Equine Information

 

Horse Terms

• A male horse four years old or younger is called a colt.
• A female horse four years old or younger is called a filly.
• A newborn or very young horse is called a foal.
• A castrated male horse is called a gelding.
• A mature female horse is called a mare.
• A mature male horse that has not been castrated is called a stallion.
• The mother of a horse is called its dam.
• The father of a horse is called its sire.

 

Horse Facts

• Horses are also called equines as they are part of the equus family.
• The horse was domesticated around 3500 BC (although some sources argue it may have been as far back as 20,000 BC).
• There are hundreds of different breeds of horses that vary greatly in form and function.
• A horse is typically considered an adult, and called a horse, when they reach the age of 5 years old.  Before that they are called colts or fillies.
• The average lifespan of a horse is 20-25 years but they can live to be older than 30.
• All horses are considered to have a birth date of January 1 regardless of when they were actually born.
• The height of a horse is measured in “hands.”  One hand is equal to four inches.  Horses measuring 14.2 hands or taller are considered mature.  Horses less than 14.2 hands when mature is considered a pony.

 

Horse Teeth

• Horses have “baby” or deciduous teeth that fall out and are replaced by “adult” teeth.  Horse’s teeth are several inches long and erupt over the lifetime of the animal.  The teeth are worn down over time by the chewing of grass and other foods.  Tooth wear can be uneven which can cause the horse to have difficulty eating.  A horse’s mouth should be checked at least annually to insure they have the flat surface they need to properly chew their food.  If the surface is uneven or sharp, the teeth should be floated.
• Floating teeth is when a horse’s teeth are filed or rasped in order to smooth the surface and allow for effective chewing of food as well as remove any points that may be causing discomfort or pain.

 

 

Horse Digestion/Food

• Horses are herbivores that have a single chambered stomach (they are not ruminates like cows, sheep, goats, bison, caribou, moose, deer, elk, and camels which have a four digestive chambers instead of one).
• The bulk of the equine diet is made up of grass or hay (dried grass).  Other foods they like include barley, oats, maize, bran or other processed foods/snacks that are high energy and good for working horses.

 

Emergency First Aid

 

Basic Vital Signs (keep in mind these can vary greatly with life stage, activity, stress or illness)

• Heart Rate: Adults 35-60 beats/minute 
• Respiration Rate: 12-20 breaths/minute.  When at rest: 12 plus or minus 6 breaths/minuteTemperature: Between 100.5 plus or minus 1 degree (leave the rectal thermometer in place for 1 minute before reading it)
• Mucous membrane color: should be pink in color (pale, whitish gums or bright pink/red are a bad sign)

 

Signs of Heat Stroke

• Rapid respiration
• Disinclination to move
• Red mucous membranes (check the gums)
• High body temperature
• High pulse that may become erratic
• Lip, cheek and muscle twitching
• Without fast, aggressive cooling efforts: collapse and death

Protocol for Heat Stroke

• Call a veterinarian!!!
• Pour large amounts of cold water (iced if necessary) to cool the body  and bring down the temperature
• Provide shade and place fans to provide cooling wind
• Give fluids and electrolytes intravenously

 

Signs of Dehydration

• Skin is pinched at the point of the shoulder
• Scant sweat, dry, injected mucous membranes
• Sunken in eyeballs with constant drooping of upper lid
• Multiple symptoms can be very dangerous and also indicative of metabolic disorders.  A veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

 

Hoof Abscess

Such abscesses are very common in horses but can cause severe pain and serious infection if not treated.  Hoof abscesses are the result of injury to the corium.  The injury may be caused by numerous things including bruising, puncture, poor circulation in the hoof, or laminitis.  Basic care of such abscesses include getting the pus to drain (if it is a closed abscess this may require cutting a small hole), cleaning/soaking the foot in a mild disinfectant, vinegar or Epsom salt solution and packing with some type of antibacterial soaked material to aid in clearing up the infection and facilitate healing.  Some individuals recommend closing the hole with loam, clay or healing earth.  Bandaging the foot is helpful but can also impede circulation and retard healing. Be sure to pad the foot adequately and not wrap the foot too tightly.  Consult a hoof-care specialist if the foot is not healing or you have concerns. 

 

Colic

The term colic basically means belly pain.  Unfortunately colic in horses can range from mild to serious and can be life threatening.  It can be difficult to determine how serious an individual case may be during early stages, thus serious action should be taken immediately.

 

Signs of Colic

• Pawing at the ground
• Kicking at the abdomen
• Rolling
• Getting up and down repeatedly
• Turning head toward flank
• Curling upper lip
• Standing frequently as if to urinate
• Violent behavior (sign of severe pain)

 

What to do

• Call your veterinarian
• Take vital signs including gum color
• Recall appetite in past days and if any unusual food had been consumed
• While waiting for the vet, remove all food and try to distract the horse from its discomfort by walking, massaging or grooming
• Do not let the horse roll