E Equine Orientation R H

But I‘m only going to do small

animal work….

But I‘m only going to do small

animal work….

But I‘m only going to do small

animal work….

You may not plan to do it.

But people will turn to you in an emergency.

They‘ll forgive you if you don‘t know everything.

They won‘t forgive you if you don‘t know anything

Lesson 1—Equine Orientation

Objectives

1. To develop an understanding of the horse‘s interactions with humans and other horses.

2. To utilize this understanding to improve veterinary care and minimize patient stress.

Family : Equidae

• Equus caballus

– The horse as we know

it

– 32 pairs of

chromosomes

Family: Equidae

• Equus przewalski

– Przewalski‘s Horse

– The only true wild horse remaining

– 33 pairs of chromosomes

Make the Distinction

Captive

Domesticated

Make the Distinction

Feral

Wild

Family: Equidae

• Equus asinus

– Donkey/jackass

– 31 pairs of

chromosomes

Family: Equidae

• Equus hemonius

– Onager/Wild Ass

– 27 pairs of

chromosomes

Family: Equidae

• Equus burchelli

– Plains Zebra

– 22 pairs of

chromosomes

Family: Equidae

• Equus grevyi

– Imperial Zebra

– 23 pairs of

chromosomes

Family: Equidae

• Equus zebra

– Mountain Zebra

– 16 pairs of

chromosomes

Hybrid species-Mule

• Mare X Ass= Mule

• Jennet X Stallion=Hinny

• Mules are more common than hinnies due to logistics of breeding

• Mule or Hinny may be male or female phenotype

• Almost always sterile

So, what‘s the point?

• All of these animals, despite their obvious

differences, are equines.

• The principles of equine medicine and

surgery apply to all of them.

Equine Psychology

• Priorities—in order of importance to the

horse

– Safety

– Food

– Comfort

– Play/Socialization

Safety

• If a horse does not feel safe, its handler is

not safe.

• A horse cannot learn while frightened.

• The instillation of fear is not an appropriate

training technique.

Safety

• ―Don‘t worry, he‘s more afraid of you

than you are of him‖

A recipe for disaster

Food

• Bribing a horse with food—don‘t do it!

– The ‗reward‘ should never precede the desired

behavior

– If food is used as a ‗reward‘ randomize

delivery to avoid biting behavior

Comfort

• Physical and emotional comfort

– Training zone

– Given a choice, the horse will choose comfort

– Horses are not ‗approval seekers‘ but ‗comfort

seekers‘

Psychology of the Herd

• Dominant stallion

‗leads‘ herd from

the rear

Play

• Necessary for good mental health

• Vices develop when play is denied

• Play can be used as a reward for desired behavior

Defense Mechanisms

• FLIGHT

• Aggression

– Biting

– Kicking

– Striking

Physiologic Adaptations

• Sensory

– Visual

• Almost 360 degree visual field

• Horizontal pupillary opening=extensive peripheral

vision

• Retina composed predominantly of rods; few cones

– Excellent night vision

– Color recognition minimal—blue/red/gray

Field of Vision

Monocular field

146 degrees

Blind spot

Binocular field

65 degrees

Blind spot

Physiologic Adaptations

• Auditory

– Ears move independently

• Ability to accurately localize origin of sound

• Ability to listen to several discrete noises

Physiologic Adaptations

• Olfactory

– Highly developed sense of smell

• Identification of herd members

• Recognition of reproductive status

• Note: A horse will recognize you if you‘re

wearing different clothes; if you change your

scent he may not.

Physiologic Adaptations

• Tactile

– Grooming behavior crucial to herd structure

• Social bonds

• Hierarchy

“It took me 35 years to learn

that women and horses don’t

like to be patted.”

Pat Parelli

Human Animal Interaction

• Animals treat people

the way they treat

other animals.

• People make the

mistake of treating

animals they way they

treat other people.

Equine Body Language

• Threatening behavior

– Pinned ears

– Bared teeth

– Turning away

– Lifting of hind leg

Equine Body Language

• Compliant/Submissive

Behavior

– Ears forward

– Chewing

– Standing still

Human Body Language

• Eye contact

• Physical approach

– Movement/gestures

– Voice

• Physical contact

– Where?

– How?

Terminology

• Horse/Stallion: Intact male 5 years old or older

• Colt: Intact male less than 5 years old

• Gelding: Neutered male of any age

• Rig/Ridgling: Cryptorchid male

• Mare: Female 5 years old or older

• Filly: Female less than 5 years old

• Foal: Either sex from birth to weaning

• Weanling: Either sex--weaning to 12 months

• Yearling: Either sex--12-23 months

Terminology

• Maiden

– A horse of either sex that has not won a race

– A female that has not yet had a foal

• Stud: Male used for breeding

Terminology

• Hand

– Horse‘s height is measured at the withers (the

highest fixed point on the body)

– The measurement is made in ‗hands‘

– A hand equals 4 inches

• 1 inch =.1 hand

• Therefore a horse that measures 15.3 hands is 63‖

(or 5‘3‖) high at the withers

16.3 hands

16 x 4 = 64

+ 3

------

67‖

Or 5‘ 7‖

Terminology

• Near side

• Off/far side

– Horses are traditionally handled from the left.

The horse‘s left side is his near side, the off

side is his right side.

Color

• Bay

– Brown hair

– Black mane & tail

– Black points

• Muzzle

• Lower legs

• May have dorsal stripe

Color

• Chestnut/Sorrel

– Red hair

– Red or flaxen mane &

tail

– No black markings

– White markings on

face and legs are

acceptable

Color

• Grey

Grey hair

NOT mixture of black

& white hairs

Born dark (black) and

lighten with age

Color

• Black

– All black hair

– May have white

markings

– Any brown hair in tail,

on muzzle, or flank

indicates dark bay or

brown coloring not

black

Color

• Dun/Buckskin

– Tan haircoat

– Black mane & tail

– Black points

– Black dorsal stripe

Color

• Palomino

– Blond hair

– White mane & tail

– May have white

markings on face and

legs

Color

• Roan

– White hairs interspersed in

coat

• Red roan: chestnut & white

• Blue roan: black & white

• Bay roan: bay & white

Head Markings

• Star • Star and snip •Star, strip and

snip

Head Markings

• Blaze •Bald face

Leg Markings

Identification

• Lip Tattoo

Identification

• Freeze Brand

– Liquid nitrogen

– Hair regrows white

Identification

• Heat brand

– Thermal burn

– Hair does not regrow

Identification

• Whorls or cowlicks

Identification

Foal

certificate

Identification

• Chestnuts

– Night Eyes

Identification

• Microchip

– Installed in middle

third of the neck in the

nuchal ligament

Identification

• Department of

Agriculture

– 6-month equine health

permit

– ‗driver‘s license‘ for

horses

Breeds

• Quarter Horse

• Paint Horse

• Arabian Horse

• Thoroughbred

• Appaloosa

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