BRONZE SAMPLE Do not print - British Horse Society · including tetanus and highly contagious...
15
KNOWING YOUR HORSE BRONZE SAMPLE Do not print
Transcript of BRONZE SAMPLE Do not print - British Horse Society · including tetanus and highly contagious...
KNOWING YOUR HORSE BRONZE
SAMPLE
Do not
Understand how to look after horses by developing your knowledge of basic anatomy and feeding. Know why they need to be fit and healthy for the activities you do together.
By completing this award you will find out:• The various colours and markings horses
can have• The names for different parts of the horse• How to recognise signs of good and
poor health• How to keep your horse healthy • The rules of feeding and watering horses • Why a ridden horse should be fit and
how to recognise an unfit horse
KNOWING YOUR HORSE
BRONZEIMAGE
SAMPLE
Do not
4 5
ColoursIt is not only the coat that is looked at to describe a horse’s overall colour but also the colour of their ‘points’.
The terms that refer to male and female horses or ponies are:
Foal: A filly or colt under 1 year old
Filly: A young female horse under 4 years old
Colt: A young male horse under 4 years old that has not been castrated
Mare: A female over 4 years old
Gelding: A male that has been castrated (had his testicles removed by a vet)
Stallion: A male over 4 years old that has not been castrated
When describing colour, the points you refer to are the: muzzle, tips of the ears, mane and tail, knees, hocks and the lower limbs.
FACT !
Male horses and ponies are often castrated before they turn two years old as this makes them more docile and easier to handle. Stallions should only be handled by experienced people as they can be very strong and unpredictable.
DID YOU KNOW...??
IDENTIFICATION
mare (left) and foal (right). Image by Fell Pony Society
Fleabitten grey – freckled appearance
SAMPLE
Do not
6 7
A dorsal stripe is a strip of hair which runs down the length of the horse’s spine.
A flaxen mane and tail means the hair in the mane and tail is lighter than the coat.
DID YOU KNOW...? DID YOU KNOW...?? ?
Bay – brown with black points
Chestnut – ginger or red coat, mane and tail can be flaxen
Dun – yellow or golden colour with black points and a black dorsal stripe
Grey – white and black hairs throughout the coat, usually lightens with age
Dark iron grey
Piebald – patches of black and white over the body
Palomino (left) – yellow or golden coat with flaxen mane and tail
Skewbald (right) – patches of white and another colour apart from black over the body
SAMPLE
Do not
8 9
Face and leg markingsHorses often have white markings on their face and/or their legs. When describing a horse’s colour you can also include these markings, which have specific names depending on their position and the area they cover.
Facial markings
Leg markingsLeg markings are described by the parts of white covering the leg. For example white to hock or white to fetlock. An ermine mark is a black mark on the coronet band.
Stripe – narrow white line running down the centre of the face
Snip – small white mark on the muzzle
Blaze – wide white line which goes over the nasal bones and runs down the centre of the face
Sock
White above fetlock
White face – white marking covering the forehead, eyes, nose and muzzle
You will learn more about passports as part of the knowing your horse gold.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
A white marking reaching to the knee or hock is also known as a sock. A white marking reaching above the knee or hock is also known as a stocking.
DID YOU KNOW...??A horse’s markings are drawn in his passport to help identify him. A passport is a legal requirement for all horses, ponies and donkeys in the UK and also records their vaccinations and medications.
DID YOU KNOW...??
SAMPLE
Do not
10 11
It is useful to know the parts of the horse, particularly if you need to
ANATOMY
Muzzle
Chin groove
Throat
Mane
Point of shoulder
Forearm
Knee
12
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 13
1415
16
17
18
1920
21
2223
24
25
26
2728
1 8 15 22
2 9 16 23
3 10 17 24
5 12 19 26
4 11 18 25
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
Cannon
Pastern
Chestnut
Elbow
Barrel
Stifle
Coronet
Hoof
Fetlock
Cannon
Hock
Point of buttocks
Quarters
Point of hip
Croup
Loins
Back
Withers
Crest
Poll
Ears
describe to someone where an injury is on your horse.
Parts of the foot
Cleft of frog
Seat of corn
Frog
White line
Sole
Point of frog
Wall
Bars
Bulb of heel
1
2
3
5
4
6
7
8
9
12
3
45
6
7
8
9
The BHS have produced a video ‘How to identify parts of the leg and foot’ that goes over the points above. You can find it on our Education Hub website in the video library under the resource hub menu.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
SAMPLE
Do not
12 13
HEALTH
Whether you have your own horse, loan, share or ride horses at a riding school, it is important for you to recognise signs of
good and ill health in horses as you will be responsible for your horse’s welfare while he is in your care.
Signs of good health Signs of ill health
Bright eyes Dull eyes or signs of discharge
Shiny coat The coat looks dull or is standing up on end (can be a sign the horse is cold)
Alert, interested in what is going on Hiding at the back of the stable not interested in what is happening
Eating and drinking normally Not eating or drinking, or drinking excessively
Droppings and urine are normal and passed regularly
Not passing urine or droppings or droppings are very hard or very loose
Standing evenly on all four feet
May rest a hind leg if relaxed or dozing
Not putting weight on one front foot
No abnormal heat or swelling in legs Abnormal heat or swelling in legs
Normal respiration rate (usually 8-16 breaths per minute)
Increased respiration rate for no apparent reason
Taking a horse’s temperature and pulse can also help you decide if a horse is unwell. You will learn about this in the silver award.
FACT !All horses are individuals and what constitutes as ‘normal’ in one horse won’t necessarily be the same for another. If you’re a horse owner, know how much water your horse usually drinks, how often he goes to the toilet and what his droppings look like so you can recognise when something is not right.
TOP TIP i
The BHS holds First Aid for Horses courses, presented by local vets in your area. These cover topics such as when to call the vet, basic first aid and caring for injured or ill horses. Visit your regional page on the BHS website to find courses in your area.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
SAMPLE
Do not
14 15
Routine checksMonitoring your horse’s health should be part of your daily routine.
Checks to make or questions to ask yourself each day include:• Is he standing comfortably? • Is he interested in what is going on? • Is he happy to walk and move about
the stable or field? • Has he been eating his hay? Has all the
bucket feed been eaten? Is he grazing? • If he has a water bucket has he been
drinking out of it? • Are there droppings in the stable and
do they look normal? • Is he displaying his normal behaviour?• Are there any signs of injury such as
cuts or swellings?
Field kept horses should be checked at least twice a day. The herd should be grazing or standing fairly close together. A horse who is standing away from the main herd and showing no interest in what is happening should be checked for signs of injury or illness.
What to do if you suspect something is wrongIf you have carried out your checks and are concerned about your horse you should tell your coach or yard manager and see what they advise. It may be that your horse needs to see a vet, farrier or other industry professional. If you are worried about a horse which does not belong to you then speak to the owner, yard manager or a member of staff on the yard.
The colour and consistency of horse’s droppings will change with diet. They should not be very hard or loose.
FACT !
The routine checks questions describe the basic signs we look for on a daily basis. You will explore these in further detail as we progress through the knowing your horse silver and gold challenge awards.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
If you are a horse owner there are a variety of industry professionals who can help you to keep your horse is good health and provide practical advice. These include: vets, registered farriers, equine dental technicians, and other experts such as BHS Accredited Professional Coaches and BHS Welfare Officers.
TOP TIP i
Preventing the spread of diseasesPreventing disease is important as not only will it protect the health of your horse but it is often cheaper to prevent a disease than treat it. Some diseases can limit the health and performance of your horse in the future or can even prove fatal.
Vaccinations are available for a number of illnesses that affect horses in the UK including tetanus and highly contagious diseases such as equine influenza (flu).
Tetanus is caused by bacteria that live in the soil entering a horse’s blood stream via a wound. Horses are particularly susceptible to it due to the environment they live in. Tetanus can be fatal for horses but the vaccination offers full protection against it. Vaccinating your horse will not stop him from catching flu but it will greatly reduce the severity of the symptoms should he come into contact with it.
Horses that travel overseas or are used for breeding require to have additional vaccinations.
FACT !
Only a vet can give your horse a vaccination. Vaccinating against tetanus and equine flu involves a series of three initial injections given over the first year followed by annual boosters.
DID YOU KNOW...??
Download our free leaflet Tetanus and Equine Influenza Vaccinations, from our website www.bhs.org.uk/welfareleaflets
WANT TO KNOW MORE? SAMPLE
Do not
16 17
Trimming and shoeingHooves which are long and overgrown not only lead to discomfort and pain but may also cause your horse to trip and stumble.
Checking the condition of your horse’s feet should form part of your daily routine. Signs that indicate your horse needs shoeing include:
If your horse is barefoot:• Splits or cracks in the hoof wall• Your horse tripping or stumbling
more than usual
If your horse is shod:• The nails that hold the shoe in place
are sticking up away from the hoof
• Any nails are missing • You might hear the shoe clanking as
your horse walks which means it is loose and might fall off
• You might see the hoof has grown longer than the shoe or there may be splits or cracks in the hoof wall
Horses can either be left barefoot or have shoes put on their feet. Speak to your farrier to discuss whether or not your horse requires shoes; it will likely depend on how much ridden work they do and the condition of their feet.
Horse’s hooves grow continuously (similar to our own hair and nails) and require trimming approximately every 4-6 weeks by a qualified farrier to keep them in good shape.
DID YOU KNOW...??
The nails the farrier uses are called clenches. If they stick up this is known as ‘risen clenches’.
DID YOU KNOW...??
A farrier should be suitably qualified and registered to the Farriers Registration Council (FRC). Ask your coach or a BHS Welfare Officer to recommend one, or alternatively you can find a farrier on the FRC website: www.farrier-reg.gov.uk
TOP TIP i
If you have not seen a horse being shod before, ask your coach if you can arrange to watch a farrier at work the next time they visit your yard – you will find it very interesting!
FACT !
SAMPLE
Do not
18 19
BiosecurityHorses do not have to be in direct contact with each other to pass on a virus, it can be passed indirectly via human contact, on fence posts and rails or via grooming brushes and feed buckets.
There is a basic level of biosecurity you can implement on a daily basis to reduce the risk of passing an infection or disease from one horse to another: • Your horse should have its own set of
equipment (brushes, feed and water buckets, etc) which should not be used on any other horse
• Grooming brushes should be regularly disinfected to kill any germs. Items such as saddle pads and girths should be frequently washed to remove sweat, dirt and germs
• All buckets should be thoroughly scrubbed daily
• When tacking up or grooming check your horse for signs of skin disease such as bald patches, raised lumps or scabs. Report anything you find to your coach
If a horse on the yard does have a disease you may be required to disinfect your boots before and after leaving the yard or wear overalls if you have to work with the horse. The yard manager will always inform you if you are required to follow any procedures like this.
At most riding centres the tack and equipment for each horse is named so you will know which horse to use it for. If you find equipment that is not labelled or you are unsure if it is suitable to use, check with your coach or the yard staff before using it.
TOP TIP i
Biosecurity is the term given to the practices and procedures that can reduce the risk of an infectious disease outbreak.
DID YOU KNOW...??
SAMPLE
Do not
20 21
• Fresh clean water should be available at all times – To keep the horse hydrated
• Feed little and often – The horse’s stomach is roughly the size of a rugby ball and therefore cannot cope with large amounts of bucket feed in one go
• Feed plenty of fibre – The horse’s digestive system is sensitive and works most efficiently when fibre (grass, hay or haylage) is passing through it
• Each horse should be fed according to its age, bodyweight, the work it does and its temperament – Every horse is an individual and therefore their feed requirements will be different
• Always weigh feeds – To make sure your horse receives the same amount of feed in each meal
• Give your horse good quality feed – Feeding dusty, poor quality or mouldy food can cause illness
• Make any changes to feed or forage gradually – To allow your horse’s digestive system time to adapt to the new diet and prevent digestive upset
• Do not work your horse straight after a bucket feed – Your horse needs time to digest the food before working
• Keep to a routine – Horses thrive on a regular routine and it helps to keep them relaxed. Stress can have a dangerous impact on a horse’s digestive health
Horses are ‘trickle feeders’ which means they have adapted to be continuously digesting forage rather than having large meals with periods of starvation in between.
DID YOU KNOW...??
A full stomach can press on the lungs and compromise performance.
DID YOU KNOW...??
Download our free leaflet Advice on Basic Feeding, from our website www.bhs.org.uk/welfareleaflets
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
High fibre feeds such as grass, hay, haylage and chaff are collectively referred to as forage.
FACT !
In the knowing your horse gold challenge award you will learn to calculate the amount of food your horse requires using his bodyweight and workload.
FACT !
FEEDING
A horse’s diet plays an important role in their overall health and wellbeing and allows them to perform at their optimum.
The rules of feeding should be applied to keep your horse healthy and ensure he receives the nutrition he needs.
SAMPLE
Do not
22 23
Weighing and hanging up a haynet• Tie the haynet directly to the ring and
secure it with a quick release knot• Make sure the haynet is tied up high
enough so that your horse cannot get a leg stuck in it as the net is emptied and hangs down lower
• The full haynet should be weighed using a spring balance to make sure your horse receives the correct amount
Providing water in the stableThe first rule of feeding is that horses must have access to clean fresh water at all times. The two most common ways to provide water for your horse are:
Plastic or rubber buckets placed in the corner of the stable are an easy way to provide water for your horse and also allow you to see how much your horse is drinking. The buckets should be turned so the handles are against the wall and they should be scrubbed daily to keep them clean. Ensure they are checked and refilled regularly.
An automatic drinker is a bowl fitted on the wall in the stable which is connected by a pipe to a water tank so it refills automatically each time your horse drinks. The downside to these types of drinkers is that you cannot monitor how much your horse is drinking. They require cleaning daily to keep the bowl clean and it is important to keep an eye on them during the winter as the pipes can freeze in the cold weather.
Soaking haySome horses suffer from respiratory problems brought on by the dust, spore and seed content found in hay. Soaking hay can help alleviate these issues.
6 STEPS to soaking hay1. Fill a haynet with the required
amount of hay
2. Put the haynet in a tub or trough
3. Completely cover the hay in water
4. Leave the hay to soak for around 10 minutes
5. Drain the water
6. Feed the hay within a few hours of soaking it so it does not dry out again
Soaking for longer will remove some nutrients and sugars from the hay which can be beneficial for overweight horses.
DID YOU KNOW...??
For this award you will not be required to work out how much hay to provide your horse but you should be able to fill a net to a specific weight.
DID YOU KNOW...??
Hay and haylageThe two main sources of fibre for horses, other than grass, are hay and haylage. Although they look similar haylage has a distinctive smell and is wetter than hay to touch. If you are in any doubt which is which ask your coach rather than risk feeding the wrong one.
Hay can be fed dry or soaked.
DID YOU KNOW...??
Haylage on the left, hay on the right
How to provide hay or haylageThe most natural way to provide hay or haylage to your horse in the stable is to put it on the floor so the horse stretches his neck down to eat it as he would to eat grass in the field. However, this method can be wasteful as your horse may drag the hay into his bed rather than eat it.
A less wasteful way to feed hay is to put it in a haynet. The horse has to twist his head and neck and pull at the hay through the holes so it makes a small amount last longer but as the horse keeps his head up to eat it is not a natural feeding position.
A hay rack is similar to a haynet but it is usually fixed in position in the stable.
A hay bar placed across the corner of the stable will help to prevent the horse dragging the pile of hay into his bed and wasting it. It also encourages a more natural feeding position as the horse can stretch his head and neck down to eat it. These need to be checked regularly for safety.
Hay is made up of a variety of cut grasses that are left to dry in the field before baling.
Meadow hay is made from old pasture and may include lots of different grasses and herbs while seed hay consists of grasses that have been sown specifically for growing hay and may only contain a few different types.
Haylage is made from cut grasses, baled when damp and wrapped in plastic making it airtight. Bacteria within the bale then break down the sugars in the grasses. Haylage does not need to be soaked as it already contains a high moisture content.
SAMPLE
Do not
24 25
Whether you enjoy schooling or pleasure rides or you wish to compete your horse in a chosen discipline, your horse needs to be fit enough for the activity.
FITNESS
If your horse is not fit enough he is likely to tire quicker and the potential for risk of injury increases. A tired horse is more likely to knock a jump down or stumble on the flat which could cause a fall or injury. Horses that are unfit may not enjoy being ridden and they could develop behavioural issues or bad habits in an attempt to avoid the activity.
Horses that are fit enough for the work they are doing are less likely to injure themselves, are more likely to perform better, will find the work easier and recover quicker.
Signs that your horse may not be fit• Struggling to go forward and moving
slower during work• Stumbling or losing balance as you
progress through the session• Breathing rate may increase quickly
compared to the amount of work being done
• Taking a long time to recover his breathing rate to normal at the end of a session. A fit horse should recover their normal breathing rate within five minutes
24
SAMPLE
Do not
26 27
Knowing your horse – bronze Achieved (date and signature)
Identification • I can describe horses using: a) colour b) face markings c) leg markings d) gender
Anatomy • I can identify points of the horse• I can identify parts of the foot
Health • I can list signs of good and poor health• I can carry out routine daily health checks • I can recognise when and why a horse requires shoeing
or trimming • I can describe how to reduce the risk of disease on a yard
Feeding • I can list the rules of feeding• I can recognise hay and haylage• I can describe methods to provide hay or haylage to a horse• I can describe how to soak hay• I can identify methods to provide water in the stable
Fittening • I can describe why a ridden horse should be fit• I can describe signs that may indicate a horse is not fit
Name of coach:
Name of participant:
Membership number:
Membership number:
Date completed:
Coach signature:
Congratulations! You have achieved the knowing your horse – bronze challenge award!What’s next?Your coach will notify us at BHS HQ and we will post your challenge award certificate to your coach. You can now move on to your next challenge award!
Feedback from your coach:
SAMPLE
Do not
bhs.org.uk/pathways
SAMPLE
Do not
