Don’t get me wrong. All horses have a purpose but here I’ve
listed 7 of the most popular breeds and their purpose. Some breeds
are better suited for a specific purpose but in general most horses
can do about anything if they are properly trained for it. That’s
not to say I would want to use an Arabian for herding cattle although
if they are trained properly they can do it. So let’s dig in and
find out what different breeds are generally
used for.
Quarter
Horse
Let’s start with one of the most popular breeds and that’s the quarter horse. The quarter horse excels at sprinting short distances. This breed is the most popular horse breed in North America. It also ranks as one of the oldest. There are more than 5 million registered quarter horses world-wide and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) is the largest breed registry in the world. One of the reasons the Quarter Horse is so popular is because of its gentle nature, versatility, beauty, speed, agility and loyalty. The breed is very popular as working cow horses because of their “cow sense”. Outside of the cattle world they are very popular in rodeos and various other arena events such as reining, cutting, team penning, and speed events (although they are being replaced by thoroughbreds in barrel racing). There are quarter horse races which are more like sprints rather than distances like thoroughbreds. This type of even remains popular in North America and there have been speeds of 55 miles per hour recorded during these short races. Because of their laid-back personality they make great beginner and family horses.
Thoroughbred
Next up we’ll dig into the Thoroughbred. My wife has one and she absolutely loves this horse. Their heart is absolutely amazing. Although there are some issues that seem to be more prominent in this breed. Canker seems to be a growing problem with all of the warm blood breeds. The thoroughbred is most widely known for their use in racing. This breed is extremely fast and they are built for speed and agility. They have huge hearts and it takes a lot to get them to give up. Ours has a number of feet issues but keeps pushing himself to get through them. In recent years this breed is becoming more and more common in the rodeo arena as barrel racers are beginning to use them more. My wife always tells me how a thoroughbred could make a great barrel horse because of the length of their stride. It’s less steps for them to go from the third barrel to the barrier. I’ve never really been into barrel racing so I can’t comment on this. Many people ask what OTTB means for horses so since we’re on the topic of thoroughbreds I’ll go ahead and tell you. The term OOTB means Off the Track Thoroughbred.
Arabian
The Arabian is a very popular
breed in the show world. This horse has widely distributed
around the world by war and trade. They have great endurance and in
many cases are used for endurance trail riding competitions. They
are extremely common in arena events such as dressage, english
pleasure, Jumping, etc. The horse was used in the U.S. Army for a
number of years and finally was retired from service in roughly 1940.
The Arabian is easily
identified by the “dish” in their face and their long slender
bodies. They are full of grace and have a ton of endurance and
stamina. For
this reason they are considered the best breed for distances.
Tennessee
Walker
The Tennessee Walker is loved by many
riders of varying experience levels because of it’s smooth gait.
It’s widely known for its’ “running walk” because of the
smoothness of its movements. They have an elegant bearing and a very
sensible temperament which explains their appeal. This breed was
developed to provide a smooth, safe, ride for farmers traveling over
rough terrain and even though they were bred to do all types of work
around the farm, they are now mostly a riding horse equally prized in
the show ring or train. The Tennessee Walking Horse is commonly
ridden under both western and english tack. They are great for older
riders and riders with back problems. They are also a favorite of a
large number of beginning riders.
The Paint Horse
The Paint Horse is a very recognizable breed due to it’s flashy
coloring, calm temperament, and versatility. The American Paint
Horse Association (APHA) has about 110,000 members world-wide and
membership keeps steadily growing. This breed is strong, fast, and
agile and are ridden and driven in almost every English and Western
discipline. They have representatives in almost every sport
involving horses. Many people love the Paint’s distinctive color
patterns which can be in any combination of white plus another color
such as black, chestnut, etc. The patterns vary greatly and no two
are exactly the same. A Paint horse can come in several distinct
color patterns:
Tabiano
Tabianos exhibit a dark and white color pattern, wish solid dark
over one or both flanks and white legs. The head is dark with
regular facial patterns such as stars, blazes, and strips. The
markings are smooth and regular. The tail and main can be two
colors.
Overo
Overo is a solid color over the horse’s back. The legs are dark
with regular stockings and the face is primarily white. The tail and
mane are usually solid colors.
Sabino
A sabino horse is mainly a solid color with white patches that
have random edges. The legs are white, and the face has a number of
white markings. Patches of varying sizes, from larges areas of the
body to small specks.
Tovero
Tovero horses are mainly white on the body, while the upper part
of the head, chest, and flanks are a dark color. Some Toveros have
blue eyes which create a striking appearance.
All of these coat patterns can have white hairs throughout them.
This is known as roaning. Any regular coat color may combine with
white and in some cases two coat colors will combine with white on
the same horse. People can easily get the Paint horse and the Pinto
confused. While both have similar coats, with white patches and
solid color their key differences lie in their breeds. A Paint Horse
(according to the APHA)
“has strict bloodline requirements and a distinctive
stock-horse body type”
A Pinto horse can be a variety
of breeds. The term “pinto” instead refers to the coat pattern
of the horse rather than the breed.
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa breed was originally developed by the Nez Perce
tribe of the American Northwest, who used strict breeding practices
to create a horse that was colorful and intelligent. The modern-day
Appaloosa is an all-around versatile horse that is used for pleasure
and long-distance trail riding, working cattle and rodeo events.
Originally they were used for transport, hunting and battle. This is
a breed that is friendly, gentle and loyal.
Morgan
The Morgan is a loyal and versatile breed and among the most
beloved. It is known as “the breed that chooses you” and is a
beautiful breed with a strong drive to please. The original Morgan
was said to have been able to out-walk, trot, or pull any horse.
From the beginning this breed has been the ultimate all-purpose
horse. Before cars took over the Morgan highly valued for plowing the
fields and pulling the family buggy. They were used as trotting
horses on the trace track and cavalry mounts during wartime. In
current times the Morgan can be found competing in almost every
equestrian sport from endurance riding to saddle seat show classes.
They are often used in sidesaddle classes, trotting races under
saddle, dressage and jumping.
So what is your favorite breed of horse and why? Let me know in the comments below.
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media pages.
The name canker comes from the early belief that the conditions
was cancerous in nature. However, current knowledge is that canker
is an anaerobic (grows in the absence of oxygen) infection in the
superficial tissues which produce the horn of the hoof.
Cause
Currently the cause is unknown. It is only briefly discussed in
veterinary textbooks. Most books suggest that it is caused from
housing a horse in unsanitary conditions but farms with both the best
of stable management and the worst can both have horses with the
disease. In attempts to recreate the disease, Dr. Tracy A. Turner,
DVM, have packed a horse’s frog with manure after injecting it with
what they believe are the causative bacteria. To date is has not
been possible to prove that canker is due to unsanitary conditions.
Another theory as to the cause of canker is that development might
instead be influenced by how the horse is used. Corralled horses
will little exercise seem to be more predisposed to the disease than
horses that are active and kept outdoors. The causative bacteria is
unknown, but some researchers have suggested that the organism is
part of the Bacteroides
species, which is similar to what causes “foot rot” in sheep. In
a study that was completed more recently, researchers found
spirochete (spiral shaped) bacteria in the epithelium, which was
similar to what they found in cows and sheep with digital dermatitis.
Dr
David Wilson, professor of large animal surgery at the University of
Saskatchewan, explains that when the horse’s hooves are wet for an
extended period of time, the keratin in the foot structure softens,
making it easier for bacteria to enter. Because the bacteria found
in hoof canker cases lives in the soil, the best way to prevent the
condition is to keep the hoof clean and dry.
“Daily picking out of the horse’s hooves will likely
prevent the condition from developing, and this may be especially
important for horses in wetter environments”
In the end nobody knows exactly what causes the conditions. What
I have presented here are the theories that may vets and researchers
have formed over the years. I hope that soon they will be able to
figure out exactly what causes this terrible disease and can then
focus on finding a way to cure it without fail.
Where
is Canker Found
Typically equine
canker cases are found in the southeastern United States due to its
higher moisture content and heat. However, there have been diagnosed
cases of canker all over the country. The reason it is more common
through the Southeastern United States is due to the widely held
belief that moisture is a contributing factor to the cause of the
disease.
What does Canker Do
The microorganism that is associated with canker causes abnormal keratin production, or overgrowth of the horn. This excessive growth occurs underneath the horn, as the infection spreads throughout the epithelial layer. Commonly, an affected horse will have white or gray matter that is spongy and moist appearing in the sulci region (grooves on either side and in the center of the frog) of the hoof. This growth’s appearance has been described as looking similar to wet cauliflower with cottage cheese like emission. If an extreme infection is present then heat may be felt in the hoof, but this is only in extreme situations. I noticed when my wife had her horse treated that the growth itself was extremely fibrous. When the vet was cutting through the grown you could hear each cut as it was made. The growth itself felt a lot like a piece of grizzle from a steak. In the early stages canker can appear to be thrush or abscesses that will not go away.
Is Canker Like Thrush?
Not really. Unlike thrush, which is a necrotic or tissue-destroying process, canker creates abnormal tissue grown and is described as a hypertrophic pododermatitis. Thrush and canker are both found in the same region of the foot but thrush is more of a tar like substance. While thrush eats at tissue, the inner tissues of the foot are protected until bacteria get deep enough to deteriorate the more sensitive structures. Canker, on the other hand, spreads in live tissue, without the help of oxygen.
Is there treatment for canker?
Treating canker can be a challenge as most of us who have
experienced it know first hand. Many Vets have suggested a variety
of medications and treatments but the most successful therapy is
based on the following:
Superficial Debridement (cutting away abnormal tissue) over the entire affected area. This process can be done by putting the horse to sleep with the use of anesthesia or by using a nerve block. Only the superficial layer of the infected tissue is usually removed because excising too deeply can slow down healing and also drive the infection into deeper tissues. Some vets follow the debridement process with two or three superficial freezes of the affected area to further kill off the diseased tissue.
Canker prefers moist conditions, so make sure you keep the treated area very clean and dry.
Topical Treatments. Veterinarians have suggested several treatments but two of the most effective topical therapies are the antimicrobial drug metronidazole and 10% benzyl peroxide solution. Metronidazole is usually ground into a powder and spread over the affected area. Benzyl peroxide is a potent astringent commonly found in acne medicine. It is soaked into gauze sponges and applies as a wound dressing. Although, no medicine will cure canker if superficial debridement is not performed.
To Order Purple Mush (804) 440-7544 email: support@well-horse.com www.well-horse.com
It is also now available on their website.
After
applying the topical medications, you want to apply a clean, dry,
waterproof bandage. A number of Vets recommend using shoes with
treatment plates, which are more convenient than bandaging the entire
hoof. Dr. David Wilson says
he has never seen a case of canker recur in a horse that has been
successfully treated. A
large number of people have reported success in treating their horses
for canker by using a product called “Purple Mush”. This product
is from well-horse.com but is not available on their website. It is
a salve made from plant resin and is supposedly easy to apply and
affordable. I have not tried it but my wife has been trying to find
it for a while. I managed to find it yesterday so I’ll post the
information for anyone else who may be interested in trying it.
Please let me know if you have success with it so I can update this
article with the information so more people can benefit from it.
How do horses respond to treatment?
Every horse is different so there isn’t a sure answer. Some
horses will heal within a week or 10 days and some cases last for
months. With good, aggressive treatment, a week to 10 days of
intensive therapy should be enough to get the canker under control.
Once the tissue has healed, it is very rare for the disease to
reoccur. However, the canker can return before the healing is
complete. This is what led many to believe that canker was a
cancerous disease.
How can I identify Canker?
In the early stages canker may present itself as a focal area of
granulation tissue in the frog the bleeds easily when cut. If you
look closer you will typically see a light brown or gray tissue that
will surround this focal area. If it is not treated, the disease
will become more distributed and involve the frog, bars, sole and the
stratum medium of the hoof wall in the plantar aspect of the foot.
The infection itself results in abnormal keratin production, which is
seen as filamentous fronds of hypertrophic horn. Canker is
characterized by a number of small, finger-like protruding growth of
soft off-white material that appears like cauliflower. This
condition is often, but not always, accompanies by a foul odor and is
covered with a caseous white emission that resembles cottage cheese.
The frog itself is often undermined with the horny frog covering the
bulk of the disease. The affected tissue will bleed very easily if
cut and may be extremely painful when touched. Varying degrees of
lameness will be present depending on the extent and the depth of the
infection. Most horses are not lame when the disease is first
recognized and treated early. If the horse is lame it indicates that
the disease involved more than just the superficial horny frog and
needs an aggressive approach to resolving the problem.
Diagnosis
An early diagnosis of canker is based on the general appearance of
the affected horny tissue along with a rancid odor. However, a
definitive diagnosis may be confirmed with a biopsy. Biopsy is the
most useful in recurrent cases or when the lesions do not have the
signature appearance or they appear in unusual locations of the foot.
Caution must be used when removing the superficial necrotic tissue
before the biopsy is taken from the margin of the lesion. The biopsy
should include both normal and abnormal tissue. A 6 mm biopsy punch
works well for this purpose. Histologically, the lesion is read as a
chronic, hypertrophic, moist pododermatitis of the frog. It is
characterized by a proliferative papillary hyperplasia of the
epidermis with dyskeratosis, keratolysis and ballooning degeneration
of the outer layers of the epidermis. A mixed population of
bacterial organisms are observed in the stratum germinativum layer of
the epidermis of the frog. Normally cultures are useless as they
produce an assortment of environmental organisms, bacteroids sp. and
Fusobacterium necrophorum. Benzyl Peroxide is easily purchased at
places such as Wal-Mart or your local drug store.
Discussion
The treatment of equine canker has always presented problems for
veterinarians and the farriers due to the poor prognosis. The cause
of canker remains unknown; however, the disease as seen by authors
differs in some respects from the disease that was described in the
old surgical texts. It does not appear to be a disease that only
effects poorly kept horses. Many studies have shown that horses that
are in very well kept conditions and receive routine hoof care can
still be affected. While the hind legs seem to be more frequently
affected, front leg involvement is common. In the majority of cases,
the condition starts on the frog near the heel lateral or medial to
the sulcus. From there, it can extend anywhere on the foot and even
break through the hoof capsule. In 1997, one author began using a
topical therapy reported by a Texas farrier consisting of benzyl
peroxide in acetone and metronidazole. Since that time all horses
have been managed with surgical debridement followed by this
combination of topical therapy with excellent success. The
combination of careful debridement along with topical benzyl peroxide
in acetone and metronidazole have yielded consistent predicable
results in 56 cases. Even though the cause of canker is still
unknown, there are several principles of therapy for the condition
for which authors consider to be important. Thorough debridement of
the lesion is essential. The method used to achieve this is probably
of less importance. Electrocautery or cold steel excision followed
by cryotherapy both cause tissue necrosis away from the surgical
margins ensuring complete resection of the growth. It is critical
that the growth is followed to is root and that the entire growth is
removed. Finally, methodical topical treatment is important.
Cleaning the affected area with an antiseptic solution daily removes
the surface bacteria and provides and environment where the wound can
heal properly. 10% benzyl peroxide in acetone is an excellent
astringent and keeps the tissue dry with no caustic effect and
finally the bacteria cultured from canker cases are usually anaerobic
making metronidazole a good choice as a topical antibiotic.
Attention must be placed on keeping the surgical wound clean and dry
until the wound begins to heal. The horse owner’s compliance to
perform the daily foot care is another essential element in the
treatment of equine canker.
Our Canker Story
Canker is pretty rare in Arizona so when my wife’s thoroughbred came up with it about 2 years ago we had no idea what it was. It started as thrush then abscesses which we were unable to get rid of. Eventually our farrier pulled a horseshoe nail out of Tiz’s frog (which had to have been there for a long time due to the condition of it) which we believe is what gave the canker a path to follow out of the frog.
When we first saw it we had no idea what it was so we immediately started researching it and finally was able to figure out what it was. We decided to hit it aggressively right from the start so had our vet do a debridement on his hind foot. To get the entire growth removed involved our vet following the growth all the way to the coffin bone and hollowing out our boy’s hoof. It literally looked like a bowl. After that we used crushed up metronidazole mixed with 10% benzyl peroxide on cotton and packed his foot with it.
This process went on for months. Our farrier at the time had no experience with this disease and had no idea how to treat it so we ended up contacting a specialist in Scottsdale. The specialist came up and evaluated Tiz and explained to us what we were dealing with in better detail than what we had been able to find. At this point we knew he was the guy to help Tiz if anyone was so we immediately swapped farriers. Tiz has this issue where he doesn’t like to pick his feet up.
When you do finally get them up you have to really keep a close eye on him because he will try and lay down on you. So dealing with his feet in any capacity takes two people, one to deal with his feet, and one to keep him standing. The first time this farrier came out he spent the better part of 8 hours treating the canker and dealing with abscesses that Tiz had in his front. This is the first thoroughbred we have owned and probably the last from what we’ve been hearing. They are amazing horses but do tend to have tons of feet issues. After the Farrier was done that first time he suggested we keep Tiz on a schedule to get trimmed every 4 weeks and deal with the canker as it returns. Now it’s been over a year and every four weeks the farrier is out taking care of Tiz’s feet and removing the canker as it returns. While doing research for this article I have found that we may not have handled the after-care of his surgery properly and now are going to be trying some other techniques to try and eliminate the canker. Since we made the switch to the farrier we are currently using, Tiz has made improvements by leaps and bounds. He has very little issues with his back feet which is where the canker first popped up. Since that time it has appeared in one of his front feet as well but the farrier caught it immediately and we were able to get it dealt with. The current issue with him is abscesses which we believe to be the sign of canker. Much of the information I found while researching this article says that canker usually starts off like thrush. In our case it was more abscesses that we couldn’t get rid of so we believe this is one of the signs that canker is present.
Canker is pretty rare in Arizona so when my wife’s thoroughbred came up with it about 2 years ago we had no idea what it was. It started as thrush then abscesses which we were unable to get rid of. Eventually our farrier pulled a horseshoe nail out of Tiz’s frog (which had to have been there for a long time due to the condition of it) which we believe is what gave the canker a path to follow out of the frog. When we first saw it we had no idea what it was so we immediately started researching it and finally was able to figure out what it was.
We decided to hit it aggressively right from the start so had our vet do a debridement on his hind foot. To get the entire growth removed involved our vet following the growth all the way to the coffin bone and hollowing out our boy’s hoof. It literally looked like a bowl. After that we used crushed up metronidazole mixed with 10% benzyl peroxide on cotton and packed his foot with it.
This process went on for months. Our farrier at the time had no experience with this disease and had no idea how to treat it so we ended up contacting a specialist in Scottsdale. The specialist came up and evaluated Tiz and explained to us what we were dealing with in better detail than what we had been able to find. At this point we knew he was the guy to help Tiz if anyone was so we immediately swapped farriers. Tiz has this issue where he doesn’t like to pick his feet up. When you do finally get them up you have to really keep a close eye on him because he will try and lay down on you. So dealing with his feet in any capacity takes two people, one to deal with his feet, and one to keep him standing.
The first time this farrier came out he spent the better part of 8 hours treating the canker and dealing with abscesses that Tiz had in his front. This is the first thoroughbred we have owned and probably the last from what we’ve been hearing. They are amazing horses but do tend to have tons of feet issues. After the Farrier was done that first time he suggested we keep Tiz on a schedule to get trimmed every 4 weeks and deal with the canker as it returns.
Now it’s been over a year and every four weeks the farrier is out taking care of Tiz’s feet and removing the canker as it returns. While doing research for this article I have found that we may not have handled the after-care of his surgery properly and now are going to be trying some other techniques to try and eliminate the canker. Since we made the switch to the farrier we are currently using, Tiz has made improvements by leaps and bounds. He has very little issues with his back feet which is where the canker first popped up.
Since that time it has appeared in one of his front feet as well but the farrier caught it immediately and we were able to get it dealt with. The current issue with him is abscesses which we believe to be the sign of canker. Much of the information I found while researching this article says that canker usually starts off like thrush. In our case it was more abscesses that we couldn’t get rid of so we believe this is one of the signs that canker is present.
The specialist came up and evaluated Tiz and explained to us what we were dealing with in better detail than what we had been able to find. At this point we knew he was the guy to help Tiz if anyone was so we immediately swapped farriers. Tiz has this issue where he doesn’t like to pick his feet up. When you do finally get them up you have to really keep a close eye on him because he will try and lay down on you. So dealing with his feet in any capacity takes two people, one to deal with his feet, and one to keep him standing.
The first time this farrier came out he spent the better part of 8 hours treating the canker and dealing with abscesses that Tiz had in his front. This is the first thoroughbred we have owned and probably the last from what we’ve been hearing. They are amazing horses but do tend to have tons of feet issues. After the Farrier was done that first time he suggested we keep Tiz on a schedule to get trimmed every 4 weeks and deal with the canker as it returns.
Now it’s been over a year and every four weeks the farrier is out taking care of Tiz’s feet and removing the canker as it returns. While doing research for this article I have found that we may not have handled the after-care of his surgery properly and now are going to be trying some other techniques to try and eliminate the canker. Since we made the switch to the farrier we are currently using, Tiz has made improvements by leaps and bounds. He has very little issues with his back feet which is where the canker first popped up.
Since that time it has appeared in one of his front feet as well but the farrier caught it immediately and we were able to get it dealt with. The current issue with him is abscesses which we believe to be the sign of canker. Much of the information I found while researching this article says that canker usually starts off like thrush. In our case it was more abscesses that we couldn’t get rid of so we believe this is one of the signs that canker is present.
Another Quick Theory
My wife was telling just this morning how two friends of hers had horses they couldn’t get rid of thrush in. The boarding facility they were at had cattle grazing nearby when the thrush popped up. They tried all the equine thrush medications with no luck. Eventually they picked up some thrush medicine for cattle and used that which effectively got rid of the thrush.
This story leads me to believe the theory that I stated earlier in this article that the bacteria that causes thrush and foot rot in cattle and sheep may have something to do with the cause of canker. I still have plenty of questions that I haven’t been able to find answers to yet but hope to in the near future. As I am able to obtain more information I will post more articles on this topic. I have reached out to a vet in New York who is currently researching canker to see if she can shed some more light on the subject and maybe somebody, somewhere can finally find a lasting cure for this disease.
There are a large number of people from all walks of life who have had to deal with this disease in their horses. Some of these stories have happy endings and some of them do not. I am reaching out to a number of people to share their experiences with this horrible disease. If you have ever had to deal with it or have more information about this disease please use the Contact Us form at the bottom of the page to let us know. By sending us your story you authorize us to use your name and the contents of your canker related email to publish on our site.
I hope this article was helpful to you. If it was I would be appreciative if you would share it with your friends and on your favorite social media pages. Leave a comment in the section below and let me know hat you thought.
References 1) Moyer, W.A., Colohan, P.T.: Canker. In Equine Medicine & Surgery, 5th edition, Mosby, St. Louis (1999); 1544-1546. 2) Reeves, M.J., Yovich, J.V., Turner, A.S. Miscellaneous Conditions of the Equine Foot. In Veterinary Clinics of North America – equine practice. Vol 5 (1) (1989); 236-237. 3) Wilson, D.G.: Equine Canker. In Current Therapy in Equine Medicine 4. Edited by Robinson, N.E., W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia (1997); 127-128. 4) Steckel, R.R.: Puncture Wounds, Abscesses, Thrush, and Canker. In Current Therapy in Equine Medicine 2. Edited by Robinson, N.E., W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia (1987); 271. 5) Turner, T.A.: Treatment of equine canker. Proc 34th Annu Conv Am Assoc Equine Pract, 1988, pp 307-310. 6) https://www.equipodiatry.com/canker1.htm
So what is thrush?
Simply put, thrush is a fungal infection in a horses hoof. It
erodes the tissues of the frog which leaves a black ooze on the
surface. This infection
thrives in areas where horses are confined to corrals or a very small
pasture.
What is Thrush
Thrush itself is a fungal infection in a horses hoof that slowly
erodes the tissues of the frog. This leaves a blackish ooze on the
surface. Thrush thrives much more in areas where horses are kept in
a corral or a very small pasture. A horse who normally stands in
urine soaked, manure filled mud will be more susceptible to thrush
than a horse who stands in a corral with dry, clean ground. Also,
horses who wear pads have over-grown hooves, or who get little
exercise tend to me more susceptible to thrush. In other words, if
your horse is standing in a moist or damp corral it can help thrush
develop. Hooves need to be cleaned and picked out on a regular basis
to ensure there is nothing lodged or rubbing against the frog. Even
if a horse is in a spotless environment they can still get thrush.
Keeping the hoof clean can help keep them healthy and strong.
What are the symptoms of thrush
There can be a number of symptoms that will help you identify if
your horse has thrush. These can include:
Reaction to probing around the area indicating the hoof is
tender.
Dark or black ooze showing up on the underside of their
hoof.
Severe infection may eventually cause lameness in some
horses.
Rotting odor emanating from the bottom of the hoof.
Very strong pungent smelling feet
Pasty discharge from the hoof.
If your horse is showing any of these symptoms there is a chance
that thrush is present in the hoof. Don’t worry though, thrush is
common in horses who live in moist conditions. Horses with poor
conformation of the hoof (i.e. long narrow feet) are more likely to
develop thrush. Because of the different shape of the foot it causes
the animal to move more awkward than other horses. This allows sand
and debris to get lodged in the hoof which can allow bacteria to
enter.
How do you get rid of thrush in horses
Once you have found that your horse has thrush you can take
measures to clean your horse’s environment. You want to make sure
that their stall is cleaned out twice per day, replace any wet
bedding and keep them away from pastures with high moisture. You
will also want to pick their feet every day to help keep the
infection from getting any worse. In some cases, a vet or farrier
will need to come out to trim away the infected tissues. Sometimes,
a topical treatment or disinfectant will be prescribed that you will
need to apply per your vet’s instructions to allow the hoof to heal
properly.
If severe thrush is found, antibiotics may also be prescribed.
Until the thrush is dealt with and removed you will want to limit how
often you ride because the feet can be tender and your horse may not
be as sure-footed as normal. This can make riding more dangerous for
you and your horse. Some treatments can be picked up at your local
feed store such as Kopertox and Thrush buster, which work well for
treating thrush. Also some Iodine-based products such as Povidone
are also very effective treatments.
Is thrush in horses contagious
Because thrush is an anaerobic bacteria, it is not
contagious. However, chances are your other horses are probably in
the same type of conditions which can lead to them contracting
thrush.
Will bleach kill thrush in horses
Absolutely bleach will kill thrush in horses. Bleach is a super
treatment for thrush or as a general disinfectant for the bottom of
your horse’s hoof. You will want to dilute it though to about 1
cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water. Clean your horse’s hoof out
very well then pour on some of the mixed bleach solution. Usually a
couple applications is enough to kill all the bacteria that form
thrush.
Are there any homemade thrush treatments for
horses?
There are some such as bacon grease, bleach, or turpentine, but
these types of treatments are generally highly discouraged by vets
due to the other issues they can cause.
Avoid Caustic Chemicals
There are treatments you can do at home such as bleach but many
vets discourage the use of these types of chemicals for a number of
reasons. Bleach for example, can cause discomfort if the deeper
sensitive tissue of the frog is affected from moderate to severe
thrush. In time many horses will begin to associate any kind of
chemical treatment with pain which can cause your horse to become
more of a handful during regular hoof maintenance and create unneeded
problems for you or your farrier. In some cases your horse may just
refuse to even pick up their feet at all. Many horse owners may
associate this as “bad behavior”, when the truth is it is not bad
behavior at all but merely a fear of pain. To avoid causing
unnecessary pain, the rule of thumb is to never put anything on your
horse’s hooves that you would not put on your own skin.
Examples of unsafe Caustic Chemicals: Copper
Sulfate, Bleach, Turpentine, Formaldehyde
Don’t use Oxygen Blocking Materials
I quickly mentioned that caustic chemicals will damage the
proteins of the hoof and reduce the ability of the hoof to breathe.
Oxygen can also be blocked to the hoof from packed debris or the
application of grease and various oils to the sole and the frog. The
microbes that cause thrush tend to thrive in areas with very low
oxygen. To prevent and treat thrush, we want to make sure that we
are not giving it a better area to thrive in by cutting off the
supply of oxygen. This is why it is so important to ensure that you
are picking your horse’s feet every day and make sure you are
maintaining a clean environment for your horse to live in. Many of
the greases and oils that are “home remedies” will restrict the
amount of oxygen to the tissue, which creates a perfect environment
for thrush and other hoof related diseases. Because the low oxygen
environment not only creates a perfect place for thrush, it also
encourages “hoof eating” microbes to invade defects in the hoof
wall which can lead to additional defects and even collapsing of the
hoof horn.
Examples of Oxygen Blocking Chemicals:
Petroleum Based Tar, Motor Oil, Axle
Grease, Pine Tar, bacon Grease
Bacon
grease not only blocks the oxygen flow to the hoof but the salt
causes the sole and hoof wall to decrease in flexibility due to the
high amount of salt. This can increase the chances of cracks and
other defects occurring.
Also
note that wrapping a foot with plastic wrap or other non-breathable
materials has the same effect.
So
how do I find the right treatment?
I
encourage you to avoid “home remedies” as much as possible since
many of them are caustic, will block the oxygen flow to the hoof, are
untested, or just flat out have no impact on the health of the hoof.
There are a ton of remedies and treatments for thrush on the market
but many of them are still using the harmful ingredients I mentioned
above. When you are looking for the right treatment for your horse,
pay attention to the ingredients and ensure they do not contain any
material that could be harmful to your horses hoof. Make
sure that it is safe to use on your own skin and contains natural
ingredients. Here are a few tips to help you find the best and
safest treatment for your horse:
Contains
non-caustic ingredients
Does not
block oxygen flow to the hoof
Contains
safe anti-microbial ingredients such as tea-tree oil and/or low
levels of iodine
Contains
anti-microbial ingredients
that penetrate into tissue
A product
that stays in the sulci for extended periods of time
Thrush can lead
to some serious issue for your horse and finding the right treatment
can be hard. If you begin to see signs of thrush make sure you
address it immediately using the correct treatments before it leads
to lameness.
Can thrush make a horse lame?
Usually thrush will not lame a horse as long as the disease stays
in the external and non-sensitive area of the frog. However, if not
treated promptly or correctly, the disease can extend into the
sensitive tissue of the frog and make them quite sore. Thrush can
progress to a severe lameness that can be seen at a walk, much like
an abscess. The infection itself leads to degradation of the frog
and can cause enough damage that portions of the structure have to be
removed by your vet or farrier.
How can I prevent thrush?
Simply put, keep your horse’s feet clean. Every time you groom your horse or before every ride, you should always pick their feet. Remember to clean the frog and the sulci. Don’t just remove the shavings or dirt that are trapped inside the sole. This is a good habit to get into not only for checking thrush but also for checking to ensure that no objects have found their way into your horse’s hoof such as nails or rocks. A single picking of the hoof can help prevent several possible problems.
You also want to keep your horse’s corral as clean and as dry as
you possibly can. In some situations you are unable to make sure
that no mud is in the corral. In these cases make sure you clean
their feet daily to help minimize the chances of thrush growing.
If you do find signs of thrush in your horse’s feet then you
will want to begin by cleaning the feet. Make sure you have removed
as much of the black discharge as you possibly can. Then, allow
their feet to dry. Use products such as the ones listed above
(Kopertox, Thrush buster, etc) to begin treatment of the affected
hoof.
Does my horse have thrush or canker?
This is a question that really hits home for me. My wife’s thoroughbred has canker and originally we thought it was thrush and abscesses. Canker is another disease of the hoof that causes the tissue in and around the frog to grow excessively. The cause is unknown and unfortunately there is no known cure at the present time. Although there are some treatments that can make the horse much more comfortable. I am currently working on a series just on canker since it is something that really hits home for me.
For centuries horses have been called the noblest of creatures and
it’s not very hard to see why. Depending on which theories you
believe, they have been man’s original best friend since between
4000 to 2000 B.C. They have taken us wherever we have asked them too
including the battlefields of old.
But here we are in the 21st Century, and there are
still a ton of those noble creatures you still don’t know. Don’t
believe me? Well here is my list of 45 Facts about horses you didn’t
know.
1. Horses have the largest eyes of any land mammal – Scientists have discovered that this is partly do to a mammal’s maximum running speed. Horses eyes can work individually and provide monocular vision. This gives them a greater field of view for spotting predators. (Source: Horseswithaime)
2. Horses can actually run within hours after birth (Source: ScienceKids)
3. Flehmen – Horses are not actually smiling when their upper lip is lifted. This is a technique known as “flehmen” which they use to determine if a smell is good or bad. (Source: Dictionary)
4. Horse are not color blind – At one time people thought they were but scientists have found that they actually are not. However, they are better at seeing yellows and greens than purples and violets.
5. Their teeth take up more space in their head than their
brains – This does not mean
they are stupid though. Horses
are highly intelligent animals.
6. Males have more teeth – Generally
you can tell the difference between a male and a female by the number
of teeth they have. Males have 40 while females have 36.
7. Hooves are fingernails? – A horses hooves are made from the same protein that makes up human hair and fingernails. (Source: HorsesWithAime)
8. Horse Trailer – The
Horse trailer was invented by Lord George Bentinck, a man from the
U.K. who needed a better way to transport his horses from one
racetrack to another.
9. Horses can “fly” – In 1872, Leland Stanford made a bet that at some point during the gallop of a horse, all for feet were off the ground at the same time. Eadweard Muybridge proved him right by using a series of 24 cameras and photographing a racehorse named Sallie Gardner (Source: HorsesWithAime)
10. Horse Comfort in Trailer – A horse is more secure and comfortable when trailering if they can face the rear, but they prefer openings. (Source: Animal People News )
11. Horses can sleep laying down and standing up – Although
usually the older horses and young ones sleep laying down.
12. 62 – A 19th century horse named “old billy” reportedly lived 62 years. (Source: Manchester Museum)
13. More Horses – Between 1867 to 1920 the number of horses skyrocketed from 7.8 million to 25 million. Experts believe this was due to the rise of the automobile (Source: HorsesWithAmie)
14. Almost 360 degree vision – Because
a horse’s eyes are on the side of their head they can see almost
360 degrees.
15. Fastest Horse – The fastest recorded sprinting speed of a horse was 55 MPH. Most horses gallop at around 27 MPH. (Source: PurelyFacts)
16. Only true wild horse – The Przewalski’s horse is the only true wild horse species still in existence. The only wild population is in Mongolia. There are however numerous populations across the world of feral horses (i.e. Mustangs in North America). (Source: OneKind)
17. Horse use their ears, eyes and nostrils to express their mood – They also communicate their feelings through facial expressions. (Source: OneKind)
18. Lookout – Horses will not all lie down simultaneously because at least one will act as a look-out to alert the rest of the herd of potential dangers. (Source: OneKind)
19. Horse are very vocal – Vocalizations are highly important to horses. For example: Whinnying and neighing sounds are elicited when horses meet or leave each other. Stallions (Adult, Un-castrated male horses) perform loud roars as mating calls, and all horses will use snorts to alert others of potential danger. (Source: OneKind)
20. Big Industry – Approximately 4.6 million Americans work in the equine industry in some capacity. The US Horse Industry has an economic effect of $39 billion annually on just nine million American horses. There are about 58 million horses in the world and the vast majority are cared for my humans. (Source: HorseCouncil)
21. Small Brain – An adult horse’s brain weighs only 22 oz. That is about half of the weight of a human brain. (Source: TheEquinest)
22. Honorable – Horses still hold a place of honor in a number of cultures. They are often linked to acts of heroism, mostly during wars. (Source: NationalGeographic)
23. Keep it down – Horses are unable to vomit (Source: TheEquinest)
24. One Species – There is only one species of domestic horse, but around 400 different breeds that have a number of specialties. (Source: NationalGeographic)
25. Amazing Vision – A horse can see better at night that a human. But this comes at a cost as their eyes need more time to adjust from light to dark and vise versa than a human. (Source: CowboyWay)
26. Cloned – The first cloned horse was a Haflinger mare in Italy in 2003. (Source: TheEquinest)
27. Horses love sweets – Horses like sweet flavors and will usually refuse anything sour or bitter. (Source: TheEquinest)
28. Rule – Wild horses generally gather in herds of 3 to 20 horses. A stallion protects the group, which consists of mares (females) and young foals. A Mare runs the herd. When young males become colts, at around 2 years old, the stallion drives them away. The colts then roam with other young males until they form a herd of their own. (Source: NationalGeographic)
29. Crazy Eyes – A horses ears will point at what they are looking at. If their ears are pointed at in two directions at the same time then the horse is looking at two different things at the same time. (Source: TrainingHorsesNaturally)
30. Lots of spit – Horses produce about 10 gallons of saliva every day. (Source: EquineNews)
31. Frog – On the bottom of a horses hoof is a triangle shaped area that’s called the “frog”. This acts as a shock absorber for a horse’s leg and also helps to pump the blood back up the leg. (Source: PawNation)
32. Horses Have Hands (Kinda) – A horse’s height is measured in units known as “hands”. One hand is equal to 4 inches. The tallest horse on record was a shire hnamed Sampson. He was 21.2 hands (7 feet, 2 inches) tall. He was born in 1846 in Toddington Mills, England. (Source: CowboyWay)
33. Huge Heart – The average horse’s heart weights about 9 or 10 pounds (Source: SteinbeckEquine)
34. Long Jump Champion – The record for the longest jump over water is held by a horse named Something who jumped 27 feet, 6 and ¾ inches on April 25, 1975 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Source: EquineLifeSolutions)
35. High Jump Champion – The record for the highest jump made by a horse is held by a horse named Huaso who jumped 8 feet, 1 and ¼ inches on February 5th, 1949 in Vina del Mar, Chile. (Source: YouTube)
36. Very Old Animal – Scientists believe that the first known ancestor of the horse lived about 50 million years ago. This prehistoric horse is called Eohippus and had four padded toes on the front legs and three padded toes on the back legs. (Source: Chronozoom)
37. Nose Breathers – Horses with typical anatomy are “obligate nasal breathers” which means they must breathe through their nostrils and are unable to breathe through their mouths. (Source: TheHorse)
38. Drink like fish – Horses drink at least 25 gallons of water a day (More in hotter climates). (Source: TheEquinest )
39. Slow Growth Nails – It takes 9 to 12 months to re-grow and entire horse hoof. (Source: TheEquinest)
40. Sunburns – Horses with pink skin can get sunburned. (Source: TheEquinest)
41. Zebroid – A zebroid is a cross betwee a zebra and any other member of the family Equidae (which besides zebras, includes donkeys, ponies, and horses). A “zonky” is a cross between a zebra and a donkey. A “zony” is a cross between a zebra and a pony. And a “zorse” is a cross between a zebra and a horse. (Source: CowboyWay)
42. Cold Spots – You can tell if a horse is cold by feeling behind their ears. If behind their ears is cold then so is the horse. (Source: ChronOfHorse)
43. Muscular – Horses have 16 muscles in each ear, allowing them to rotate their ears 180 degrees. (Source: UMN)
44. Kicking Banners – If a horse has a red ribbon on it’s tail, it will kick. (Source: EquineTips)
45. Social Butterflies – Horses are very social animals and will get lonely if kept alone. They will also mourn the passing of a companion. (Source: TheEquinest)
46. Cattle Rockstars – Horses are the most popular way to herd cattle.
I Hope you found this article helpful or that you learned something from it. If you did, it would be awesome if you would share it on your favorite social media pages or leave a comment with your thoughts below.
To start with let’s define what cribbing actually is. Cribbing
is when a horse chews on various items. In many cases their corral
panels. This behavior can be rather destructive and there are a
number of questions that people have about it.
Why Horses Crib
To start with lets discuss why horses crib. Traditionally cribbing has been chalked up to a vice or bad habit in horses. New information indicates that a horse may crib in response to a digestive upset. Because cribbing actually produces an excess of saliva, this can help to alleviate the pain of things like ulcers and other digestive problems that may be present.
If your horse is cribbing the first step you may want to take would be to investigate the reason why. Don’t just chalk it up to boredom and let it go. There could be some serious medial conditions as the underlying cause. With horses who are diagnosed with ulcers, the behavior often stops or is reduced when those ulcers are treated.
Cribbing can be caused by extreme boredom and is usually seen in horses who spend most of their time in a stall. As far back as 1888, researchers theorized that horses cribbed because of an upset stomach. Back then they would treat them with blocks of salt and chalk in their feed and add magnesium and ground oak bark on the feed.
Dr. Mills has investigated this theory more in depth. He has treated cribbing horses with antacids and found that it may significantly reduce the behavior. However, his team’s research is still ongoing. Another research team has said that they haven’t been able to determine whether cribbing causes any issues in the stomach or whether the behavior is caused by stomach issues.
Can Cribbing Be Harmful
Yes it can, Cribbing is a great way to cause a horse to colic (and tear up property), because of this any steps you can take to end this practice the better. This behavior can also cause a horse to wear their teeth down to nubs. This can make eating more difficult.
Other horses will crib rather than eat which can cause large amounts of weight loss. In some cases horses will build their neck muscles so much that it’s difficult for them to get their head turned properly when being ridden.
The practice can very much damage a barn or a wood stall and in many cases completely destroy it. One horse has torn down numerous feed buckets that were bolted to the wall of the stall and has even broken a wheelbarrow that was within reach. Dr Houpt states:
“They pull so hard, it’s like exerting 125 pounds of force every time they flex their necks.”
Equisearch.com
Dr. Houpt has not found a direct relationship between the frequency of cribbing and the risk of colic, although she has lost one-third of the cribbing horses she has studied due to colic.
Is Cribbing a Learned Behavior in Horses
No it’s not. Horses do not start cribbing just because they may
see other horses around them doing it. In cases where a large number
of horses begin to crib at the same time, it can be caused by
management practices that lead to some type of gastric distress.
Some of the practices that can lead to cribbing are:
Not enough long-stemmed forage
Feeding large grain meals at a single time
No providing a diet that is balanced properly
Horses not having enough access to salt
Not enough time turned out to run
There is a theory that there is a genetic component to cribbing. Some theories believe that if a mare or sire is a cribber then their offspring will have an increased chance of cribbing even if it has never seen another horse doing it. Personally this leads me to believe that cribbing may have a hereditary component that could be due to another issue.
I would love to see this angle researched more in depth to see if it’s actually the case. Current research shows that horses start cribbing at weaning or when there is a chance in their diet. Researchers are still unsure what role sweet feed plays into triggering cribbing. Although they have seen that feeding straight oats, seems to decrease the frequency of cribbing.
Another Vet believes that half of all the horses that crib begin the habit within 20 weeks of age (the typical weaning period). It’s hard to pinpoint an exact cause because there are so many variables in play such as feed types, change in feeding routine, change in environment, and stress. The practice has not been reported in wild horses, increasing the idea that humans’ management of horses may be to blame for the behavior.
Researchers also believe that anxiousness and stress could be a predisposition for cribbing. They have found that the behavior is least often found in cold-blooded horses like ponies and draft breeds which do tend to be less worrisome. However, there is some disagreement among researchers over whether a horse receives any physical or mental benefit from cribbing.
Can I Stop My Horse From Cribbing?
Actually, sometimes you can. You see, as a horse bites down on the wood and inhales, endorphins are released that can give the horse a kind of “high”. That is why it can be hard to stop once it has begun but by treating the underlying cause you can get it to stop. Once the underlying cause is found and addressed you can start to reduce the practice. There are some steps that you can take that will also help to reduce the habit. These things are:
Plenty of long-stemmed forage throughout the day
Enough turn out time with the chance to play and interact
with other horses
Placing toys in the stalls to reduce boredom
Ensuring that your horse is getting a balanced diet
Covering wooden surfaces with anti-chew paint
Ensuring that the horse has plenty of access to loose white
salt
Feeding grain based meals in small amounts several times
per day rather than all at once
It can be a challenge to treat a cribbing horse, but remember that
the first step is to figure out why the behavior began in the first
place. There is a chance that your horse cribbing could be him
telling you that he’s in pain and needs help.
Dr. Houpt says:
“The only horses I could cure were the horses that had just started, that was by letting the horses out of their stalls and putting them back on pasture. Once it has been going on, it’s very hard to stop even if you make the environment perfect, although the rate at which horses become cribbers will be less when they’re on pasture. If you feed them nothing but hay and oats, they will crib at the lowest rate.”
Equisearch.com
There are also a number of options for enriching the environment of a cribbing horse and managing his behavior:
Forage Horses kept
on pasture and those that free feed may crib less
Antacids – If
cribbing actually is related to ulcers, providing an antacid in a
horse’s diet could be helpful
Cribbing Collars – Dr.
Houpt says that these popular neck collars do seem to work but “you
have to make it so tight that often the horse develops lesions.”
Fitted around the horse’s jowl at the throatlatch, a cribbing
collar doesn’t affect a horses breathing, eating, or drinking when
he isn’t attempting to crib. However, when the horse does try and
crib, the collar applies pressure to the throatlatch so he can’t
arch his neck and suck air.
Shock Collars – Just
don’t, they are all viewed as cruel and there is debate about
whether they are even effective at all.
Cribbing Muzzles – Muzzles
do work, but horses will try their hardest to remove them. A metal
and nylon muzzle clips to the horses halter and allows the horse to
eat and drink, but the horse can’t get his mouth open to crib.
This also leads to other potential dangers of leaving a horse in a
stall with a halter on.
Premises Paint – Several
wood coatings are produced with the purpose of preventing cribbing.
Some people swear by using hot sauce but they may not always do the
job. One researcher found that pepper sauce made absolutely no
difference.
There are a load more things that are supposed to discourage a
horse from cribbing but we won’t go over those.
Right now there are a lot of researchers world-wide trying to
figure out exactly what causes cribbing. Dr. Houpt says:
“I’m sure that within the next three to five years, we’re going to find the gene for cribbing.”
Equisearch.com
So far medications have not been found to be a successful method
for control. However, by finding the gene responsible for cribbing,
the proper protocol should be more clear.
“I think there are some exciting developments, and with the right investment, we could gain much greater insight,”
Equisearch.com
says Dr. mills.
“If it was a physical disease that was affecting 5% of the population, you could be sure people would see the welfare significance. But because it is thought of as an endemic problem of the horse rather than a welfare problem, there is very little funding. And what research has been done has largely been done by self-funding, dedicated individuals.”
Are There other Ideas on the Cause of Cribbing?
Actually there are. Some scientists believe that Genetics, diet,
personality and weaning methods seem to play strong roles in whether
a horse will crib or not. They also believe that is is not a learned
behavior from other horses. And, as I previously stated, it can lead
to an increased risk of colic. Current research is underway to try
and understand more about this behavior and why a horse does it.
However, Dr. Houpt suggests that horses may not actually crib because
of the endorphins; but that the endorphins are already present from
another source such as feed and that may be a cause for the action.
Ultimately, when raising a horse from birth, owners should pay
extra close attention to the environment and management surrounding
the foal’s weaning experience to reduce the likelihood that such
stereotypical behaviors as cribbing because an issue.
Dr. Katherine Houpt is a professor of behavioral medicine at
the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Daniel Mills is a well-known equine behaviorist who is
researching stereotypes at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
in the United Kingdom.
I hope this article was a big help to you. If it was I would be
very appreciative if you would leave a comment below and share it on
your favorite social media pages.
In 1493, on Columbus’s second voyage to the Americas, Spanish
horses, representing E. caballus, were brought back to North America,
first in the Virgin Islands and, in 1519, they were reintroduced on
the continent. These Spanish and European horses were smaller
because of the space constraints on ships, but through breeding with
larger horses eventually developed into bigger breeds. Horses were
often lost or stolen as well, becoming wild or feral horses,
eventually evolving into today’s wild mustangs.
Wait, Isn’t mustang a breed?
You may have heard that a mustang is a breed. This is false. A
mustang is nothing more than a wild horse. In Fact, I have two of
them myself. Now, Just because a horse is a mustang does not mean
that all of their offspring is also a mustang. Mustang only goes
down one generation. So If my little mustang mare has a foal, then
that baby would be a mustang. However, if that foal has offspring,
that horse would not be a mustang.
Are there still Mustangs in the Wild?
Absolutely there are and seeing them running free is one of the
most beautiful you could ever watch. There are a large number of
herds that are all over the world. Granted, most of the wild horses
nowadays are actually decedents of domesticated horses that have not
been tamed. They are still very hardy horses and one of the most
sure-footed of all horses.
So are there a lot of Mustangs still around?
There are still a lot of mustangs running around but that number
is dwindling quickly. At the moment the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) is tasked with upholding the 1971 legislation written to
protect these amazing animals. Unfortunately, their strategy are far
from effective and are considered inhumane by a large number of
people. The issue can be very complicated and has a number of
conflicting interests. These interests range from those who want to
see wild horses stay free, to those who object to the way various
entities are limiting herd growth, to ranchers to graze on public
lands and view the mustangs as competition.
In late July 2017, a Congressional Committe voted to reverse a ban
on euthanizing healthy wild horses and donkeys. Now, if this becomes
law it would give the BLM the right to kill horses that they consider
un-adoptable that are in holding pens or still roaming public lands.
Here are a few facts about mustangs:
The population of Mustangs is currently strained. There
are a record around 67,000 wild horses on roughly 27 million acres
of federally managed land while millions of privately owned cattle
graze across about 155 million acres of public lands.
Mustangs and wild burros can be found mainly on
government-designated Herd Management Areas in 10 western states:
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. The BLM has reduced designated mustang
habitats by more than 15 million acres since 1971.
Recently here in Arizona there have been a number of Mustangs that
have been shot by random individuals. Some of this has made a huge
splash in the equine world because the herd in Heber, Arizona is a
protected herd. It’s amazing driving down the highway and looking
out the window and seeing mustangs grazing as they have done for
centuries.
So All Horses Come from Europe?
Not quite, there were similar equine species on the North American
Contenent before the european and Spanish horses came. However,
these species went extinct along with some other ancient mammals
around the time of the Ice Age. Each breed typically comes from
somewhere different in the world. Arabians come from the Arabian
Peninsula, Tennessee Walker comes from the Southern United States.
So as you can see, even though horses were brought to North America
from Europe, that doesn’t mean that every breed comes from
somewhere outside the United States.
So Since Horses Came from Europe are they all the
same?
Nope, Not at all. There are over 400 different breeds of horses
in the world. Some are much more popular than other due to movies or
sporting events. For instance, many people know what a Thoroughbred
is because of horse racing. That’s great but did you know that a
Quarter horse is more common for working cattle? Or that an Arabian
is very common in the show arenas? Now I’m sure that this bought
up another question in your head right? Well if it brought up the
question it did for me when I first heard that then Let’s move on
and get that answered.
So What Breeds are Good for What?
Arabian
Well lets start with the Arabian. This horse has been a favorite
all over the world. Originally this breed comes from the Arabian
Peninsula (Makes sense doesn’t it?), this breed is very easy to
spot with its distinctive head shape, high tail, and the proud way it
carries its tail. It is thought to be one of the oldest breeds and
is normally known for its spirit and endurance. Nowadays this breed
is used a lot in the dressage and endurance trail competitions.
Quarter Horse
Next up is probably the most popular breed in the United States,
the quarter horse. The largest breed registry in the world is the
American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). The Quarter horse is
mostly known for western pleasure riding or events such as barrel
racing, roping, and cutting. Although they can also make great
hunting mounts.
Thoroughbred
This is probably one of these most widely known breeds due to its
participation in horse racing. The Thoroughbred was originally
developed in England in the 17th and 18th
century. The breed is generally known for its high spirit and
especially its heart. The thoroughbred that we have has so much
heart it’s crazy to see. The thoroughbred also make great sport
horses and are used as hunters and jumpers and also as mounts in
dressage, polo and fox hunting.
Tennessee Walker
This breed is what’s known as a gaited horse. Basically a
“gaited” horse is a horse that has been bred that has the ability
to perform one of the smooth to ride, intermediate speed, four-beat
horse gaits. Now the Tennessee Walker was developed in the Southern
United States during the 18th century for use on farms and
plantations. Because of its gait it was one of the most popular
breeds during the Civil War for Generals because of it’s comfort
over long distances. It is widely believed that Robert E. Lee’s
mount, traveler, was part Tennessee Walker.
Paint
This one tends to spark a lot of discussion. The Paint. The
American Paint Horse is a unique and in many cases quite a beautiful
horse. Up until a few years ago the Paint was not recognized as a
breed. It was recognized as a color. This is where the heated
discussion can come in. Anyway, the paint typically is a combination
of the conformation characteristics of the western stock horse and
the colors of a pinto. The American Paint Horse Association (APHA)
does consider them a true breed and states that they have strict
bloodline requirements and distinctive characteristics of the breed.
Appaloosa
The Appaloosa or Appy as many people call it, was originally
developed by the Nez Perce Native American tribe in the Pacific
Northwest. They are best known for their colorful spotted coat
pattern. Appy’s are considered tough, independent, hardy and very
sure footed. They have large bodies and sparse manes and tails.
Often they are used as stock horses and pleasure mounts but also make
great trail horses.
Warmbloods
Now, to start with Warmbloods are not a breed but it is a grouping
of a few breeds such as the thoroughbred, Clydesdale, Belgian, etc.
They are characterized by open stud book policies and are known for
being great sport horses. They excel in jumping and dressage.
That by far does not encompass all of the various breeds of horses
the list itself is absolutely massive.
So now we come to the part where you may ask yourself
“If horses aren’t generally indigenous too the United States, and they were brought from Europe, then all horses are European right?”
In short, no, some breeds were developed in the United States by mixing existing breeds.
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