Basic Equine CareBasic Equine Care

Kristen M. WilsonKristen M. WilsonRegional Extension Horse SpecialistRegional Extension Horse Specialist

MCE Equine In-ServiceMCE Equine In-ServiceFebruary 12, 2008February 12, 2008

Areas To ConsiderAreas To Consider

• Horse BehaviorHorse Behavior

• HousingHousing

• NutritionNutrition

• HealthHealth

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

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

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

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

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

Housing RequirementsHousing Requirements

Housing RequirementsHousing Requirements

• Things to keep in mind:Things to keep in mind:

– FencingFencing

– PasturePasture

– Barn / ShelterBarn / Shelter

– BeddingBedding

– VentilationVentilation

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

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

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

Types of Safe

Fencing

Wood Board

V-Wire Mesh

Plastic PVC

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

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

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?

Types of Types of SheltersShelters

Run – In Shed

Stall

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

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

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

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

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

Nutritional Program ComponentsNutritional Program Components

• WaterWater

• Forage *Forage *

• ConcentrateConcentrate

• Vitamins & Vitamins & MineralsMinerals

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

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

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

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

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

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

Health CareHealth Care

• VaccinationsVaccinations

• CogginsCoggins

• DewormingDeworming

• Teeth CareTeeth Care

• Hoof CareHoof Care

• Emergency CareEmergency Care

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

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

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

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

Vital SignsVital Signs

Anderson, K. “Tips for New Horse Owners”. Nebraska Cooperative Extension

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

Forms Forms of of

ExerciseExercise

Longeing

Hot Walker

Riding

SummarySummary

• Horse BehaviorHorse Behavior

– Fight vs. FlightFight vs. Flight

– Herd BoundHerd Bound

• HousingHousing

– FencingFencing

– PasturePasture

– ShelterShelter

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

Kristen M. WilsonKristen M. Wilson

kswilson@umd.edukswilson@umd.edu

301-596-9478301-596-9478