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Horse Husbandry Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the ethnological requirements of semi-feral horses?

A

social groups
travel 65-80km/d
forage 16h/d

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2
Q

List the 3 Fs.

A

friends
forage
freedom

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3
Q

What happens if you restrict the 3 Fs?

A

physiological stress response depending on degree of restriction, individual factors, training etc

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4
Q

How does a stress response manifest?

A

post-inhibitory rebound (after restriction will perform behaviour in excess)
learning is impaired (aggression, behavioural issues)
learned helplessness/depression (less likely to engage in environment)
development of abnormal repetitive behaviours

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5
Q

What is an abnormal repetitive behaviour?

A

repeated behaviour that has no function
stress response
oral vs. locomotor

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6
Q

List oral abnormal repetitive behaviours.

A

windsucking
cribbing
abnormal tongue behaviours

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7
Q

List locomotor abnormal repetitive behaviour.

A 
weaving
box walking
pawing
door kicking
head circling/shaking/nodding
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8
Q

What can predispose abnormal repetitive behaviours?

A

genetics

stress response!

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9
Q

Can horses learn abnormal repetitive behaviours from other horses?

A

no

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10
Q

What are the learning differences between horses that have abnormal repetitive behaviours vs. without?

A

with - learn faster, resistant to behaviour change

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11
Q

How do you meet a horse’s ethological needs?

A

daily turnout

group integration

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12
Q

What is a normal social organization for horses?

A

bands of 5-20 (harem, bachelor, juvenile)

herd = 1 or more bands

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13
Q

What is the role of the stallion in a harem band?

A

keeps group together
watches over
plays with young
defends from other stallions

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14
Q

What is the role of the mare in a harem band?

A

older/experienced initiates movement

juveniles stay for a few years - females more likely to stay forever

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15
Q

Explain horse dominance.

A

bilateral
any horse can displace some other horses
use subtle body language
competition more likely in domesticated

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16
Q

What are the situations where aggression is normal?

A

stallions fighting for mating rights

mares with neonates (protecting)

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17
Q

Why are domesticated horses more likely to be aggressive?

A

limited resources
less room for avoidance
more mixing of groups

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18
Q

What is remarkable about horse sight?

A

extreme range of sight - only blind area at forehead & behind them
eyes on side of head

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19
Q

What allows horses to see well in low light?

A

tapetum

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20
Q

What is the function of a corpora nigra?

A

shade from bright light

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21
Q

List the strengths of horse sight.

A

movement detection

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22
Q

List the weaknesses of horse sight.

A

dichromatic (no red/green)
within 1M weak vision
acuity
slow to change in response to light levels

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23
Q

Describe horse ears.

A

large
funnel shaped
individual 180 movement (10 muscles)
very sensitive

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24
Q

What does a horse use its sense of smell for?

A

identification/familiarization of objects/surrounding
greeting other horses
detection of foreign materials (feed/water)

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25
What is the vomeronasal organ?
accessory olfactory in hard palate | detects pheromones
26
What tastes can horses detect?
salt sour sweet bitter
27
Is touch important to horses?
yes, whiskers (vibrissae) on muzzle help gain information important for selective grazing sensitive skin
28
How can you stimulate tactile senses?
``` mutual grooming c-touch fibres for parasympathetic dominance scratching withers (reduce heart rate) ```
29
How do differing housing situations change time budgets?
less like feral = less time grazing & social interaction, more time aware & watching = stress response
30
How long ago did humans domesticate horses?
``` 6000 ya (Ukraine) first use (hunting) 15000ya ```
31
Describe working horses in developing countries.
``` owned by single families transport food/water/people agriculture/trade/tourism supply milk/meat/hide poor welfare ```
32
Describe working horses in the UK.
logging/moving large loads prevents damage to environment police horses used ceremoniously now
33
List horse sports.
``` racing (jump/flat/endurance) show jumping dressage eventing polo ```
34
Describe horse ears.
large on side of head | monocular & binocular vision
35
How do horses draw air into the vomeronasal organ?
flehmen/lip curling response
36
Why might a horse not respond well to a spur/leg pressure?
accidentally conditioned to not respond - not lack of sensation
37
How can you lower a horse's heart rate & calm them?
scratch the withers
38
List the suggested time budgets for horses.
foraging: 51-67% resting: 8-29% locomotion: 4-13% other: up to 10%
39
How do you measure horse emotional state?
valence (affective state) (happy/sad) | arousal (level of alertness)
40
List indicators of arousal.
``` fidgeting/frozen elevated head backward rotation of eye ear angled back/sideways & down facial/muscular tension extended forelegs & flexing hindlegs hyper-vigilance ```
41
Describe the mental capacity of horses.
poorly developed prefrontal cortex no imagination can't problem solve learn through trial & error
42
Describe the memory capabilities of horses.
excellent long term | poor short term
43
List the different phases of learning theory.
non-associative | classical conditioning
44
Describe non-associative learning
``` habituation = learn not to react to stimuli sensitization = learn to react to stimuli ```
45
What determines whether a horse habituates?
perception of potential harm | fear response
46
Describe classical conditioning.
association between two previously unrelated stimulus increases predictability of environment results in response
47
Describe operant conditioning.
.
48
What is an innate reinforcer?
physiological reward | food/scratching withers
49
Describe positive reinforcement.
adding a stimulus to reward the behaviour you want | treat
50
Describe negative reinforcement.
removal of a stimulus to reward a behaviour you want | remove pressure when get what you want
51
What is combined reinforcement?
using both positive and negative reinforcement to train
52
Describe punishment.
making a behaviour less likely positive = adding adverse stimulus to reduce likelihood of behaviour negative = removing positive stimulus to reduce likelihood of behaviour
53
What are some problems with punishment?
``` lowers motivation to try new responses desensitization timing usually isn't appropriate possible extreme response fear response ```
54
What is shaping?
initially reward basic attempt, then ask for more & more | more steps = faster learning
55
Describe the routine for grass kept horses.
``` kept in field @ all times in a herd have shelter (built/natural) fresh constant supply of water q12 checks (horses, plants, garbage, etc.) ```
56
What are the area allowances for grass kept horses.
1 hectare/horse | 0.5 hectare/horse in peek grazing
57
What is a livery yard?
single horses in small fenced off paddocks | check fences q24
58
How to feed grass kept horses?
no addl feed with good grazing | reduce feeding ability if fat OR stable during day & feed soaked hay
59
What is a summer rug?
wrap blanket to prevent biting insects (sweet itch - more susceptible) also fly masks useful
60
How to keep horses at grass in fall/winter?
hay feeder - access for all change diet v. slowly some horses need rugs (breed/clipping/low weight)
61
What is a track system?
create movement mimicking natural lifestyle track around edge of field forage fed
62
What is an equicentral system?
land management - treat horse as part of ecosystem can hold horses off land if needed move horses around so no overgrazing protect ecosystem
63
List potential challenges with the track system.
``` time to adjust injury risk (too narrow & interpersonal) colic human work requirement expensive to set up ```
64
List potential challenges with the equicentral system,/
binge eating = laminitis human work requirement expensive to set up
65
List some poisonous plants for horses (UK). Are they acute or cumulative? What does ingestion cause?
ragwort (cumulative - liver failure) oak (acute/cumulative - kidney damage/internal bleeding) yew (acute - cardiac arrest) bracken (cumulative - carcinogenic & b deficiency) buttercup (abdominal pain & convulsions) foxglove (acute? - and pain, convulsions) privet (acute - paralysis, staggering) sycamore (acute? - atypical myopathy & muscle damage) rhododendron (acute - staggering, abdominal pain, weak pulse)
66
How often should a horse be seen by a farrier?
``` shod = 6-7w unshod = 7-8w ```
67
What is the best way to deworm a horse?
monitor, only deworm when necessary to prevent resistance
68
Describe a stabled horse routine.
AM feed, brush, turnout/forage, muck out, exercised PM bring in, brush, feed
69
List different types of stables.
stalls stables/loose boxes loose housing
70
Describe stalls.
often old buildings tied/lack of freedom convenient for people
71
Describe loose boxes.
free standing doors 4ft wide minimum sizes applicable
72
What is necessary for stable fittings?
minimal water rings for tying feeding (bucket/hay net)
73
Describe loose housing.
access to hay & water housed together with other horses lots of bedding free movement (enough room)
74
Describe bucket water systems.
plastic/rubber refilled/checked q8 easily monitored labour intensive
75
Describe automatic water drinkers
difficult to monitor less labour some don't like can get frozen
76
What are the requirements for bedding?
``` warm dry comfortable encourage lying down clean insulation good for hooves ```
77
Describe stable environment for a hospitalized horse.
isolation must be clean & dust-free DO NOT allow to look out over door (IV catheter) mirror/stimulation

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