PRACTICAL # 7 Vices of horse & control Kashif Ishaq (PhD; DVM) Owning a horse can be a lot of fun. However; always make sure that you get the last laugh. Know what to expect and know what to look for. Dr Kashif Ishaq 2 1
Don t let your horse take you for an unexpected ride! Dr Kashif Ishaq 3 Introduction O Very important to know the abnormal behavior O Blemishes are the defects which never effect the service of horse O Unsoundness are serious defects O Vice is Bad habits of horse O May be psychological or temperament origin WE WILL LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT BAD HABITS AND ITS CONTROL Dr Kashif Ishaq 4 2
Four Keys To Avoid UWB OTime spent indoors OKeep horse in herd not alone ODiet OTraining Dr Kashif Ishaq 5 1. Biting 2. Bolting 3. Bucking 4. Cribbing and wind sucking 5. Door and Wall Kicking 6. Head shaking 7. Pawing 8. Rearing 9. Self Mutilation 10.Separation anxiety 11.Tail Rubbing 12.Weaving/Pacing 13.Wood Chewing VICES Dr Kashif Ishaq 6 3
VICE DESCRIPTION CAUSES TREATMENT Cribbing Wind sucking is characterized by the horse biting onto something hard like a stall door or fence post and sucking in and swallowing air. Endorphins are released during the behavior; horse is addicted to endorphins which stimulate pleasure center of brain. Incurable Cribbing collar prevents contraction of neck muscles; also available with clamps, spikes, electric shock. Surgery possible Muzzle can be used in some situations. Pawing Dr Kashif Ishaq Digs holes; tips over feeders & waterers; gets leg caught in fence; wears hooves away, loses shoes; most often young horses. Confinement, boredom, excess feed. Curable. Provide exercise, diversion, don't use ground feeders and waterers, use rubber mats, don't reinforce by feeding. Formal restraint lessons. 7 Cribbing Dr Kashif Ishaq 8 4
Pawing Dr Kashif Ishaq 9 VICE DESCRIPTION CAUSES TREATMENT Biting Bolting often associated with stallions Bite herd mates or humans Object biting Horse tends to eat too fast (can lead to colic) Gallop off at speed, totally out of control of the rider, s. Dr Kashif Ishaq Normally gentle horses may bite when groomed in a rough manner or when their girth is tightened when exercised. Also done in selfdefence. Ponies will bite at children if they are being harassed Suffering from any painful, physical problems. Does the saddle fit properly and is his bit comfortable in his mouth lack of Training or bad experience Remove the cause Using a short-sharp smack on a fleshy part of your horse accompanied by a disapproving NO as soon as he has tried to bite you will help - eventually your horse will respond to your disapproving NO! and hopefully stop completely. Avoid riding in large, open spaces if you do ride out, go with another horse that is quiet and confident. Check pain source 10 5
Biting Dr Kashif Ishaq 11 Bolting Dr Kashif Ishaq 12 6
VICE DESCRIPTION CAUSES TREATMENT Head shaking Shakes head with no reason Nerve pain Ear mites Dental Pain Allergy Keep away from sun and flies Nose nets during riding Bucking Normal behavior in herd as to produce peck order Poor saddle fitting Pain in the rider area Check the saddle Check for physical injury Dr Kashif Ishaq 13 Head Shaking Dr Kashif Ishaq 14 7
Dr Kashif Ishaq 15 Bucking Dr Kashif Ishaq 16 8
VICE DESCRIPTION CAUSES TREATMENT Rearing Normal play behavior Frightening Remove the cause Dangerous when humans are present Rein pressure Check for pain Training Self Mutilation Dr Kashif Ishaq Bite flanks, front legs, chest, scrotal area with squealing, pawing, and kicking out. Onset 2 yrs, primarily stallions. Can be endorphin addiction similar to cribbing; can be triggered by confinement, lack of exercise, or sexual frustration Manageable/might be curable. Geld non-breeding stallions; increase exercise, reduce confinement, stall companion or toy, neck cradle, muzzle 17 Dr Kashif Ishaq 18 9
Self Mutilation Dr Kashif Ishaq 19 VICE DESCRIPTION CAUSES TREATMENT Separation anxiety Get nervous when separated from other horse Neigh or scream Affiliation with herd - mates Separated suddenly Lead the horse to pasture gradually Training Tail Rubbing Rhythmically swaying the rear against a fence or stall wall. Dr Kashif Ishaq Initially dirty udder, sheath or tail; shedding HQ, pinworms, ticks & other external parasites or skin conditions. Later, just habit. Manageable with grooming, cleaning sheath and udder, deworming, other medical treatments. For chronic habit, use electric fence 20 10
Separation Anxiety Dr Kashif Ishaq 21 Tail Rubbing Dr Kashif Ishaq 22 11
VICE DESCRIPTION CAUSES TREATMENT Weaving/Pacing Wood Chewing Swaying back and forth often by stall door or pen gate/repeatedl y walking a path back and forth. Gnawing of wood fences, feeders, stall walls, up to three pounds of wood per day. Confinement, boredom, excess feed, high strung or stressed horse Lack of course roughage in diet, boredom, teething. Manageable. Turn out where he can see other horses. Use specially fitted stall door for weaver Manageable. Increase roughage in diet. Decrease palatability of wood. Increase exercise & activity. More time out on pasture. Dr Kashif Ishaq 23 Dr Kashif Ishaq 24 12
Dr Kashif Ishaq 25 VICE DESCRIPTION CAUSES TREATMENT Box Walking Horse will continuously walk around his stable in circles Causes damage to ligaments and joints and fatigue Boredom Turn your horse out as much as possible. If you do have to stable your horse, make sure he has some form of distraction, e.g. horse ball Stall Kicking Dr Kashif Ishaq Smashing stall walls & doors with hind hooves resulting in facilities damage and hoof and leg injuries Confinement; doesn't like neighbour; gets attention Can be curable depending on how long-standing the habit. Increase exercise, change neighbours, pad stall walls or hooves, use kicking chains or kicking shoe, don't reinforce by feeding. 26 13
Box Walking Dr Kashif Ishaq 27 Stall Kicking Dr Kashif Ishaq 28 14
Kicking Chains Dr Kashif Ishaq 29 So, now that you know all there is to know about asses a horse; do you still want a horse to ride? Dr Kashif Ishaq 30 15
Vices of Camel Dr. Kashif Ishaq Introduction O Very important to know the abnormal behavior O Blemishes are the defects which never effect the service of horse O Unsoundness are serious defects O Vice is Bad habits of horse O May be psychological or temperament origin WE WILL LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT BAD HABITS AND ITS CONTROL Dr Kashif Ishaq 32 16
Vices O Biting O Cud Spitting O Bad Kickers O Refusal to respond Dr Kashif Ishaq 33 Biting O It is dangerous O Bad handling O Male camel more prone e.g. Breeding season O Bite herd mates and even humans O Muzzle can be handy to Avoid Loss Dr Kashif Ishaq 34 17
Camel with Muzzle Dr Kashif Ishaq 35 Cud Spitting O Unpleasant O Not aimed O Vocal complaint O Avoid handling during rumination Dr Kashif Ishaq 36 18
Camel Cud Dr Kashif Ishaq 37 Bad Kicks O Bad habit is unpleasant O Bad experience in past O Female camel can kick after parturition O Spider Hobbles can be used to avoid O Avoid to walk behind the Camel Dr Kashif Ishaq 38 19
Spider Hobbles Dr Kashif Ishaq 39 Refusal To Respond O Repeated punishment O Camel not respond to commands O Use of electric Goad may helpful O If camel is frenzy then stop for 15 min Dr Kashif Ishaq 40 20
ANY QUESTION Dr Kashif Ishaq 41 Morning Dr Kashif Ishaq 42 21
Evening Dr Kashif Ishaq 43 Dr Kashif Ishaq 44 22