Level V Study Page

This online lesson program is not intended to be a substitute for riding lessons, instead is is intended to be a thorough introduction for non-riders and a valuable educational tool to riders.  Horses can be unpredictable at times and can cause harm to inexperienced handlers, please seek a professional instructor or trainer when applying your knowledge learned during this online lesson program.

1.         Basic nutritional needs of the horse

Water

Clean water must be available at all times.  An average horse will consume up to 12 gallons of water daily, and even more when active.  In the winter horses prefer to drink warm (45-65 degrees) water.  Horses can not eat enough snow to have adequate water consumption.

 

 

 

Pasture

Good quality pasture is always a great way to provide nutrition to a horse.  Although even on high quality pasture horses should be given a mineral supplement.  Horses on pasture only should be monitored closely for weight loss and supplemented with hay and grain when the pasture is going dormant or is over grazed.

 

 

 

Hay

An average horse eats about 10-15 pounds of hay daily (less if grazing on good quality pasture).  Two hay choices are available:  grass hay and legume hay.  The most common hays fed are alfalfa (which is a legume hay) and mixed grass hay.  Alfalfa is high in protein and is suitable for horse with extremely high energy demands.  Grass hay is lower in protein and is more suitable for average horses.   Most grass hay can be fed free choice (unlimited amount).  Since horses require a high amount of roughage, high quality grass hay is preferable.  Of course each horse is an individual, some horses may need restricted diets even on grass hay. 

 

 

 

Grain

 

A fortified grain mix can be fed in controlled quantities, based on horse's weight, age, and activity level.  Horses can not be fed grain free choice as they can over eat and this can create a life threatening condition.   Mature horses that are not active might not require grain, although a good mineral supplement is required.

 

Minerals

Free choice salt should be available for all horses or a mineral supplement for horses fed only hay.  Some mineral supplements are not intended for horse consumption, only feed horse specific supplements and salt blocks.

 

Frequency

 

 

Horses are grazing animals and should be fed at least twice daily to help simulate their natural eating habits.  This will encourage a healthy digestive tract and help cut down on the instances of colic.

2.        Caring for tack

Tack should be kept very clean and not allowed to dry out and become brittle.  Most tack is made out of leather and must be cleaned regularly and oiled to keep moisture in it.  Every time a piece of tack is used, whether it be a bridle, halter, or saddle, inspect it to make sure it is in good, safe working order.  If you notice cracks or tears in the leather do not use it until it is repaired.  Weekly cleaning with Murphy's oil soap (or other similar product) is crucial.  Simply take a small damp sponge (wring out most of the water) and put a small amount of soap on it and work it into the leather.  If your tack has dirt or mud on it repeat procedure until all traces of dirt are gone.  Then simply wipe with a clean cloth.  Do not get  leather extremely wet.  About once a month (or less frequently) you can apply a light coating of  leather oil or conditioner, making sure not to get this on the seat if it is suede.  If you have a show saddle that is light in color you must be very careful when cleaning, too much moisture will darken the finish.  Special products are available for light colored leather.  It is best to keep show tack well covered when not is use to keep it dust free.

 

Some girths and cinches are made out of leather, in this case simply keep clean as directed above.  Others are made out of cord.  These girths must be kept very clean as they cause sores easily.  Fleece covers can be used over leather or cord adding protection, and they can be easily cleaned by throwing them in the wash.  Even nylon girths or cinches are available with fleece sewn on one side, these too can usually be machine washed.  Neoprene cinches and girths are the easiest to take care of and can be hosed off everyday and hung to dry.

 

Saddle pads should be laundered regularly depending on how much you ride.  Some pads made of neoprene or similar material just need sprayed off with a hose and hung to dry, other pads can be washed in a washing machine.  If you have a pad that is not machine washable it is a good idea to use a saddle pad liner that can easily cleaned.  You don't want the pad to be "crusty" on the underside where it is on the horse, this can cause irritation on the horse's back.

3.        Basic western class descriptions

WESTERN PLEASURE

Participants are in the arena together, and are asked to walk, jog, lope and reverse at the direction of the judge.  While being judged, the horses stay on the perimeter of the arena and then are usually brought to the middle of the arena to back for the judge.  Horses are evaluated on how well they move and how willingly they accept commands from their riders.  Horse are shown on a loose rein at a slow rate of speed while maintaining a balanced gait.

WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP

The rider, not the horse is judged in this event. First the riders complete a prescribed pattern individually at the walk, trot or lope. Then they ride as a group similar to in the western pleasure class. The rider’s body position and control of their horse are evaluated.  The pattern should be executed with grace and ease.  There rider should make the performance look effortless.

TRAIL

Participants perform individually in this class.  Horses are guided through an obstacle course by their riders.  Some examples are:  negotiating a gate while mounted; walking, trotting, or loping over ground poles; backing through poles or cones; and side passing over or around objects.  Smoothness and ease of performance are evaluated.

REINING

In this class horses perform individually.  Participants are required to follow a set pattern consisting of circles, straight lines, stops, spins, and roll-backs.  This is a fast paced event that requires great almost invisible communication between the horse and rider.  The horse must follow directions quickly without hesitation.

4.        Basic hunt seat class descriptions

HUNT SEAT EQUITATION

The rider, not the horse is judged in this event. First the riders complete a prescribed pattern individually at the walk, trot or canter. Then they ride as a group similar to in the hunter under saddle class. The rider’s body position and control of their horse are evaluated. The pattern should be executed with grace and ease.  There rider should make the performance look effortless.

HUNTER UNDER SADDLE

Participants are in the arena together, and are asked to walk, trot, canter and reverse at the direction of the judge.  While being judged, the horses stay on the perimeter of the arena and then are usually brought to the middle of the arena to back for the judge.  Horses are evaluated on how well they move and how willingly they accept commands from their riders.  In this rail class a smooth free-flowing stride is advantageous.

HUNTER HACK

Participants jump two fences individually then are evaluated on the flat as in hunter under saddle.  The horses’ way of going and style over fences are considered.

5.        6 illnesses of the horse

Tetanus - Also referred to as "lockjaw".  Caused by a bacteria that lives in the soil.  This bacteria can enter the horse through open wounds.  Symptoms are muscle stiffness and a noticed stiffening of the face and jaw muscles, hence the name "lockjaw".  Mortality rate 80% (that means that 80% of horse that get Tetanus die).  Vaccination is recommended.

 

Encephalomyelitis - Most common stains are Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis.  These viruses are introduced to the horse through mosquito bites.  Symptoms include fever, depression and loss of appetite.  Mortality rate is 50% for the Western strain and 80% for the Eastern strain.  Vaccination is recommended.

 

Influenza ~ This is a very contagious illness that is spread from horse to horse.  Symptoms include cough, fever, nasal drainage, and loss of appetite.  Mortality rate is low.  Vaccination is available.

 

West Nile Virus - This is another form of Encephalomyelitis.  Spread by mosquitoes that fed on infected birds.  This disease is not passed from horse to horse.  Symptoms include:  fever, tremors, stumbling, and loss of appetite.  Mortality rate is 30%.  Vaccination is recommended.

 

Strangles ~ Extremely contagious but very treatable, Strangles is spread from horse to horse by nose to nose contact or by the contamination of objects the injected horse has touched with its nose.  Symptoms are high fever and the swelling of the lymph nodes under the jaw.  Mortality rate is about 2% of treated cases and 15% in untreated cases.  Vaccination is recommended.

 

Rabies - Horse must be bitten by infected animal.  Very rare in equine but mortality is 100%.  Vaccination is recommended.

Colic results in more equine deaths than any other illness. The mortality rate is about 11%. 

 

Colic itself is not a disease but a description of a severe stomach ache.  The pain associated with colic is usually based in the intestines or stomach.  Horses have a very fragile digestive tract and it can be upset by numerous circumstances.  All cases of colic should be monitored closely.  If any of the symptoms below are noticed a veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

 

Symptoms include:

loss of appetite

rolling repeatedly

turning head towards stomach or flank

getting in position to urinate but not urinating

lying down and getting up repeatedly

restlessness

sweating for not reason

appearing to kick at belly

breathing hard while at rest

holding head in an abnormal fashion

reduced bowel movements

 

Prevention

Always provide clean water, and plenty of roughage (hay).  Do not overfeed grain or high energy supplements.  Be consistent in daily feeding schedule by feeding at the same time and same amount every day.  Have a good de-worming program to prevent parasite infestation. 

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