Prevention is ultimately better than cure Control the spread of infectious disease Primary course followed by booster vaccinations All recorded in Horse Passport Tetanus Vaccination Recommended all horses are vaccinated against tetanus Very susceptible environment they live frequency of injury Bacteria in the soil and can enter through the wound 22 R O U T I N E H E A LT H C A R E P L A N S 2. Vaccination Programme Equine Influenza Vaccination Highly contagious viral disease of the respiratory tract Disease can debilitate More prone to secondary infections Risk of permanent lung damage which reduces athletic ability No direct treatment of the virus Only supportive care FEI and British Horse Racing Authority have compulsory rules regarding vaccination against Equine Influenza No Vaccination = No Competition Again, record in the Horse passport 23 R O U T I N E H E A LT H C A R E P L A N S 3. Foot care Hooves continue to grow throughout life Feet trimmed regularly by competent person (Farrier) Pay attention to growth and balance If unshod-require careful management and hoof care to ensure they do not become sore on difficult surfaces/stony ground 24 R O U T I N E H E A LT H C A R E P L A N S 4. Shoeing Any horses ridden or driven on hard roads/rough surfaces will require shoes Must be a registered farrier (Farriers Registration Council) Hooves trimmed and re-shod every 4-8 weeks as advised by the farrier Frequency depends on health, nutrition, age, type of work 25 R O U T I N E H E A LT H C A R E P L A N S 5. Dental Care Teeth continue to grow throughout life Teeth should be inspected by a vet or qualified equine dental technician at least once a year Rasped and treated as necessary to remove any sharp points and ensure the horse can eat comfortably Horses with sharp or abnormal teeth are unable to chew properly which can result in: Quidding-half chewed food Dropping out of mouth Weight loss Difficulty accepting the bit Dental pain 26 R O U T I N E H E A LT H C A R E P L A N S 6. Fly control in the summer months Flies can cause huge irritation in summer months introduce infection into wounds allergic skin conditions Sweet itch Hypersensitivity to bites from Culicoides midge Results in pruritis (itchy skin) and self-trauma Mainly affects mane and tail 27 R O U T I N E H E A LT H C A R E P L A N S 6. Fly control in the summer months Fly rug or fly masks Fly repellents Midge sensitivity Stable at dawn and dusk 28 R E G U L AT I O N S & L E G I S L AT I O N The wellbeing of all horses is protected under “The Animal Welfare Act 2006” Offence to cause or allow unnecessary suffering Owners or keepers duty to ensure the basic welfare needs of horse (Defra) Code of Practice for horse owners provides practical advice on how best to look after a horse’s health and wellbeing Non-governmental organisations, such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) may enforce the welfare of all horses where suffering is found 29 USEFUL RESOURCES AND REFERENCES Horse Breeds: A guide to different horse breeds (horseandcountry.tv) Twitching in veterinary procedures: How does this technique subdue horses? – ScienceDirect Practical application of equine learning theory, part 1 (oclc.org) Practical application of equine learning theory, part 2 (oclc.org) 30