EDUCATION | outsidethebox

Welcome to the NSA education section.

January 2019:

*WHAT DOES HOMOZYGOUS MEAN?

Homozygous is a term used to indicate identical pairs of genes for any given pair of hereditary characteristics. The term is often used to indicate if a breeding horse is Homozygous for the a specific gene. A horse who's Homozygous for the black color gene will only produce black offspring. A horse Homozygous for the pinto gene will only produce offspring who are pinto.

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December 2018:

*ARE ALL HORSES GOOD WITH KIDS?

Individual horses are similar to individual humans in that they are all very different and have their own likes and dislikes. Some horses prefer kids and some prefer adults.

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November 2018:

*WHICH BREED OF HORSE IS THE FASTEST?

The Quarter Horse is the fastest horse over a 1/4 mile.

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October 2018:

*WHAT IS A HOOF ABSCESS?

A hoof abscess is a localized bacterial infection within the sensitive structures of the hoof. Often it forms a "pocket" that causes great pain and may need to be opened by a farrier or vet to drain.

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September 2018:

*WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF BELL BOOTS?

Bell boots are worn around the top of the hoof extending down covering part of the hoof. They are most common on the fronts and used to protect the heel bulbs and coronet band should the horse overreach while in motion. Bell boots are worn to protect the horse from injury.

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August 2018 OUTSIDETHEBOX newsletter:

*WHICH GAIT IS FASTER, THE TROT OR THE PACE?

THE PACE IS FASTER

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July 2018 OUTSIDETHEBOX newsletter:

*WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF A HORSE TO GOING BAREFOOT?

A horse's hoof is designed to expand when weight is applied and contract when weight is removed. If a horse is kept in regular metal shoes for a long period of time their hoof is not allowed to expand. This forces their hoof to remain in a contracted state at all times. Over time the hoof will atrophy and become smaller and the heels will become closer. This allows the contraction to spread all the way up the leg and will eventually restrict the natural movement of the horse resulting in shortened stride, lameness, and a reluctant attitude.

Horses who never get to go barefoot also develop weak feet and brittle hoof walls.

Horses without hind shoes are safer to go out with other horses because the level of damage should they kick another horse is decreased when they are barefoot.

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June 2018 OUTSIDETHEBOX newsletter:

*WHAT DOES TPR STAND FOR AND

WHY SHOULD EVERY HORSE OWNER KNOW?

TPR Stands for:

Temperature, Pulse, & Respiration

All horse owners and caretakers should know how to measure these 3 basic things that can indicate a potential health issue.

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May 2018 OUTSIDETHEBOX newsletter:

*WHAT JOINT ON A HUMAN IS EQUIVALENT TO THE HOCK OF A HORSE?

The hock of the horse is equivalent to the ankle on a human.

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April 2018 OUTSIDETHEBOX newsletter:

*WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PAINT AND A PINTO?

A Paint is a breed of horse. The Paint registry is the APHA

(American Paint Horse Association).

A Pinto is a coat pattern and is not limited to any breed.

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The March 2018 OUTSIDETHEBOX newsletter:

*WHAT DISEASE DOES A COGGINS TEST REVEAL?

*WHY DO YOU NEED TO HAVE A COGGINS TEST DONE?

Coggins tests for Equine Infectious Anemia.

Proof of negative Coggins is required for all horses to travel.

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*The February 2018 OUTSIDETHEBOX newsletter:

*WHAT ARE THE FOOTFALLS OF THE 4 NATURAL GAITS OF NON-GAITED HORSE BREEDS?

Walk-LH, LF, RH, RF (4 beats lateral)

Trot-LH & RF together, RH & LF together (2 beats diagonal)

Canter/Lope (right lead)-LH, RH & LF together, RF (3 beats diagonal)

Canter/Lope (left lead)-RH, LH & RF together, LF (3 beats diagonal)

Gallop (right lead)-LH, RH, LF, RF (4 beats diagonal)

Gallop (left lead)-RH, LH, RF, LF (4 beats diagonal)

LH- Left Hind

RH-Right Hind

LF-Left Front

RF-Right Front

For information about horses and how you can get involved and start learning how you can help horses please contact us.