Crandal Mergelman

 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

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

 Breeding- breed mares and sell offspring  Training- Train horses for show, competition, or racing  Boarding stables- Facilities for keeping horses (feed and care)

 There are over ten million horses in the United states  Over 16 billion dollars spent in the horse industry annually  Horse racing is the biggest spectator sport in the United States

 pleasure  breeding  working stock  show  sport

 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

 Auctions  Less reliable  Hard to know soundness  Who knows why it’s there  Private horse sales a little more reliable

 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

 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

 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

 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

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

 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

 Every breed has it’s own association.  Largest ones are  AQHA  Jockey Club (Thoroughbred Registration)  APHA  Tennessee Walking Horse Association

 Until recently the U.S. had a slaughter industry.  Horse meat popular in many European countries  Last year horse slaughter was outlawed in U.S.  Now must have a vet euthanize horses with a shot.  Now many unwanted horses are being shipped to Mexico to be overworked or slaughtered in often cruel conditions.  Several groups working to now outlaw exporting horses.

 What will we do with our old and unwanted horses?