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Livestock

Management technologies and principles for the effective use of horses in modern horse breeding

For students

5 min read

LIVESTOCK L

Horse breeding industry and current state of the livestock

Horse breeding is a specific branch of livestock farming; it provides food for humans milk and meat; it is used for cargo transportation and land cultivation; it is widely used in sports. The difficulties in the development of the industry in Russia are characterized by a decrease in the horse population from 35.8 million head in 1916 to 1 million 700 thousand in 2011.

The level of development of horse breeding is evidenced by the following facts: there are 65 million horses in the world, of which 22 million are in the USA, 6 million in China, and 2 million in Mongolia. The majority of the livestock in the USA consists of sports horses.

In Russia, an increase in the population to 3 million horses is planned, including those for sports and recreational riding. Great attention is paid to the development and improvement of the breeding value of animals and the improvement of technological processes in horse breeding.

Technology of keeping and work routine of horses

Learning objective:

  • To learn how to determine the economic type of horses.
  • To become familiar with the technology of keeping and using horses.
  • To master the technique of harnessing and saddling horses.

Task 1. Describe the technology of keeping and using working and sports horses.

Methodology. The description of the technology of keeping and using working horses is carried out according to the following scheme:

  • Horse breeds used
  • Conditions of keeping horses
  • Watering schedule for working horses
  • Duration of using horses in work
  • Horse reproduction
  • Preparation of feed for feeding, organization of horse feeding

Task 2. Understand the usage routine of working horses.

Methodology. High performance of horses can be achieved provided there is proper feeding, keeping, and care for them, and by observing the daily routine and work schedule.

Performance of horses is determined by the amount of tractive effort (pulling force), speed of movement, power, and endurance.

Depending on their health, endurance, and height, working horses are divided into the following groups:

Technological standards for the exploitation of working horses

Group Description Weight, kg Height at withers, cm Tractive effort, kg
I group Large hardy horses (geldings, barren mares from 4 to 14 years old) 550–600 155 and more 65–75
II group Geldings, mares with up to 6 months of pregnancy and mares two months after foaling 450–550 144–155 55–65
III group Weak horses 350–450 144 45–55

Training horses for work begins at 2–2.5 years of age, usually in winter. The training process includes the following stages:

  • getting accustomed to being led in a bridle and to the bit;
  • training in control with reins and by voice;
  • accustoming to the collar and the saddle (at first with a loosely tightened girth);
  • harnessing to a cart (initially with a light load at a walk and a slow trot, checking the condition of the skin to prevent chafing).

When transporting cargo over short distances, the time of useful work can be up to 30% of the total time.

When transporting cargo over long distances, the horse must be given a rest and fed every 18–20 km.

During field and other work, the horse should be given a 5–10 minute rest every hour. The duration of the rest during the lunch break should be at least 2–3 hours.

Watering and feeding schedule for working horses:

  • Horses are watered three times a day before being fed grain feed and after being given hay.
  • Drinking water should be at the air temperature of the room.
  • It is forbidden to water horses heated by work, as eager consumption of water, especially cold water, leads to horses contracting colic or rheumatic inflammation of the hooves.
  • During work or riding, a horse can be watered if, after watering, the work will continue for at least 30 minutes, and the travel distance is 4–5 km before a stop.
  • A small amount of water (5 l) can be given to a horse before feeding after work by putting a wisp of hay in the water, through which the horse will sip the water in small gulps.

For young animals and non-working horses, the hooves are cleaned once a month. Working horses are re-shod every 1.5–2 months. Shoeing protects the hooves from rapid wear, gives the animal greater stability when moving on a slippery road, and increases their performance.

Production and characteristics of therapeutic koumiss

Task 3. Describe the main horse colors.

Task 4. Study the composition of weak, medium, and strong koumiss.

A fermented milk product, koumiss, is obtained from mare's milk, containing 2–2.5% protein, 1–2% fat, 3.2–4.4% sugar, vitamins C, A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B6, B12, E, PP, trace elements.

Depending on the degree of maturity, there are:

  • In weak (freshest) koumiss – 0.6–0.8% lactic acid and about 1% alcohol.
  • In medium (two-day) – 0.8–1% lactic acid and up to 1.75% alcohol.
  • In strong (three-day) – 1–2.25% lactic acid, alcohol up to 2.56% and higher.

Kumys acts as a general tonic. It is used for the prevention of pulmonary tuberculosis and scurvy, and in the treatment of stomach diseases and anemia, neurasthenia, cardiovascular diseases, typhoid fever, and paratyphoid fever.

Task 5. Describe the types of equestrian sports. Dressage Show jumping

Eventing is the most difficult sport. It includes three types of competitions: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.

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