Stable Management Flashcards by Caitlin Holcombe

Why stable a horse?

Protection from the elements/themselves/theft/straying/other horses
To ease management

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What are the 2 main types of stable?

Loose boxes (access directly to outside) 
Barns (access is within a building)

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What is a major issue of deep littered barns?

Poor respiratory condition unless good ventilation

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Describe the main features of looseboxes

Wooden/stone
Frequently in rows/yards
Individual stables with individual or shared airspaces

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Describe the main features of an American barn stable

Individual stables within a larger barn

Usually wide central passageway - sliding doors maximise space

Shared air space or overhead forage/bedding storage

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What is the minimum stable size for large horses?

12 x 14 ft

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What is the minimum stable size for horses?

12 x 12 ft

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What is the minimum stable size for large ponies?

10 x 12 ft

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What is the minimum stable size for ponies?

10 x 10 ft

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What is the minimum stable size for a foaling box?

14 x 14 ft

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What is the minimum stable size for a donkey?

10 x 10 ft

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What is the minimum stable size for average-sized donkeys kept in pairs?

100 sq ft of covered space

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Do donkeys need to be kept in pairs?

Yes

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Is a donkey coat waterproof?

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What are the main examples of bad design features in stables?

Poor drainage
Poor ventilation
Poor furniture design

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What considerations should be made in terms of positioning of a stable block?

Upwind of dust sources

Trees can provide shelter (but also block drains)

South-facing for sunlight in winter

Shelter from prevailing wind

Avoid steep slopes around boxes

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What considerations should be made in terms of doorways of a stable block?

Wide and high to reduce trauma risks 
Half-hinged good for ventilation/confinement as required 
Grills 
Safety catches 
Kick bolts for extra security

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What considerations should be made in terms of draining in a stable?

Slight slope to stable floor
Drainage grooves
Keep drains clear of shavings and leaves

What considerations should be made in terms of fixtures/fittings in a stable block?

Safe positions for tie-ring, water and feeders

Position hay nets on air outflow

Ideally feed everything from floor

Why should you feed a horse from the floor?

Stimulates respiratory tract drainage

So that allergens are left and floor level while horse chews

What considerations should be made in terms of illumination in stables?

Sunlight provides UV light which helps kill pathogens

Clear perspex roof provides illumination in daylight

Electric lights essential at night

How can stable lighting affect reproductive activity in mares?

Daylight hours manipulated to bring mares into oestrus early in the season (requires artificial lighting)

What considerations should be made in terms of stable ventilation?

Need air inlet and outlets
Cobwebs evidence poor ventilation
Insulation and ventilation are linked

How well do horses tolerate low temperatures?

Hypothermia highly unlikely in well fed, rugged individuals - more economical to insulate horse than stable

List some of the different bedding types for stables

``` straw shavings auboise wood pellets paper hemp rubber matting ```

Which factors will affect bedding choice?

``` Personal preference cost effectiveness local availability time maintaining type of horse dust (respiratory health) ```

What are the major stable pollutants?

Dust - carries allergens | Ammonia - locally irritant and reduces mucocillary clearance

How can you reduce dust exposure in stables?

Quality forage/bedding selection Soaking forage Mucking out without horse in stable

How can you reduce ammonia exposure in stables?

Using more absorbent bedding | Increase frequency of mucking out

What is involved in normal mucking out?

Remove all faeces and any wet/soiled bedding Lift all bedding and place clean in one place, allow floor to dry Sweep floor Place remaining bedding on floor Add fresh bedding to banks as required

Why should you allow the stable floor to dry completely before putting fresh bedding down?

reduces ammonia and mould formation

what is involved in mucking out deep litter?

removing droppings fresh bedding put over existing need to remove all bedding at intervals

why isn't deep litter hygienic?

buildup of ammonia | hooves exposed to damp bedding - can encourage thrush

what stable measures can you impose to protect the respiratory system?

feed forage from floor level soak any dusty forage provide quality bedding and muck out daily (not with horse inside) air egress/ingress on at least 2 sides

what stabling considerations should be made for hospitalised patients?

type of bed will depend on patient recumbency/procedure daily full muck out and 2+ skip out complete disinfect between patients muck heap away from stables

what stabling considerations should be made for hospital isolation facilities?

distant and downwind from other horses have own mucking out equipment, feed store, grooming and veterinary equipment everyone wears PPE dirty bedding treated as clinical waste complete empty, disinfect and test between patients

what are the golden rules when feeding horses?

always provide clean water forage should make up most of diet feed little and often avoid sudden changes in diet - keep same daily routine allow time between concentrates and exercise

what methods can be used to restrict grazing?

muzzle strip grazing track system time restriction

what factors should be considerated when feeding hospitalised horses?

starve 2hr pre-op, wet meal post-op cross-tied patients should be given supervised meals from floor (on lead rope) variety of sizes/depths of bucket weigh patients at entry/exit/weekly

what are the ways to exercise horse?

``` ridden lunged horse walker walked in hand/lead out turned out ```

what is the advantage of turning out a horse in an arena?

saves fields from trample

what are the disadvantages of turning out a horse in an arena?

grass seeds from hay nets getting into arena | faeces in surface

what grooming tasks should be carried out daily?

pick out feet ensure areas where tack touches is clean before riding optimum = full groom daily

what methods of fly management are there?

topical repellant spray/cream rugs face masks fly fringes