Horse Evaluation

1
Horse Evaluation

• Equine Science Technology

2
Horse Evaluation

• How to Select a Horse
• As with other classes of farm animals, any one or
  a combination of all four of the following
  methods may serve as a basis for selecting
  horses
• Individuality
• Pedigree
• Show-ring winnings
• Progeny testing.

3
Horse Evaluation

• Selection based on Individuality
• The horse should be purchased within a price
  range that the rider can afford.
• The amateur should have a quiet, gentle,
  well-broke horse that is neither headstrong nor
  unmanageable.
• The size of the horse should be in proportion
  with the size of the rider.
• The horse should be well suited to the type of
  work to be performed.

4
Horse Evaluation

• Selection Based on Pedigree
• Complete pedigrees in terms (speed, show
  winnings, etc.) can be useful
• Pedigree selection is of special importance where
  animals are so young that their individual merit
  cannot be determined with any degree of certainty.

5
Horse Evaluation

• Selection Based on Show-Ring Winnings
• Breeders of pleasure horses have long used
  show-ring records as a basis of selection.
• The show record may be a most valuable criterion
  in indicating the utility value of a horse.

6
Horse Evaluation

• Selection Based on Progeny Testing
• Although selection based on progeny testing is
  the most infallible tool available to the horse
  breeder, it must be pointed out that the
  following limitations exist
• Because of the relatively few offspring, it is
  difficult to apply progeny testing to females.
• There is a hazard that the stallion being tested
  will be bred to only a few select mares and that
  only the top offspring can be tested.

7
Horse Evaluation

• Considerations When Buying a Horse
• Although many fine horses are bought and sold at
  sales, there is little opportunity to try them
  out.
• Many reputable breeders or dealers will let the
  prospective buyer take a horse home to try out.
• The price is important.
• Although a high price may be justified for
  superior breeding and performing horses, sound
  judgment should always prevail.

8
Horse Evaluation

• Considerations When Buying a Horse
• Before buying a horse, the buyer should have the
  horse examined by a licensed veterinarian.
• The buyer should always be on the alert for
  possible misrepresentations.

9
Horse Evaluation

• What to Look For
• A horse must conform to the specific type that
  fits the function it is to perform.
• The horse should be true to the characteristics
  of the breed that it represents.

10
Horse Evaluation

• Balance
• Balance refers to the overall symmetry of the
  horse.
• Balance is best evaluated by viewing the horse
  from the side.
• All parts should blend and appear symmetrical.

11
Horse Evaluation

• Good Head, Neck, and Shoulders
• The head should be well proportioned to the rest
  of the body, refined and clean cut, with a
  chiseled appearance.
• The neck should be fairly long.
• It should be carried high,
• Slightly arched,
• Lean and muscular, and
• Clean-cut above the throatlatch with the head
  well set.

12
Horse Evaluation

• Ample Chest and Barrel
• Well sprung ribs are desired.
• A deep wide chest
• A large, full heart girth provides needed space
  for vital organs
• It indicates a strong constitution

13
Horse Evaluation

• Well-Muscled Arm, Forearm, and Gaskin
• The muscles of the arm, forearm, and gaskin
  should be well developed.
• The powerful muscles of the croup, thigh, and
  gaskin give the animal the ability to pull, jump,
  or run.

14
Horse Evaluation

• Correct Legs, Feet, and Pasterns
• No foot, no horse.
• The legs should be straight, true, and squarely
  set the bone well placed and clearly defined.
• The pasterns should be sloping the feet large
  and wide at the heels.
• The hock should be large, clean, wide from front
  to back, deep clean cut, and properly set.
• The knee should be deep from front to rear, be
  wide when viewed from the front, be straight, and
  taper gradually into the leg.

15
Horse Evaluation

• Blemishes- include those abnormalities that do
  not affect the serviceability of a horse. Such
  unsightly things as wire cuts, rope burns, nail
  punctures, shoe boils, capped hocks, etc.
• Unsoundness may be caused by any one or various
  combinations of the following
• Bad conformation.
• Strain and stress on the horse

16
Horse Evaluation

1. Accident and injury.
2. Nutritional deficiencies.

17
Horse Evaluation

• Unsoundness of the Head and Neck
• Blindness
• Partial or complete loss of vision.
• A blind horse usually has very erect ears and a
  hesitant gait.
• Blindness can be detected by a veterinarians
  examination.

18
Horse Evaluation

• Wobblers
• Number one neurological disease in horses.
• Cervical Vertebral Malfunction (CVM) commonly
  known as wobblers.
• This condition primarily affects long-necked
  horses such as Thoroughbreds.
• Begins with hind-limbs as evidenced by dragging
  of the toes.

19
Horse Evaluation

• Unsoundness of the Shoulders
• Sweeney
• A depression in the shoulder due to atrophied
  muscles.
• Sweeney is caused by nerve injury and is more
  commonly seen in harness horses that wear a heavy
  collar.
• No known treatment will restore the nerve.

20
Horse Evaluation

• Unsoundness of the limbs
• Bog Spavin
• A filling of the natural depression on the inside
  and front of the hock.
• Common treatments include removal of excess
  fluid, corticosteroid injections into the joint
  capsule, liniment and pressure bandages.

21
Horse Evaluation

• Gravel
• Usually caused by penetration of the protective
  covering of the hoof by small bits of gravel or
  dirt.
• Once material enters the soft tissue inside the
  wall or sole,
• Infection develops rapidly producing pus
• And gas that creates pressure
• And intense pain in the foot.

22
Horse Evaluation

• Ringbone
• A bony growth on the pastern bone generally of
  the forefoot, although occasionally the hind foot
  is affected.
• The condition usually causes lameness,
  accompanied by a stiff ankle.
• Follows severe straining, blows, sprains, or
  improper shoeing.

23
Horse Evaluation

• Splints
• Abnormal bony growths found on the cannon bone.
• Splints may enlarge and interfere with a ligament
  and cause irritation and lameness.
• When found on young horses the problem often
  disappear.

24
Horse Evaluation

• Thrush
• A disease of the frog of the horses foot caused
  by unsanitary conditions.
• Produces a foul smell.
• Treated with sanitation accompanied by trimming
  away the affected frog.

25
Horse Evaluation

• Judging Procedures for Breeding or Halter Class
• Master the terms of the horse parts.
• Have an idea in mind, and be able to recognize
  both desirable characteristics and common faults.
• Follow a procedure in examining
• Front view
• Rear view
• Side view
• Soundness and
• Action.

26
Horse Evaluation

• For more information on judging visit the
  University of Kentucky College of Agriculture
  website below.
• http//www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/AGMANIA/HORSE/INDE
  X.asp