Equine Reproduction Management

1
Equine Reproduction Management

• Dr. Jeff S. Pendergraft

2
Introduction

• Material for Exam I

3
Introduction

• The development of the modern horse?
• Eohippus possibly
• Natural Section
• Survival of the fittest
• Many types of prehistoric horses were developed.

4
Relative size and structural differences between
4 primitive ancestors of Equus.
Introduction
A. Eohippus B. Mesohippus C. Merychippus D.
Pliohippus E Equus caballus
5
Evolutionary flow chart for Equus caballus.
6
Introduction

• We can attribute the foundation of the domestic
  horse to
• Forest horse
• Przewalskiis (Asiatic Wild Horse)
• Tarpan

7
Forest Horse

• May of existed in the marshlands of Europe.
• Stood about 15 hands.
• Thick-legged and heavy-bodied, weighing approx.
  1200.

8
Przewalskii Asiatic Wild Horse

• Only surviving member of the primitive trio.
• Lived mainly on the steppes of Mongolia.
• Dev. cold resistance to protect himself from
  frequent frosts.
• Homepage for the Przewalskii http//www.treemail.n
  l/takh/

9
The Tarpan

• Was a strong
  influence on light
  horse
  stock.
• Last wild Tarpan
  died in 1880
  
  (Ukraine).
• Reconstituted herd, bred-back from
  Tarpan-related stock, exists in a semi-wild state
  in Poland.
• Homepage for the Tarpan http//www.ansi.okstate.ed
  u/breeds/HORSES/TARPAN/index.htm

10
Introduction

• Domestication of the horse introduced human
  intervention into the natural process. (2000 -
  4000 B.C.)
• Modern horse is a product of
• selective breeding supported by
• advances in both agricultural and commercial
  practices.
• continually improving methods of management.

11
Introduction

• There are two types of breeding
• Natural
• Survival of the fittest
• Artificial
• Human intervention

12
Artificial Selection

• Primitive horses were accustomed to roaming free,
  but did adjusted to mans control.
• In contrast to nature, earliest breeders selected
  for
• temperament
• learning ability
• speed

13
Artificial Selection

• Mans earliest attempt to select for speed.
• Selection methods
• 1. Confine and withhold water, turn loose, first
  ones to the water you kept.
• 2. Gallop horses for several days
• - reduce food intake 2 wk.
• - stake in open and throw ice on them
• - galloped for several days again
• - fittest survived

14
Artificial Selection

• Mans influence over the horse caused significant
  reductions in fertility.
• In the wild, conception rates approached 100.
• mares cycle more regularly
• stallions able to detect estrus more effectively
• Captivity has an adverse effect on breeding
  process.
• Why?

15
Breeding Process

• The past 3,000 yr. has enabled man to develop
  specific groups and types of horses.
• Stringent selection can eventually create breeds
  of beauty and / or usefulness.
• Horse persons have learned that tampering with
  nature can create imbalances.
• Sometimes, humans make errors by selecting what
  is beautiful but not functional.

16
Breeding Process

• First Domestic Herds
• Breeding took place by tying in-season females
  out where they would have attracted wild
  stallions to breed them.
• Still practiced in parts of the world.
• feral and semi-feral stocks still exist.

17
Basic Horse Types

• Classifications
• Light Horses
• used under saddle and carriage
• Pony proportions are unique.
• Heavy Horses
• broad, thick structure, and allow for the
  exertion of great strength at slow speeds.

18
Classification

• Hotbloods - unique purity of line possessed
  by no other breed of horses in the world.
• Coldbloods - term given to the heavy draft
  horses of Europe.
• Warmblood - horses combining cold
• and hot blood in various percentages.

19
Where to find breeds
Ashford Farm Pin Oak Farm Thoroughbred Connection

• Horse Breed
• Oklahoma