US Horse Industy John Shelle

Types of Horse Enterprises u Boarding Stables u Pay-to-Rides u Lessons u Training u Race u Show u Stallion Stations u Breeding Farms u First five types of farms are primarily service oriented, operator may not own any horses. u Breeding farm is product oriented, has the lowest opportunity for success.

Types and Breeds of Horses u Three basic types u Draft Horses u Light Horses u Ponies u All are Equus caballus u Same number of chromosomes u Interbreed easily u Selection pressure has resulted in variation

Draft Horses u Field work, pulling competitions, show hitches u Small relatively stable population in the US u Belgians, Percherons and Clydesdales are most numerous u 15 to 18 hands u 1400 to 2500 pounds

Light Horses u Riding, show, racing, ranchwork u Largest number of horses in the US u Arabians, Morgans, Quarter Horses, Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds, etc. u 13-2 to 17-2 hands u pounds

Ponies u Youth mounts, pets, show u Small population in the US and is decreasing u Shetland, Hackneys, Welsh, POA’s (Pony of America)

Donkeys and Mules u Donkey, Equus asinus u Labor, show, pets u Very important for labor internationally u small and light u Mules u Hybrid cross between Equus asinus x Equus caballus u Normally sterile u Excellent work animal

Draft Horse Breeds u Belgian u Clydesdale u Percheron u Most numerous, heavy farm use, pulling competition, chestnut u Most recognized, show horse, flashy, feathering on legs u 2nd most numerous, farm use, black and gray

Light Horse Breeds u Arabians u Morgans u Quarter Horse u Oldest breed, used in development of other breeds, endurance u Developed in NE US, foundation one horse, multipurpose u Most numerous, developed in SW US, ranch horse, sprint racing

Light Breeds (continued) u Standardbred u Thoroughbred u Harness race horse, very prevalent in MI u Racing on the flat and over fences, greatest athlete, developed in England, 2nd oldest breed

Other Light Horse Breeds u Warmbloods Hanovarians, Lipizzans, Dutch Warmblood, Trakehners u Color Breeds Paints, Pintos, Appaloosa, Buckskins, Palominos u Variety of breeds, used as sport horses, excellent athletes u Mostly stock type, color primary criteria for registration

Pony Breeds u Shetland u Hackney u Developed on the Shetland Islands, worked mines, most numerous, youth mount u Coach horse, greatest animation in way of going, show pony, developed in England

Pony Breeds (continued) u Welsh Pony u POA (Pony of America) u Developed in Whales, miniature Arabian, youth mount u Stock type, developed in the US, youth mount, miniature Appaloosa

Horse Production u Parturition (gestation 340 days) u Range (pasture) - Southwestern US, limited human involvement, similar to beef cow-calf production u Stall (inside) - Eastern, Midwestern, western US, human involvement may be extensive, frequent observation

Parturition (continued) u Foaling management varies with value of horses and owners concerned u Dystocias are rare, but are emergencies u Foaling season may dictate care in Midwest (January 1st birth date)

Foal Care u Foal is up and active very quickly usually less than 1 hour u Colostrum very important, most foals will nurse within 1-3 hours u Foal heat scours (7-9 days of age) u Dry feed, begin at about 2 weeks, significant quantities about 1 month

Foal Care (continued) u Milk production falls off at about 45 days, to optimize growth foal needs supplementation ( 14% CP concentrate, good quality hay) u Health care u Vaccinate - Mare before foaling (increase antibodies in colostrum), Foal 1month of age u Deworming - Foal at 1 month and once per month until 1 year of age

Weaning u Varies by breed and owner preference u Two considerations u Growth rate u Mental attitude (socialization) u Three to four months ideal, some may be on mare for 6 months u Method (stress mare not foal) u Cold turkey u Progressive

Weanling Care u Group feeding u 12-14% CP concentrate, good quality roughage u Enhances socialization and provides unlimited exercise u Individual housing u Usually show horses u Questionable socially and from an exercise perspective

Weanling Handling u Imprinting at birth u Leading and tying u Midwest generally pre-weaning u Range raised post-weaning

Yearling Care u Usually handled in groups u May be shown in halter or longe line classes u Trained to longe or stand at halter u Individually stall raised u Feeding (12% CP diet) corn and oats are most frequently used grains

Yearling Health Care u Vaccinations - annual boosters u Deworming - minimum once per every three months u Reach puberty at about 18 months of age

2-3 Year Old Care u Training begins in earnest u Breed and use dependent u Race, start to race as 2 year old u Show, stock horses start to show performance as 2 year old u Most other breeds start to show in performance as 3 year old

2-3 Year Old Management u Feeding u 10-12% CP u Increased energy demand as a result of training u Intake may be a problem in the intensely exercised horse

2-3 Year Old Health Care u Vaccinations u Similar to yearling u Travel as a result of racing or showing may result in more frequent boosters u Deworming at minimum every 3 months u EIA Equine Infectious Anemia u Coggins testing required for show or racing

3-4 Year Old Care u Basically physiologically mature u Feeding u Maintenance horse, good quality hay, may not need concentrate u Exercise or reproduction may increase requirements u Three classes of exercising horses, light, moderate, and heavy exercise u Late gestation and lactation will increase requirements for all nutrients

3-4 Year Old Health Care u Handled similar to 2-3 year old and will be handled in this manner for the remainder of their mature life u Old horses u More old animals than in other species u May need special care relative to teeth and overall health

Reproduction, Stallions u Start reproductive life as 3-4 year olds unless shown or raced u Stallions may be used lightly during 2 year old year, usually fertile into their 20’s u Using stallions for breeding may make training more difficult, therefore may be postponed until after training is completed

Reproduction Mares u Begin breeding as 3-4 year olds normally, may start at 2 most do not. u Breeding may be delayed to accommodate training u Mare is seasonally polyestrous u Transition periods in fall and late winter u Optimum breeding season spring and summer u Anestrous in winter (don’t ovulate)

Reproduction in Mares (cont.) u Estrous cycle u 21 days in length u 5-6 days of estrus u days of diestrus u Ovulation occurs 24 hours before the end of estrus

Breeding Methods u Natural Cover u Pasture breeding, stallion and mare are free roaming u Hand mating, stallion and mare are restrained u Artificial Insemination u Primarily fresh semen u Shipped semen, coordinate time of ovulation with delivery of semen

Future of the US Horse Industry u Back to basic values, youth and amateur u Strong service industry u Forages and alternative feed sources will become more important u Leisure time and economy will influence price and supply cycle

Future of the US Horse Industry (continued) u International demand for US genetics will increase and maintain prices on top quality horses u Changes in gambling laws will change the racing industry and potentially the entire horse industry