Blueprint for a Champion

 

SCIENTIFIC NAME OF HORSE :  EQUUS CABALLUS  

External Features of a Horse

A GUIDE TO HORSE GENETICS
        < CLICK TO ENLARGE

   Muscles of a Horse

        < CLICK TO ENLARGE

Skeleton of a Horse

    < CLICK TO ENLARGE

        < CLICK TO ENLARGE

  

  ü     The Skeleton of the Horse Consists of 205 bones as shown in the following table :-

Vertebral Column

54

Ribs

36

Sternum

  1

Skull (Including anditory ossides)

34

Thoracic limbs

40

Pelvic limbs

40

Total -

205

N.B. In this enumeration, the average number of caudal (coccygeal) vertebrae is taken to be 18, the temporal and os coxae are not divided into parts, the usual number of carpal and tarsal elements is taken, and the sesamoids are included.

 

    ü      Vertebral formula of horse : C7 T18 L6 S5 Ca15-21.

    ü      Dental formula of adult horse : I 3-3/3-3, C 1-1/1-1, PM 3-3/3-3, M 3-3/3-3 Canine tooth is

                       absent or vestigial in mare. 

    ü      Average racing life : 6 – 8 years.

 

   ü     Some important points to remembers :-

                    1.      Normal body temperature in adnlts : 99.50 F – 101.50 F.

                    2.      Normal pulse rate : 33 – 41 / minimum.

                    3.      Normal respiratory rate : 8 – 14 / minimum.

                    4.      Normal heart rate : 32 – 44 / minimum.

                    5.      Normal colour of conjunctival mucous membrane : Pale roseate.

                    6.      Number of mammary glands : 2.

                    7.      Age of puberty : 15 – 24 months.

                    8.      Length of 0 estrus cycle : 21 days ± 5 days.

                    9.      Length of 0 estrus : 6 days ± 4 days.

                    10.  Gestation period : 336 days ± 5 days (average 340 days)

                    11.  Breeding life : 18 years ± 2 years.

                    12.  Best breeding season : early spring.

 

DISEASES

 

    1.    BACTERIAL DISEASES

Disease

Chief Symptoms

Cause

Acne*

Small boils and/or weeping sores in skin

Staphylococcus aureus

Brucellosis**

Lameness; poll evil and fistulous withers

Brucella abortus

Glanders**

Nasal catarrh; fever; oedematous swellings; pneumonia

Leofflerella mallei

Leptospinosis**

Fever; jaundice; anaemia

Leptospira Pomona

Lockjaw*

Painful spasms

Clostridium tetani

Salmonellosis*

Diarrhoea, usually blood- stained; sudden death

Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis

Sleepy foal discase*

Weakness and fever in newborn foal

Actinobacillus equuli

Strangles*

Fever; nasal discharge; abscesses in glands, mainly of head and neck

Streptococcus equi

Tuberculosis**

Wasting; stiffness of the neck

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

* Common diseases

** Less common diseases

 

                                                                                              

    2.    DISEASES CAUSED BY VIRUSES

Disease

Chief Symptoms

Virus

Epidemic cough

Cough; fever

Influenza

Sporadic or stable Cough

Cough; nasal catarrh; sometimes fever

Rhinovirus, Herpesvirus, Adenovirus

Pneumonia

Fever; difficult or abnormal Breathing (especially in foals)

Adenovirus, Herpesvirus

African horse sickness

Pneumonia and enteritis

Reovirus

Warts

Small discrete cornified Growths usually around muzzle

Papova virus

Angleberries (sarcoids)

Proliferating growths with (sarcoids) tendency to ulcerate and bleed

Papova virus

Spots (coital exanthema)

Small ulcers on vulva of mare and penis of stallion

Equid herpes virus

Equine infectious, Anaemia

Fever; anaemia; swellings on legs and dependent parts

Unclassified

The horse’s health

    The horseman’s viewpoint, these are conditions of enlargements (sometimes painful) around the fetlock and above the knees or hocks in foals and yearlings caused by inflammation of the growth plate (epiphysitis), or recognizable in older horses as ‘big head’ in which the bones of the head become softened and distorted.

   Most conditions affecting bone in horses, apart from nutritional disturbances, can be traced to trauma or infection. A better understanding is achieved by recognizing that bone is not a static structure, nor can it be regarded in isolation from its relationship.

 

    3.    DISEASES CAUSED BY FUNGUS AND OTHER MICROBES

Disease Symptoms Microbe
Ringworm Scab covered circular lesions. On skin peeling off to reveal Ulcer Fungus : (Microsporum) (Trichophyton)
Broken wind Heaves, cough  
Abortion Thickened placenta Various species of fungus
Guttural pouch mycosis Haemorrhage down nose  
Biliary fever (Piroplasmosis, Babesiosis) Fever; Anaemia; Jaundice Protozoa (species of Piroplasma)

4.    ENDOPARASITIC DISEASES OF THE HORSE

Disease Symptoms Parasite
Strongylosis Diarrhoea; loss of condition; Colic; anaemia Strongylus vulgaris, Strongylus edentatus, Strongylus equines
Ascariasis Diarrhoea in foals; colic; Broncho-pneumonia Parascaris equnrum
Oxyuriasis Rubbing tail Oxyuris equi
Tapeworm None Anoplocephala, Perfoltata
Bot maggot Gastritis; perforation of the Stomach; rectal haemorrhage Gastrophilus intestinalis

    5.    ECTOPARASITIC DISEASES OF THE HORSE

Disease Symptoms Parasite
Lice Irritation; rubbing; loss of hair Bovicola equi
Ticks Irritation; carry disease such as encephalomyelitis Ixodidae and Argasidae species
Mange Scabs; intense irritation; Loss of hair; thickened skin Sarcopres and P…
Ear mange Head shaking; stamping; rubbing Chorioptes equi
Autumn itching Pimples and scabs on legs Trombicula autumnalis (harvest mites)
     

 

Other disease conditions commonly encountered in race horses :-

Disease

Aetiology
   
1. MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM  
a)   Fracture of cervical vertebrae Trauma from falling over back wards or sideways.
b)   Muscle abscess Intramuscular injection of irritant drugs.
c)   Jugular vein thrombo phlebitis Prolonged catheterization, repeated administration of irritant drugs, perivascular injection of irritant drug.
d)   Back Pain Overexertion, a fall or being cant, most develop insidiously.
e)   Fractured either Trauma (fracture of dorsal spinous process T4 – T9).
f)    Tendinitis Trama from fall or hitting a jump.
g)   Aseptic teno synovitis Nil
h)   Septic synovitis Penetrating wound.
i)    Mud faver / Cracked heels Infective origin
j)    Lymphangitis Corynac bacterium Psendotuberculosis
k)   Splints Periostitis, trauma, sprain of interosseous ligament
l)    Sesamoid fracture High speed training or racing
m)  Penetrating ijuries of foot Nil
n)   Hoof cracks Conditions that allirs biochemical properties of hoof wall.
o)   Upward fixation of patella Ans faufor interfering in the coordination extensor & flexor muscles.
p)   Bone spavin Compression & rofation of the distal tarsal bones, occurs most forcefully at the gallop.
q)   Pulled muscles Occure during exercise.
r)    Canker Anaerobic gram negetine baeterial rods.
s)   Laminitis Excess grain is take, Fad change to high energy legume, endo tonaermia, severe lameness, Trimmius of hooves, workon harrd surface etc.
   
2. MOUTH  
a)   Dysphagia Pharyngeal & oesophageal pathological conditions.
b)   Wolf teeth (PMI) Nil
   
3. GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEMS  
a)   Colic Colon impaction, Intestinal obstruction, Strongylus vulgaris is festation, NSAID for prolonged me, tonic substance, gastric uleer, sand & foreign body ingestion etc.
b)   Potomac Horse Fever (Colitis)  E. risticii
c)   Peritonitis Streptococcus egui is fution, neoplasia, lording and foaling injuries, parasitisum, ruptured bladds, castration complications etc.
d)   Hepatic disorders Endotonaemia, hyponia, hepatic abscess etc.
   
4. HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEMS  
a)   Equine Infections Anaemia (EIA) EIAV is a member of lentivirus genes of the family Retrovlridae.
b)   Equine Piroplasmosis Haemo proto 300m parasite Babesia caballi, B. equi
c)   Anaemia Nutritional deficiency, bone marrow aplasia, thrombous to penia.
   
5. NERVOUS SYSTEMS  
a)   Head or Spinal cord trama Nil
b)   Peripheral neuropathy String halt, tonic, metabolic, parasitic, infections disorders.
   
6. EYE  
a)   Keratitis Viral, bacterial, mycotic
b)   Ocnlar tramma Nil
   
7. SKIN  
a)   Atopy Allergens of grasses, weeds, molds, dust, insecti etc.
b)   Warts Equine papillomarinm.
c)   Dermatophilosis Dermatophilus congolensis
d)   Dermatophytosis Trichophyton eguinum, T. verrucosum, T. mantagrophytes
   
8. RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS  
a)   Haft recurrent laryngeal neuropattus (LRLN) Trauma of left recurrent laryugcal nerve, perivascular or perineural injections, guttural pouch my wsis, streptocouus equi abscessation, bed poisoning.
b)   Epiglo Hitis  Trauma, Phyryngeal inflammation dorsal displace ment of soft palate epiglo Hic entrapment.
c)   Displacement of soft palate Impaired innervation, myopathy of pharyngcal musculature, epiglo Hic hypoplasia
d)   Hemorrhage from upper respiratory tract. Ethrnoid hematoma, Neoplasia, foreign bodies, wouuds, guttural ponch my cosis.
e)   Tracheal collapse Collapse of cartilaginous rings or soft tissues of the trachea.
f)    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Exposure to dusty food and bedding, allergen, molds like Aspergillus furnigatus, Faenia rectivirgnla or viral infections.
g)   Enercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) Competitive racing & training.
h)   Equine influenza Influenza a virus.
i)    Acnte equine respiratory syndrome Morbilli virus.
   
9. URINARY SYSTEMS  
a)   Hematis ria Exercise associated hematisria, cystitis, phyclonephritis, drug toxicits, urethral defects, urinary tract neoplasia.
b)   Dysuria Urethritis, Cystitis, Upper urinary tract infections.