4 Natural Gaits of Horses
Gait – Is a particular way of going, either natural or learned, which is characterized by a distinctive rhythmic movement of the
feet and legs.1. Walk2. Trot3. Canter4. Gallop
Blemishes/ Unsoundness
• Blemish – an abnormality that does not affect the serviceability of the horse
Examples:1. Wire Cuts2. Rope Burns3. Nail Puncture
Unsoundness – serious abnormalities that does affect the serviceability of the horse.
Examples:1. Bad conformation2. Strain and stress3. Accidents and injuries4. Nutritional deficiencies
Measurements of Horses
• Height – measure from the withers straight down the front legs to the ground.
Unit of Measurement “Hand” = 4 inches
Example:15 hands = 60 inches60 inches = 15 hands
Weight
• Place horse on a scale
• Horse Formula
Heart Girth (in.) x Heart Girth (in.) x Body Length (in.) = Body Weight in Lbs.330
Age
• By the number and the wear of teeth
Example:Describe how the teeth of a 5 year old horse’s
are different from a 20 year old horse?
5yrs- nearly perpendicular20yrs- slant sharply forward
Conformation
• Conformation- body shape and form
Desirable: Level backWell muscled quartersAlert Carriage of head and ears
Faults: Swayback Paunchy stomach Narrow heart girth
Scientific Names
• Scientific name = Used in scientific writings to reduce confusion of multiple common names, the scientific name (or Latin name) of an animal is two words long; consisting of the genus and species names. The entire name is written in italics (or underlined if italics are not available), with the genus capitalized.
• Example: Humans = Homo sapiens
Scientific Classification• Kingdom – Animalia (animal)
Phylum – Chordata (vertebrate) Class – Mammalia (mammal)
Order – Perissodactyla (nonruminant) Family – Equidae (rhino, rabbit, tapir) Genus – Equus (horses, mule, zebra)
Species – caballus (horses)
• Equus caballus = is the correct Genus/species name for horses
• Equus Assinus = is the correct Genus/species name for a donkey
Horse Terms
• Equine = scientific name for all “horses”• Equestrian = a person engaged in horse work
or activity• Farrier = a hoof caretaker of horses• Lactation = producing milk• Cheval = horse meat• Gestation = length of pregnancy (11 months• Conformation = body shape and form• Equus caballus = is the correct Genus/species
name for horses
• Unsoundness – serious abnormalities that does affect the serviceability of the horse.
• Blemish – an abnormality that does not affect the serviceability of the horse
• Gait – Is a particular way of going, either natural or learned, which is characterized by a distinctive rhythmic movement of the feet and legs
• Stud – adult male horse• Mare – adult female horse• Foal – young horse• Gelding – castrated horse• Filly – young female• Colt – young male