AHPS Horses

Question 1

At what age are horses usually weaned?

Answer 1

6 months

Question 2

What does the brand on the left shoulder represent?

Answer 2

The stud brand

Question 3

What does the brand on the right shoulder represent?

Answer 3

Top = drop number i.e the number foal this was for that season
Bottom = The year the horse was born. If january foal, this would be the number from the previous year.

Question 4

What are the five current important issues for the horse industry?

Answer 4

Infectious disease threats

Environmental issues such as drought and urban expansion reducing the amount of possible horse land

Animal welfare e.g jumps racing, disposal of horses post race, feral horses

Medication control of horses in sports

Human OHS when handling horses

Question 5

What are the three important infectious diseases that are a threat to AU horse industry?

Answer 5

African Horse Sickness

Equine influenza * most important *

Vesicular stomatitis

Question 6

Who regulates the import of horses to AU?

Answer 6

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)

Question 7

What quarantine measures are imposed on imported horses to AU?

Answer 7

Held for 2 weeks in country of origin

Held for a further 2 weeks here

Question 8

Which country is exempt from tough quarantine regulations for horse transit into / from AU?

Answer 8

NZ

Question 9

What kind of protection does the Hendra virus vaccine provide?

Answer 9

Against horse-horse and horse-human infection. It does not prevent the horse from becoming infected in the first place. ?

Question 10

What does AUSVETPLAN do?

Answer 10

Guide the control and management of an outbreak of the diseases that are added to it.

Question 11

What causes thumps? What is it

Answer 11

Irregular spasming of the diaphragm as a result of electrolyte disturbances due to fluid loss. usually via excessive sweating

Question 12

What is the inter-oestrus interval of a mare?

Answer 12

~21 days

Question 13

How long does oestrus occur for?

Answer 13

5 days

Question 14

What occurs in dioestrous?

Answer 14

The CL persists and secrete progesterone. The mare is not receptive to a male at this time

Question 15

When does a mare ovulate?

Answer 15

24-48h after oestrus finishes

Question 16

When do most mares naturally start to cycle again?

Answer 16

Late September/ early October

Question 17

When does the foal heat occur?

Answer 17

Average about 10 days after parturition.

Question 18

What methods are available to serve a mare again soon after birthing, but not during the foal heat?

Answer 18

Daily progestagen supplementation

Prostaglandin dose during dioestrous after foal heat to short cycle mare into next heat

Question 19

Under what conditions are foals born before August 1 permitted to race with the foals from that year?

Answer 19

If the dam was served after Sept 1 of the previous year

Question 20

What is the Standardbred birthday in AU?

Answer 20

September 1

Question 21

How long might you expose a mare to lights before September to encourage oestrous?

Answer 21

Up to 10 weeks

Question 22

What are some of the signs that a mare is in heat?

Answer 22

Carry tail raised
Repeatedly evert the clitoris from the clitoral fossa (winking)
Frequent voiding of small amounts of urine
Stand close to another mare/horse
Flaccid, moist, open cervix
Oedematous endometrial folds detected with ultrasound

Question 23

What diameter are follicles usually before they rupture?

Answer 23

4.5 cm

Question 24

What is the typical follicle growth rate?

Answer 24

3-5 mm/ day

Question 25

A mare is observed to have a 3.5cm follicle. What should the manager do?

Answer 25

Give Ovuplant and breed the next day. Sperm can survive for a couple of days in the genital tract.

Question 26

When would Ovuplant be indicated? When would you breed after giving it?

Answer 26

When the follicle is >3cm Induces ovulation within 48h in most cases Breed the following day

Question 27

When is the first ultrasound ? What are you looking for?

Answer 27

Day 10 - 14 post ovulation. Looking for evidence of a pregnancy. Twins may be evident and it is possible to crush one at this stage.

Question 28

What is the significance of twin detection post day 16?

Answer 28

One may be safely manually ablated only if the conceptuses are in separate uterine horns

Question 29

What percentage of twin pregnancies revert to a single after day 40?

Answer 29

60 - 80%

Question 30

How can you terminate both pregnancies if twins post day 40?

Answer 30

Injection of prostaglandin. If you can get to it before day 35, the mare will cycle again and you might still get a foal that season.

Question 31

When is the second ultrasound? What is it looking for?

Answer 31

Day 25 - 28 post ovulation. - reassess viability - heart beat should be present - ensure twin is gone if you crushed it

Question 32

When is the third ultrasound? What is its purpose?

Answer 32

Day 40 - to confirm a single pregnant. Stud fee usually due.

Question 33

From which time can you determine the sex of the foetus?

Answer 33

Day 60 - 70

Question 34

What event occurs at day 35? What significance is this to the breeder?

Answer 34

Endometrial cups start to form and produce pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG)/ eCG (equine chorionic gonadotrophin) Once these have formed, the mare will not return to cycling if she loses her pregnancy, as they continue to secrete hormone irrespectively.

Question 35

At what times should EHV1 vaccination occur?

Answer 35

5th, 7th and 9th months of pregnancy

Question 36

What vaccinations should a pregnant mare receive, and when?

Answer 36

Tetanus and Strangles booster 4 weeks before foal due

Question 37

What event marks the end of stage 1 of labour?

Answer 37

Rupture of the chorioallantoic membrane

Question 38

What is the shiny white foetal membrane?

Answer 38

The amnion

Question 39

What is the time range for passage of the foetal membranes in horses?

Answer 39

3-4 hours, though within 30 - 90 minutes is best

Question 40

What are the important three milestones in a foals first few hours?

Answer 40

On feet within 1 hour Suckling within 2 hours Urinating and defecating shortly after

Question 41

What is a good rate of suckling for the first few weeks?

Answer 41

7/hour in the first week of life | 2-3/hour thereafter

Question 42

What is an appropriate SG for colostrum?

Answer 42

> 1.060

Question 43

How long until colostrum is replaced by normal milk?

Answer 43

About 5h

Question 44

When should you first evaluate success of passive transfer?

Answer 44

24h old

Question 45

When to worm?

Answer 45

Every 2 - 3 months Should worm the mare before foaling to protect the foal

Question 46

When to vaccinate?

Answer 46

At 3 - 4 months as this is when maternal abs start to wane

Question 47

What is a possible vaccination protocol for a new foal

Answer 47

3 months: tetanus + strangles 3 months and 2 weeks: strangles 4 months: Hendra + tetanus 4 months and 3 weeks: Hendra

Question 48

When are boosters due?

Answer 48

Tetanus due every 5 years though recommended annually | Strangles and Hendra boosters biannually

Question 49

When do horses reach sexual maturity? When are fillies and colts usually separated?

Answer 49

Around 18 - 24 months | At weaning

Question 50

How much colostrum does a newborn require?

Answer 50

At least 10% of its bodyweight

Question 51

What can you use if horse milk replacer is unavailable?

Answer 51

Sheep , goat and cow milk replacers are all okay.

Question 52

A 3.8cm follicle is observed. What should the manager do?

Answer 52

Breed today

Question 53

What value constitutes a fail of passive transfer?

Answer 53

<400mg/dl

Question 54

What value constitutes a partial fail of passive transfer?

Answer 54

400 - 800 mg/dl

Question 55

What value constitutes a success of passive transfer?

Answer 55

>800mg/dl

Question 56

Which hormones are high when a horse ovulates?

Answer 56

Oestrodiol, Leutenising hormone