Introduction to Equine Science Introduction to Equine

							Introduction to Equine Science

                  AKA- Horses
  This presentation is from Virginia Tech and has not been
          edited by the Georgia Curriculum Office.
     General horse use in U.S.
 75%  are owned for personal pleasure
 25% are for ranching, racing, breeding,
  and commercial riding
    Three main types of horse
           enterprises
 Breeding-   breed mares and sell
  offspring
 Training- Train horses for show,
  competition, or racing
 Boarding stables- Facilities for keeping
  horses (feed and care)
           U.S. Economics
 There  is over ten million horses in the
  United states
 Over 16 billion dollars is spent in the
  horse industry annually
 Horse racing is the biggest spectator
  sport in the United States
         Benefits of horses
 Contribute to economic growth
 Provide people with physical exercise
 Provide a release of tensions
 Responsibility
 Family activities (shows, pleasure)
 Competition (rodeos, racing, etc.)
 Work (ranch, farm, hunting, etc.)
 Fun/pleasure
      Classification by height
A  hand is 4 inches
 Measured from ground to top of withers
 14-2 hands = 58 inches
 Ponies are anything under 14-2 hands
 Horses are anything at or over 14-2
  hands
      General uses of a horse
 pleasure
 breeding
 working   stock
 show
 sport
            Purchasing a horse
 Breeders
  – most reliable
  – more expensive
  – certified quality
 Private   owners
  – good or bad, depending on the reason they
    are selling the horse
  – chance to get to know horse and owner
  – their guarantee may only be as good as
    their word
 Auctions
  – Less reliable
  – Hard to know soundness
  – Who knows why it’s there
  – Private horse sales a little more reliable
         What to do when buying
 Find   out horses history, pedigree if
  possible
 Find out how well it is broke and who
  broke it, if possible
 Age
 Does it have any problems or a history of
  problems (lameness, bucking, disease,
  etc.)
 Is it desirable in appearance
 Watch   it walk and check for soundness in
  legs
 Ride horse (you may want to have the
  owner ride it first)
  – Check for bridle control, stops, athletic ability,
    other qualities that you desire
                  Age
 Younger   horses usually need more
  training and a more experienced rider
 Older horses are usually calmer, well
  broke, and less experienced riders are
  needed
 Prime of life is 5-12 years old
 Many NFR roping horses are near or in
  their twenties
              Sex of horse
 Mares
  – Tend to be moody or flighty, especially
    when in heat and in presence of other
    mares
 Geldings
  – More dependable and steady
 Stallions
  – Hard to manage, especially in presence of
    a mare in heat
                   Breed
 Pick   a breed that will satisfy your needs
  – Quarter horses- rodeo, stock, racing
  – Thoroughbred- racing
  – Arabians- endurance
  – Paints- color, show
Quarter Horse
Thoroughbred
Arabian
Paint