Equine Science & Technology Unit Title: Equine Breeds CIP: 020221-04 Instructor: Objectives: After completing this unit of instruction, students will be able to: A. Classify and describe equine as pony, light, draft, and long-eared; B. List and describe equine breeds and their origins; and C. Describe the gaits and movements of horses. Click here to access this lesson s PowerPoint presentation Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 1 of 12
Interest approach: Bring into the classroom different pictures of horse breeds. Discuss with the class why some breeds are typically used for certain tasks over other breeds. For example, explain why the Clydesdale breed would be used for pulling heavy loads over the Mustang. Curriculum & Instruction Curriculum Feral- a horse that was once domesticated and has become wild. A breed of horse may be defined as a group of horses having a common origin and possessing certain well-fixed distinctive, uniformly transmitted characteristics that are not common to other horses. Instruction PowerPoint presentation: 04 Equine Breeds.ppt A. Classify and describe equine as pony, light, draft, and longeared. Draft horses are large usually 14 to over 17 hands in height and over 1,500 lb. in weight. They are sometimes referred to as coldblood horses. The term refers to the quiet, calm temperament of these breeds. A1. Lecture and discussion with PowerPoint presentation. Draft Horse Breeds Belgian The Belgian breed originated in Belgium. Directly descended from the old Flemish ancestry. Bay, chestnut, and roan are the most common colors. The Belgian is noted for its draftiness, being the widest, deepest, most compact, most massive, and lowest set of any draft breed. Clydesdale This Scotch breed of draft horse derives its name from the valley of the River Clyde, located in Scotland. Weight ranges from 1,600 to 2,400 lbs. and stands from 16 to 19 hands in height. The breed is known for a moderate amount of fine feather or long hair at the rear of the legs below the knees and hocks. Bay and brown, with white markings are the most characteristic colors. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 2 of 12
Percheron The Percheron originated in northwestern France, in the ancient district of La Perche. Most Percherons are black or gray, with an occasional bay or chestnut. Percheron is noted for its handsome, clean-cut head, excellent temperament, and longevity. Shire The Shire breed originated on the low, marshy lands of east central England. The great size and bulk of this breed are derived directly from the Great Horse of the Middle Ages. The Shire is taller than any other draft breed. Common colors are bay, brown, and black with white markings. A pony is smaller, usually less than 14.2 hands and weighing 500 to 900 lbs. Pony Breeds Haflinger Shetland Welsh Pony Dales Pony Exmoor Pony American Walking Pony Breed originated near Macon, Georgia from a foundation cross of Tennessee Walking Horse and Welsh Pony. Used for pleasure riding and as mounts for children and small adults. All colors accepted. Shetland Pony Native to the Shetland Islands, which lie 100 miles north of Scotland. One of the oldest breeds in existence. All colors accepted. A light horse is usually 12 to 17 hands in height and weighs 900 to 1,400 lb. They are usually used for riding, showing, and racing. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 3 of 12
Light Horse Breeds Akhal-Teke American Creme Horse American Curly American Mustang American Walking Pony American Warmblood Appaloosa Arabian Buckskin Cleveland Bay Cracker Horse Dutch Warmblood Hackney Lipizzan Miniature Horse Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Morab Morgan Norwegian Fjord Horse Paint Horse Palomino Paso Fino Pinto Horse Pony of the Americas Quarter Horse Saddlebred Selle Francais Standardbred Dan Patch Story Tennessee Walking Horse Thoroughbred Trakehner The males of the ass family are called jacks, and the females jennets. Asses are also commonly known as donkeys, burros, or jackstock. Long-Eared Breeds Mammoth Ass Standard Donkey Miniature Donkey Mule Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 4 of 12
B. List and describe equine breeds and their origins. Appaloosa Originated in the United States- in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho from animals that first came from Central Asia. Ancestors of the Appaloosa were introduced into Mexico by the early Spanish explorers. For many years Appaloosa horses were owned by the Nez Perce`. Appaloosas may be black, bay, brown, chestnut, white with dark spots over the loin and hips, white with dark spots over the entire body, or mottled dark and white or with white spots over a dark body. The eye is encircled by a white sclera, and the hooves are stripped vertically black and white. B1. Breeds notebook - Collect a stack of horse magazines. - Instruct the students to select 5 equine breeds. - They should find pictures of their breeds and cut them out of the magazines. - After pasting the pictures in the breeds notebook, they should include descriptions and origins of the breeds. Arabian The foundation stock of the Arabian horse was obtained from either the Egyptians or the Libyan tribes of Africa. Oldest breed of horses, and the fountainhead of all other light horse breeds. Developed in the desert country of Arabia. The Arabian breed is medium to small in size, has a beautiful head, and great endurance. Predominating colors are bay, gray, and chestnut, with an occasional white or black. Morgan Known as the first family of American horses. The early development of the breed took place in the New England states. Standard colors are bay, brown, black, chestnut; and white markings are not uncommon. The breed is noted for easy keeping qualities: stamina, docility, beauty, courage, and longevity. Morgan blood was used in laying the foundation of many breeds. Quarter Horse Quarter Horses originated in the United States. The Quarter horse is an ideal stock horse. The most predominant colors of the breed are chestnut, sorrel, bay, and dun. Palominos, blacks, browns, and roans are not uncommon. Animals are disqualified for registration if they have paint, pinto, appaloosa, or albino coloring. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 5 of 12
Thoroughbred The history of the thoroughbred had its beginning in the 17 th century, though the oriental lineage of the breed is as old as civilization. All U.S. Thoroughbreds are registered in the Jockey Club, established in 1894. Membership in the club is by election. Thoroughbreds are bay, brown, chestnut, black, or less frequently gray. About 1/3 of the U.S. Thoroughbreds are bred in Kentucky. Racing and the unquestioned value of the Thoroughbred for crossbreeding purposes assure the breed a bright future. Paint Horse The paint horse represents a combination of breeding, conformation, and color. Paint horses originated in the United States. Paint horses are distinguished by two color patterns- they must be either overo or tobiano. Most tobianos have color on the head, chest and flanks and some in the tail. The legs are nearly always white. The overo often has jagged or lacy-edged white markings, mostly on the midsection of the body and neck area. Buckskin Buckskin horses originated in the United States largely from horses of Spanish extraction. Buckskin is a shade of yellow that may range from gold to nearly brown-dun, red dun, or grulla (mouse dun). The Buckskin is primarily a color breed, with no particular type favored. Palomino The word palomino implies a horse of a golden color, with white, silver, or ivory mane and tail. Originally, Palominos were not considered either a breed or a type but simply as a color. Palomino horses originated in the United States from animals of Spanish extraction. Palominos are used as a stock, parade, pleasure, saddle, and fine harness horses. Tennessee Walking Horse Early settlers from Virginia brought the sturdy original saddle stock to Tennessee. The breed represents an amalgamation of the Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 6 of 12
Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Morgan, and American Saddlebred breeds. A great array of colors exists, including sorrel, chestnut, black, roan, white, bay, brown, gray, and golden. An ideal horse for the amateur or the person who rides infrequently. Miniature Horse The miniature horse is a small model of a full sized horse; it is not a dwarf. Miniature horses were used in England and Northern Europe to pull ore carts in the coal mines as early as 1765. They were also bred as pets for some of the royal families of Europe. Miniature horses cannot exceed 34 in. in height at the withers. All colors are accepted. C. Describe the gaits and movements of horses. A gait is a particular way of going, either natural or acquired which is characterized by a distinctive rhythmic movement of the feet and legs. Walk A natural slow, flat-footed, four-beat gait. It should be springy, regular, and true. C1. Select videos of westerns or other movie genres with horses. Find places in the videos where the horses exhibit different gaits and movements. Trot A natural two-beat, diagonal gait in which the front foot and the opposite hind foot take off at the same split second and strike the ground simultaneously. There is a brief moment when all four feet are off the ground and the horse seemingly floats through the air. This gait varies considerably according to breed and training. Canter (Lope) The canter is a slow, restrained, three-beat gait in which the two diagonal legs are paired, thereby producing a single beat that falls between the successive beats of the other unpaired legs. In the show-ring the lead should be toward the inside of the ring. Thus when traveling to the left, the front leg should lead (the horse is on the left lead ). Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 7 of 12
Run (Gallop) The run or gallop is a fast, four beat gait in which the feet strike the ground separately- first one hind foot; then the other hind foot; then the front foot on the same side as the first hind foot; then the other front foot, which decided the lead. In executing the gallop, the propulsion is chiefly in the hindquarters. Pace The pace is a fast, lateral two-beat gait in which the front and hind feet on the same side start and stop simultaneously. The feet rise very little above the ground. The pace is faster than the trot but not so fast as the run or gallop. Movement Defects The feet of an animal should move straight ahead and parallel to a centerline drawn in the direction of travel; any deviations from this way of going constitute defects. Forging The striking of the forefoot by the toe of the hind foot. Paddling Throwing the front feet outward as they are picked up. This condition is predisposed in horses with toe-narrow or pigeon-toed standing positions. Pounding A condition in which there is a heavy contact with the ground in contrast to the desired light, springy movement. Defects in conformation that shift the horse s center of gravity can lead to pounding. Rolling Excessive lateral shoulder motion, characteristic of horses with protruding shoulders. Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 8 of 12
Review & Evaluation Objectives will be reviewed before examinations. Exams will be developed based on objectives as taught in class. Instructional Support A. References Ensminger, M. E. (2004). Equine Science (8 th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall B. Teaching Aids and Equipment - Overhead projector - Board with chalk/marker C. Facilities - Room Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 9 of 12
Name Multiple Choice. Circle the correct answer. Equine Science and Technology Horse Breeds Quiz Date 1. Which class of horse is described as 14.2 to 17.2 hands high and weighing 900 to 1,400 pounds? They are generally used for riding, showing, and racing. A. Draft B. Light C. Morgan D. Pony 2. Which breed of light horse originated in the United States (Oregon, Washington, Idaho) and shows many different coat patterns- including white with dark spots? A. Andalusian B. Appaloosa C. Arabian D. Morgan 3. All of the following are draft horse breeds EXCEPT A. Belgian B. Clydesdale C. Percheron D. Thoroughbred 4. What is too much shoulder motion? It happens in horses with protruding shoulders. A. Forging B. Loping C. Rolling D. Scalping 5. What is another name for a donkey? A. Antelope B. Burro C. Morgan D. Shetland Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 10 of 12
6. What is the term for striking of the forefoot by the toe of the hind foot? A. Forging B. Paddling C. Pounding D. Rolling Matching. Write the correct letter of the item next to the description. The item may be used once, more than once, or not at all. Description 7. A horse that was once domesticated and has become wild. 8. A natural slow, flat-footed, four beat gait. 9. Eye is encircled by a white sclera, and the hooves are stripped vertically black and white. 10. Known as the first family of the American horses. 11. Name derived from the valley of the River Clyde. 12. This gait varies considerably according to breed and training. 13. Usually less than 14.2 hands and 500 to 900 lbs. Item A. Appaloosa B. Clydesdale C. Draft D. Feral E. Morgan F. Mustang G. Pinto H. Pony I. Trot J. Walk Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 11 of 12
Equine Science and Technology Equine Breeds Key Multiple Choice 1. B 2. B 3. D 4. C 5. B 6. A Matching 7. D 8. J 9. A 10. E 11. B 12. I 13. H Equine Science & Technology Lesson Plan Library Page 12 of 12