Breaking Horses not Bones: Properly Raising Young Horses to Avoid Costly Injuries

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Determining the best age to begin training young horses is a heated debate within the equine industry. While many believe that horses should be skeletally mature when training begins, others believe it is unnecessary to wait 6 years until skeletal maturity. An online poll by an equine feed company indicated that 79 percent of their followers felt horses should begin training around the age of skeletal maturity (>4 years old) and 21 percent felt that horses should begin training before 2 years of age.

Addressing Reproductive Injuries of Stallions

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It is not uncommon for breeding stallions to experience testicular injuries due to trauma. This occurrence is especially common in live-cover practices. Aggressive stallions often charge mares, and aggressive mares occasionally kick stallions in response, which may lead to subsequent trauma to the testicles. The effects of a traumatic testicular injury could negatively impact the overall income of the owner during the subsequent breeding seasons. If an injury of this nature occurs, what options do owners have to minimize profit loss on the breeding season?

Equine Joint Supplementation: Does It Really Work?

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Dietary supplements are pharmaceutical alternatives that claim to have physiological benefit. These products have become increasingly popular in veterinary medicine to treat or manage various disorders resulting from age or stressors placed on performance horses. In 2012, an equine industry survey (Stowe, 2012) reported:

Safety Awareness in Mississippi 4-H Horse Programs

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Injuries, even fatalities, can occur when working with horses, and children may be at an increased risk (Cripps, 2000). The incidence of children needing medical attention after falling from a horse while riding may be as high as 85 percent (Altgärde, Redéen, Hilding, & Drott, 2014).

Working Safely Around Horses

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Approximately 9.2 million horses are owned by around 2 million people in the U.S. (AHC 2005). Many of these horses weigh around 1,000 pounds and are very fast and powerful (the American Quarter Horse Association alone has more than 3 million registered horses). The size and strength of these animals, along with the large number of people who ride and handle them, make safe horse management vital.

Responsible Horse Ownership

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The equine industry involves a very diverse group of people from various backgrounds and levels of equine experience. Nationally, about 72 percent of horses are owned primarily for recreational and showing purposes. In Mississippi, that’s about 112,000 horses, according to the American Horse Council. Education in basic horse management and handling is vital to provide optimal horse health.

Body Condition Scoring System Benefits for Horses and Owners

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Body condition score (BCS) is a numerical scoring system from 1 to 9, with 1 indicating extremely emaciated and 9 indicating extremely fat. It is based on the visual and palpable appraisal of the amount of fat covering on the body at certain locations, such as the ribs, tailhead, withers, neck, behind the shoulder, and along the back (Henneke et al.) (Figure 1). This evaluation tool can help horse owners, breeders, and managers maintain proper nutrition practices in order to most effectively keep horses at peak performance and optimum health.

Career Opportunities With a Bachelor of Science In Animal and Dairy Sciences

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Overview

Earning a bachelor of science in the animal and dairy sciences (ADS) equips students to apply their knowledge in a variety of animal science-related jobs. Graduates of ADS can use their knowledge in the selection, breeding, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and management of livestock and companion animals. Furthermore, some professionals may choose to be involved in the marketing, processing, and merchandising of livestock or the growth of scientific knowledge through the pursuit of graduate degrees (MS, PhD, DVM).