Horse Lecture #2

Body Parts, Facial Markings, Digestive Tract, Nutrition Requirements

Body Parts

• Poll

• Withers• Croup• Muzzle• Latch• Stifle• Hock• Cannon• Hoof

•Coronet•Fetlock•Pastern

White marking between eyes.Comes in many shapes.

Thin line down front of nose

Small white fleck between nostrils.

Thick white line down front of nose. Horse also has a star.

• Very wide blaze that extends to and may cover the eyes, nostrils, and upper lip.• Horses with bald faces often have white that extends to the lower lip as well.

Face Markings• Star• Stripe• White Face• Blaze• Snip• Interrupted

Stripe

Digestive Tract

• Esophagus• Stomach• Small Intestine• Large Intestine

– Cecum– Large Colon– Small Colon

Rectum

Monogastric stomach: Digestion through digestive juices unlike the microbial fermentation of ruminants.

• Esophagus (food passes from mouth to stomach)• Stomach (digestive juices breakdown food)• Small Intestine (starch, sugar, fats, vitamins, and

1/2 of protein absorbed)• Large Intestine (Fermentation by

microbes/bacteria. Remaining protein and some minerals absorbed.)– Includes: Cecum, Large Colon, Small Colon

Horse Stomach• The stomach of a horse is smaller, compared

to other species, in relation to the size of the animal.

• Therefore, it is more desirable to feed horses in smaller amounts at one time but provide more frequent feedings.

Large Intestine, Horses• IMPORTANT- because the large intestine of the

horse usually contains substantial quantities of ingested material, impaction occurs easily.

• This impaction is the start of what horse ailment?

• Colic

Horses can’t what!

• Burp or vomit!• Their cardiac sphincter (valve between esophagus and

stomach) only works 1-way.• Once food/air goes in….

They also are obligate nose-breathers!

Large Intestine, Horses• Cecum is an important organ in horses.• The large intestine makes up approximately 60% of

the total digestive tract.• Divided into cecum, large colon, small colon and

rectum.• Horses can use large amounts of roughage because

of the presence of bacteria in the cecum and colon.• These bacteria digest hemicelluloses and cellulose

and ferment carbohydrates.

Horse Care

• Nutrition: Requires about 2% of body wt daily• Feed smaller amounts than cows, more

frequently• 10-12 gallons of fresh water per day• Balance Hays, Grains, and Supplements• Diet: 80% roughage & 20% concentrate

– more grain if horse is working hard, not to exceed 50% of diet grain because of increased likelihood of colic and possibly laminitis (founder).

Equine Feeds

Classes of Feeds

• Roughages• Concentrates• Supplements

Roughages

• High in Fiber• Low in Energy

• Pasture (2 acres per horse)• Hay (most common)• Forage Crops • Silage

Concentrates

• Low in fiber and high in energy

• Grains: Oats (most popular), Barley, Corn (energy-dense)

• Grain by-products

Molasses

• A popular component of mixed concentrates• Palatable• Cheap source of energy• Can reduce the quantity of dust in feed• 5% of the ration - recommended

Supplements

• Can help correct deficiencies in protein, minerals, and vitamins.

• Increases nutritive value• 3 common types

– Protein (Higher energy horses need more)– Vitamin (A, B, D, E)– Mineral (Calcium, Phosphorous, Sodium Chloride)

Extra Material/Curriculum

•STOP

Small white marking up to and including the pastern.

Small white marking on the heel, at the back of the hoof..

White marking finishing around the knee or hock.

White marking that ends around half-way up the cannon bone.

Small white ring around the coronet band, above the hoof.

Stocking that continues up the leg

Stocking that continues up the leg, but only partially.

Hay

• Most common form of roughage• Many variables affect hay quality

– Plant Species– Rainfall– Stage of plant growth– Harvesting Procedures

Alfalfa Hay

• Highly Palatable (acceptability of taste)• High in Protein (18%-19%)• Good Source of Vitamins A and B• Higher Priced (Bale = $7-$10)• 5-8 cuttings (not all are clean) Cubes

Pasture

• Native is most common• Grasses, legumes, and forbs• Generally, pasture should be a mixture of 1-2

grasses with 1-2 legumes.• A mature horse requires a minimum of 2 acres

Concentrates

• The concentrate part of the ration contains the grains– Higher in energy– Lower in fiber

• Most Common– Oats– Barley– Corn

Than Roughages

Oats

• Most Popular grain fed to horses• High fiber content (13%)

– More bulk per nutrient content– Must eat more to satisfy nutrient content– Less likely to founder or colic

• Cleanliness is a must– Dust feeds can lead to respiratory problems

• Whole or processed

Barley

• Comparable to oats– Lower in fiber

• Weighs more per unit volume than oats

Barley

Oats

Corn

• Very “energy-dense”– Large amounts of carbohydrates

• Excellent for horses that require a lot of energy– Working horses– Race Horses

• Low in protein• High weight per unit volume

Protein

• Higher requirement for horses that are:– Growing– Lactating– In later pregnancy stages– Eating poor quality roughage– Performance animals (high stress)

• Converted to energy by the horse

Protein

• Examples of protein supplements include:• Alfalfa• Linseed• Soybean• Cottonseed Meal

Vitamins

• Horses derive no benefits from “extra” vitamins.

• Supplements for Vitamin A:– Fish liver oils– Liver meal

• Supplements for Vitamin B:– Dried brewer’s yeast– Dried legumes

Vitamins

• Supplements for Vitamin D:– Suncured hay– Exposure to sunlight

• Supplements for Vitamin E (usually not necessary):– Alfalfa pellets

Minerals

• Frequently needed to balance the mineral content of rations.

• Most common deficient minerals are:– Calcium– Phosphorus– Sodium chloride

Minerals

• Supplements for Calcium and Phosphorus:– Steamed Bone Meal– Dicalcium Phosphate

• Supplements for sodium chloride:– Salt block

Review - Supplements

• Name two situations where a horse might need protein supplements.

• T/F – Vitamins supplements are always a must for horses.

• What is a good supplement for vitamin D?• T/F – Alfalfa pellets are a good supplement for

vitamin E.• What is a good supplement for a sodium

chloride deficiency?

Horse Care

• Nutrition: will eat 1 1/2 - 3% of body wt daily• feed smaller amounts than cows, more

frequently• 10-12 gallons of water / day• hays, grains, supplements• 4 parts roughage to 1 part concentrate

– more grain if horse is working

Horse Care

• Reproduction: low conception rate• Mares more likely to conceive in spring• Health: colic (abdominal pain) & broken bones

most serious• Vaccinate annually• Worm regularly: at least twice / year