EQUITATION PRACTICES Kashif Ishaq (PhD, DVM) INTRODUCTION Bits & Bit Action Dental Care & Dentition Exercising Washing Horse Work Horses Kinds of Horses Rodeo Shows Show Jumping Tent pegging Types of Horse Racing Vaulting 1
BASIC RIDING EQUIPMENT Bit and Bridle Western Type or English Type Bits (Curb or Snaffle) Saddle Western Type English Type Blanket PURPOSE OF BITS Method of controlling the horse s head Means of sending cues to the horse Transmit the cues to pressure points Basically, it is a communication tool 2
PRESSURE POINTS OF BITS Seven possible pressure points on a horse s head for bits/headgear to act Direct pressure points (from bit) bars tongue roof of mouth corners of mouth Indirect pressure points (from bit) poll bridge of nose chin groove (chin) PRESSURE POINTS 3
TYPES OF BITS & HEADGEAR Broad Categories: Snaffle (a bit without shanks) Curb (a bit with shanks) Bitless (noseband replaces bit) Combinations of both 4
SNAFFLE BIT A snaffle is a bit with no shanks It has no leverage action It acts directly on the horse s mouth SNAFFLE BIT Photo: Unknown Source 5
SNAFFLE BIT Photos: Unknown Source CURB BIT A curb bit has shanks Works with leverage action Utilizes a curb chain or strap for function 6
CURB BIT Photo: Unknown Source CURB BIT Photos: Unknown Source 7
BITLESS Training (jaquima)- utilizes a Bosal nosepiece Mechanical Hackamore- nosepiece made of various materials, shanks and curb chain Side-pull similar to training hackamore, but rope noseband is used, pull is on the side and on bridge of nose, not much under jaw BITLESS---HACKAMORE Photo: Unknown Source 8
BITLESS----HACKAMORE Photo: Unknown Source COMBINATION BITS Pelham English Bit - used with two reins, has both curb and snaffle action Kimberwicke Bit - can be adjusted for more curb action or more snaffle-like action Full Bridle - includes a snaffle and curb Side-pull snaffle bit combinations 9
COMBINATION BITS Pelham English Bit Kimberwicke Bit Photos: Unknown Source COMBINATIONS Full Bridle: Includes Snaffle Bit and Curb Bit Photo: Unknown Source 10
BITTING Process of getting the horse used to the bit and to the headgear being utilized, of course this can change with the age of the horse or the intended purpose of the ride For the horse to become accustomed to and responsive to cues given by the rider The objective is to get the horse to flex at the poll (vertical flexion) and carry the head and neck in a relaxed manner while responding in a timely manner and calm manner to the rein cues given by the rider PLACING BITS The placement of the bit on the model in the correct position can be confusing at times. The part of the bit where the "mouthpiece" meets the side "cheek/shank" piece goes right in the corner of the models mouth. The red arrow designates the spot the bit should go in the corner of the horse's mouth 11
CONTD.. 12
WESTERN BRIDLE SOME TIPS ON BRIDLE Tacking up our "model" equines can be a challenge with all those little-teeny straps and buckles Can be very difficult to get the tack in the proper place. Entire headpiece used on a horse... headstall, bit, chin strap and reins... is called the bridle 13
HEADSTALLS There are four common types of western headstall "styles one ear, two ear, browband and bosal hanger "one-ear" and "two-ear" headstalls are the most commonly seen in the western show ring today 14
REINS three types of "western" reins...split (used with snaffle and curb bits), romel (used with curb bits) and mecate (used with a bosal) Split reins are the most commonly seen rein CHIN STRAPS straps are normally made of all leather... or leather and chain Chin straps should lie loosely in the chin groove on the back of the horse's lower lip (unless the rider is stopping a reining/roping horse) the bit is at a more severe angle thereby causing the chin strap to be snug against the jaw 15
COMMON MISTAKES MADE WHEN BRIDLING A MODEL HORSE Mistake 1:The crown strap of the headstall is not lying flat on the horse's poll BEHIND the ears...it has moved up and forward...now resting ON the horse's ears CONTD.. Mistake 1 has caused the ear-pieces to now be UP in the air rather than lying FLAT against the horse's head 16
CONTD.. Mistake 1 has also caused the cheek strap of the bridle to be TOO far forward and TOO close to the horse's eye. CONTD.. he end of the strap is not straight and lying in the center of the cheek piece 17
EXERCISE Important part of horse life Amount and kind of exercise depends on breed of horse Mechanics of blood flow requires regular exercise Odema and swelling are indication 15-20 min walking Regularity is key If work hard for one day then exercise is necessary Racing horse require extra work Digestion is also improves WASHING THE HORSE Occasionally needed Required after strenuous exercise Remove the natural wax/oil from the skin and hair Be sure the enough time to dry Temperature must be at least 15 0 C Use gentle liquid soap not hot Systematic procedure Hot towel in inclement weather White horse require special treatment Baby oil on nostril and eyes with corn starch 18
KIND OF WORK HORSES Farm Horses Carriage horse Police horse Ranch horse Packhorse Polo ponies TYPES OF HORSE RACING Flat Racing Steeple chasing Harness Racing 19
STEEPLE CHASING HARNESS RACING 20
FLAT RACING RODEO SHOWS Colorful and exciting Calf roping Bareback riding Barrel racing Bull riding Goat tying 21
CALF ROPING BAREBACK RIDING 22
BARREL RACING BULL RIDING 23
GOAT TYING SHOW JUMPING Began in 18 th century in Europe By 1912 it was an Olympic sports Most appealing spectator sports Jump the fence (few faults) Mental and physical fitness Walls, spread fence, upright jump, water jump, combines fences Clock recording Least jumping fault and time fault 24
TENT PEGGING Most popular in Pakistan Arab Bedouins used lance to pull out pegs Skill of rider Fascinating sports Govt. and private teams Individual and team events Exhibit the horse energy, skill and obedient to gallop, rider skill to pick the peg Peg lifter and carried clear 15 m --- : 5 points Lifted but falls before 15 m -----------: 3 points Struck but not lifter ---------------------: 1 point 25
VAULTING Gymnastic performance on moving horse Vaulter wear leotards Leather vaulting surcingle Wide strap Judging based on rider techniques 26
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POLO DENTAL CARE 28
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR MY HORSE TO HAVE REGULAR DENTAL EXAMINATIONS? An oral examination should be an essential part of an annual physical examination by a veterinarian. Every exam provides the opportunity to perform routine preventative dental maintenance. Regular examinations also help identify dental problems while they are still in the early stage, which decreases the chances that the dental problem can lead to other serious health issues for the horse. 29
HOW OFTEN SHOULD A HORSE RECEIVE A DENTAL EXAM? At the minimum, all horses should receive a yearly dental exam. Horses aged 2 to 5 years may require more frequent dental exams than older horses, as there is an extraordinary amount of dental maturation during this period. Senior horses (20 years old or older) are at increased risk for developing periodontal disease and face the additional challenges of advancing age. Twice-a-year examinations are often required to keep their teeth functioning properly into their third and fourth decades of life. PROBLEM 30
HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY HORSE HAS A DENTAL PROBLEM? Horses with dental problems may show obvious signs such as pain or irritation, or they may show no noticeable signs at all. Equine veterinarians skilled in dentistry are constantly amazed at how much discomfort horses will endure without any overt signals to their owners. By the time the average owner notices a problem, such as loss of feed from the mouth while eating, fighting the bit or foul odor from the mouth or nostrils, the abnormalities inside the mouth are likely to be severe. HOW MANY TEETH DOES A HORSE HAVE? A typical adult male horse has 40 permanent teeth, while a typical mare may have 36 to 40 teeth, because mares are less likely to have canine (bridle) teeth. A horse s permanent teeth are about four inches long. 31
DENTAL FORMULA Horse a) Temporary teeth I - 3/3 C- 0/0 P - 3/3 M - 0/0 = 12 x 2 = 24 b) Adult (permanent teeth) I - 3/3 C - 1/1 P - 3 or 4/3 M - 3/3 = 20 (or 21) x 2 = 40 (or 42) AGE AND DENTITION 32
DO HORSES HAVE BABY TEETH? Like humans, horses have two sets of teeth in their lifetimes. The baby teeth, called deciduous teeth, are temporary. The first deciduous incisors may erupt before the foal is born. The last deciduous teeth come in when the horse is about eight months of age. These baby teeth will begin to be replaced by adult teeth around the age of 2 ½, and by age 5, most horses have all of their permanent teeth. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FLOAT A HORSE S TEETH? Routine maintenance of a horse s mouth has been historically referred to as floating. Floating removes the sharp enamel points. Occlusal equilibration is the term now used to describe smoothing enamel points, correcting malocclusion (faulty meeting of the upper and lower teeth), balancing the dental arcades and correcting other dental problems. 33
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL FLOATING AND POWER FLOATING? Traditionally, horses have had their sharp enamel points and dental crown elongations reduced with hand-held rasps (floats). These manual dental instruments have improved in quality over the past 20 years but still require a reasonable amount of manual dexterity, physical strength and "elbow grease. High quality dental tools powered by electricity or compressed air have become readily available and affordable over the past 10 years. These instruments reduce the physical effort that is required, and with expertise and caution, allow for more complete and efficient dental care. TOOTH RASPING 34
CROWN ELONGATION 35