Equipment Savvy
Why are open fronted tendon boots open?
So the horse feels the knock on the front of his leg if he hits the fence so he learns to jump higher.
Name two natural and two artificial aids.
Natural: Legs, seat, hands
Artificial: Whips, spurs, ancillary tack
If you were loading a single horse into a double berth trailer with a partition, on which side should you place the horse and why?
Behind the driver, this will aid level travel, as the camber of the road in the middle is almost level. The road edge is likely to be rough, so having the weight behind the driver will help to stabilise the trailer in the event of a puncture.
Why would you groom a grass-kept horse different to a stable kept horse?
The grass-kept horse needs it's natural oils for protection against insects.
Describe what a horse being lunged correctly should look like.
The horse should be on the outside of the circle (making a big circle).
The horse should be walking actively, you can see this by checking if the
horse is tracking over in the walk.
When trotting the horse should be tracking up as an indication of activity.
The lunge line should be taut, the horse should make the base of the
triangle formed by the lunge line and whip.
The rhythm should remain active and constant
Horse should be balanced and straight.
What damage can be cause by incorrectly applied bandaging? Name 2
Tendon damage (Twisted or too tight)
Too tight can bruise the canon bone
Injury to horse and rider if too loose exercise bandage
Too loose stable bandage can slip, be stepped on and torn
Explain how to correctly dismount a horse.
Step 1 - Hold the reins in your left hand up along the neck of the horse and with the left rein slightly shorter.
Step 2 - Remove both your feet from the stirrups, hold the withers with your left hand.
Step 3 - Lean a little forward and to the offside with your hips as you swing your leg over the rump of the horse. As you proceed over, let gravity pull your left leg down and land softly keeping your weight in your hands.
Step 4 - Bend your knees upon landing as this will act like suspension.
Name 4 things to check before travelling to ensure the safety of the trailer and vehicle.
Trailer and vehicle road worthiness
Check the trailer floor, & ramp surface & hinges/catches for rust or any hazards
Check the floor of the trailer for rust/hazards
Ensure all the grooms door hinges and latches work properly
Check the towbar is oiled and in good working order
Ensure the jockey wheel is in good repair
Ensure partitions and breeching straps/bars are in good working order
Check tyre pressure all around as well as spare wheel.
Ensure the lights are working on both trailer and vehicle and that all licenses are up to date.
What is leptospirosis?
A bacterial infection transmitted by animals such as rodents.
Describe the hunter type physiology.
Atheletic and agile.
Provide 6 points on how to check if a saddle fits.
- 2/3 fingers between wither and pommel
- Pommel and Cantle should be level
- Even panels
- Light through gullet
- Flat hand between shoulder and tree
- Not past 18th rib
Why is the outside rein more important than the inside rein?
Outside rein support and controls speed and turns.
How can you encourage a reluctant horse to load? Name 3 ways.
- Try to establish the cause of the problem
- Offer the horse carrot treats or food.
- Gently push the hindquarters forward by using two lunge lines crossed.
- If the horse is unwilling to leave the others, a stable companion can be loaded first.
- Move each foot by hand.
- Open the grooms doors and open the divider more to make the trailer look more inviting to the horse.
- If the horse pulls back go back with it, if the horse feels restricted he will be
more reluctant to load.
Name 8 rules of feeding.
Feed according to condition, work, size
Feed good quality foodstuff
Sufficient roughage
Little and often
Dietary changes made slowly
Keep to routine
Feed something succulent each day
Do not work immediately after a full feed
Water should always be freely available
Keep utensils clean
Explain tracking up and tracking over
Tracking up means that the hind hoof is placed in the footprint of the same side front hoof when trotting. This is an indication that the horse is trotting actively.
Tracking over means that the hind hoof is place slightly forward of the footprint of the front hoof on the same side when walking. This is an indication that the horse is walking actively.
What is the ideal environmental temperature for a horse?
7 degrees
Explain the basic flatwork position.
Sit up straight, shoulders square, look ahead.
Weight should be on both seat bones, rider in deepest part of the saddle.
Feet rest in stirrups with heels lower than toes.
Arms to fall naturally from shoulders. Constant rein contact forming a line from elbow through lower arm, wrist, reins and bit.
Perpendicular line from shoulder, hip, to heel in halt.
What is travel sickness and provide 4 signs.
It is inflammation and fluid build-up both within the lung and pleura. The pleura is the space between the lungs and chest wall.
• Dull eye
• Raised temperature
• Coughing
• Dehydration
• Lack of interest in food
• Discharge from the nostrils
• Change in dropping consistency
• Rapid breathing
• Pawing the ground
• Unwillingness to move around.
Provide 4 reasons we muck out a stable.
Hygiene - Clean up urine and droppings
Prevention - Avoid spread of or possibility of worms
Well-being - make neat, clean and comfortable for horse
Animal needs - has fresh water, clean feed bucket
What is the reason why you should avoid cantering on the lunge too often and lunging on a small circle?
Work on a circle, especially faster gaits, puts more strain on the horses hock joints.
What is the difference between the ring boot and the sausage boot?
Ring boot - thinner and assists with preventing interference from the opposite leg.
Sausage boot - Thicker and protect against injury to the elbow when the horse lies down.
Which two gaits have the same amount of beats?
Walk and gallop.
Is time management a management problem or a time problem?
A management problem - You can do nothing about time except manage it.
How would you clean a wet and muddy horse on a cold EU winters day?
• Remove tack
• Check quickly for obvious injuries
• Thatch body and legs to dry mud and keep the horse warm
• Give small amounts of tepid water till TPR normal
• No food but provide a hay net of good quality hay
• Provide deep clean dry bed
• Once TPR is back to normal allow a small feed (bran mash)
• If mud is dry - remove and give quick brush, then rug up for warmth
• Check water is sufficient for night and the horse is settled before going off
• If horse is only wet or sweaty - but no mud, then dry off what you can - using brisk strokes with towels, then thatch body and legs for warmth and to dry off completely
• When dry - quick brush and rug up for warmth, see above for water, feed, and hay.
• The next morning run horse up for signs of lameness and check thoroughly for any injuries, thorns, cuts, swellings in the light of day
How can we use the horse's natural instinctive behaviour to our advantage in a domesticated situation?
Facilitators to assess answer.