Horse Beginner Study guide.docx

**Breed Definition and Color** A group of animals of the same species that share common traits. Colors -- color classification varies based upon breeds. o Bay -- any shade of brown with a black mane and tail and often black on the legs. o Chestnut -- generally a darker brown with a mane and...

**Breed Definition and Color** A group of animals of the same species that share common traits. Colors -- color classification varies based upon breeds. o Bay -- any shade of brown with a black mane and tail and often black on the legs. o Chestnut -- generally a darker brown with a mane and tail of the same color. o Sorrel -- a lighter brown with mane and tail of same color. o Grey -- usually has dark skin. A coat can be any shade of grey with either dapples (areas of spotted grey) or flea-bit (very small spots of darker or reddish gray all over the body). o Black -- black coat and skin must be black. o White -- very rare. The coat must be white, as well as skin. Generally referred to as an albino if it has pink eyes. o Palomino -- coat is the color of a new-minted penny, with white mane and tail. o Buckskin -- yellow color coat with black mane, tail and legs. o Dun -- can be various shades of yellow, always has a dorsal stripe. o Roan -- can be strawberry (red & white) or blue (black & white). **Health** - Temperature: 99.5-101.5 °F - Heart rate: 32-48 beats per minute - Respiratory rate: 8-20 breaths per minute - Body condition/weight (fatness or thinness) - Hair coat -- Shiny, glossy. - Hoof growth -- Normal growth rate, smooth and uncracked. - Eyes -- Bright, fully open, clear, without discharge. - Normal hydration - Normal feces and urine -- Firm fecal balls, wheat colored clear urine. - Healthy pink mucous membranes of gums and lips. **Body Condition Score** Most horses, including performance horses and growing horses, should be in a body score of 5-6. For optimum reproductive efficiency, broodmares should be a 5-7, and not allowed to lose condition such that they are below a 5 during breeding season. Horses over a condition score of 7 may be at a greater risk for developing metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance.\ A.  Along the Neck               B.  Along the withers   \ C.  Crease down back\ D.  Tailhead        \ E.  Ribs     \ F.  Behind shoulder 1. Poor 2. Very Thin 3. Thin 4. Moderately Thin 5. Moderate 6. Moderately Fleshy 7. Fleshy 8. Fat 9. Extremely Fat **Nutrition** **All feeds include six basic nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, lipids,** **minerals, vitamins and water**. **Protein** **Carbohydrates** **Fats** **Minerals** **Vitamins** **Water** **Signs of a Sick Horse** - Bowel changes - Cranky with other horses Unsteady gait - Depression Head shaking/tossing - Restless Lying down and getting up repeatedly - Rapid breathing - Unexplained sweating - Excitability **Digestive System** Digestive systems vary according to whether the animals are herbivores, carnivores or omnivores. [ ]  Food is swallowed directly into the single compartment stomach, where it is mixed with the digestive juices. Because there is very little bacterial action, there is no conversion of low-quality protein to high quality protein. Monogastrics are unable to digest large quantities of fiber unless they have an enlarged cecum o The cecum is a blind pouch or cul-de-sac at the first portion of the large intestine. Cecum acts like a rumen and is involved with microbial digestion (fermentation). Bacterial breakdown happens in the large intestine and particularly in the cecum of the horse and rabbit. [ ] **Selecting and Judging Horses** Requires knowledge and information Breeds Conformation/structure and parts of a horse Soundness Movement **[\ ]** **[\ ]** BREED ID