Introduction to Equine Science

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Introduction to Equine Science

• AKA- Horses

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I. Breeds
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II. General horse use in U.S.

• 75 are owned for personal pleasure
• 25 are for ranching, racing, breeding, and
  commercial riding

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III. 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)

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IV. 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

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V. 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

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VI. 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

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VII. General uses of a horse

• pleasure
• breeding
• working stock
• show
• sport

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VIII. 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 guarentee may only be as good as their word

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• Auctions
• Less reliable
• Hard to know soundness
• Who knows why its there
• Private horse sales a little more reliable

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IX. 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

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• 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

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X. 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

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XI. 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

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XII. Breed

• Pick a breed that will satisfy your needs
• Quarterhorses- rodeo, stock, racing
• Thoroughbred- racing
• Arabians- endurance
• Paints- color, show

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