Dr. Charlie Apter
3084 Magruder Hall
785-4584
capter@truman.edu
COURSE OVERVIEW
Introduction to Equine Science is designed to provide the student with a broad understanding of horses. Included are lectures that cover the history of the horse and their ancestry, methods of identifying horses (both natural and man-made), a survey of about 50 breeds of horses, multiple lectures that cover conformation and the selection of horses based on their conformation, horse health and first aid for horses, basic nutrition and the application of that through feeding management, and activities done with horses.
In the laboratory portion of the class, we include both theory and hands-on experiences. We discuss the various physiological systems in the horse, including the respiratory, cardiac, urinary, nervous, integumentary, skeletal, digestive, muscular, and endocrine systems. Hands-on training includes deworming and vaccinating horses, drawing blood, determining temperature, respiration and pulse, recognizing conformational defects, and identifying breeds, colors and markings on the live horse.
DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
This course is meant to be a broad introduction to the horse, including general terminology, evolution and history, selection criteria, buying a horse, breeds and breed types, basic anatomy, equipment, behavior, diseases and parasites, and feeding and feeding management. The course objective is to give the student a basic introduction to and understanding of the horse. The topics of reproduction, nutrition, and exercise physiology are covered in other classes.
TEXT
Horse Industry Handbook: A guide to equine care and management. Published by the American Youth Horse Council.
LECTURE SCHEDULE
| August 26 | Course introduction | |
| August 28 | Natural history of equids | |
| September 2 | Methods of identifying horses | |
| September 4 | Types of horses | |
| September 9 | Survey of breeds | |
| September 11 | Survey of breeds (continued) | |
| September 16 | Selection of horses | |
| September 18 | Selection of horses (continued) | |
| September 23 | Selection of horses (continued) | |
| September 25 | EXAM 1 | |
| September 30 | Horse health | |
| October 2 | Horse health (continued) | |
| October 7 | Horse health (continued) | |
| October 9 | Horse health (continued) | |
| October 14 | First aid for horses | |
| October 16 | Equine behavior and perception | |
| October 21 | Equine behavior and perception (continued) | |
| October 23 | Equine behavior and perception (continued) | |
| October 28 | Safety in handling horses | |
| October 30 | EXAM 2 | |
| November 4 | Feeding management of horses | |
| November 6 | Feeding management of horses (continued) | |
| November 11 | Feeding management of horses (continued) | |
| November 18 | Equipment | |
| November 20 | Activities for equestrian enthusiasts | |
| November 25 | Overflow | |
| November 27 | Thanksgiving Break (no class) | |
| December 2 | Overflow | |
| December 4 | Overflow | |
| December 9 | FINAL EXAM (Tuesday, 7:30-9:20 am) |
EXAMINATIONS AND GRADING
| Exam 1 | September 25 | 100 points |
| Exam 2 | October 30 | 100 points |
| Final Exam | December 9 | 150 points (comprehensive) |
| Lab (total) | 100 points |
LAB SCHEDULE
| August 26 | Lab introduction, introduction to the Farm |
| September 2 | Handling horses safely; body condition scoring |
| September 9 | Gross and skeletal anatomy |
| September 16 | Colors, markings, brands, breeds |
| September 23 | Selection of horses based on conformation; QUIZ |
| September 30 | Horse health and first aid |
| October 7 | Respiratory and circulatory systems |
| October 14 | Nervous and muscular systems; QUIZ |
| October 21 | Urinary and endocrine systems |
| October 28 | Teeth and digestive systems |
| November 4 | Integument; QUIZ |
| November 11 | Robbie Rainer, Chariton Vet Supply (Drugs used in horses) |
| November 18 | Equipment used with horses |
| November 25 | No lab (day before Thanksgiving Break) |
| December 2 | QUIZ |