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Stuff Every Horse Owner Should Know

Horse care basics: health, feeding, hooves, safety and barn know-how.

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  1. What is a normal resting temperature for an adult horse?
    Show the answer

    99 to 100.5 F. A healthy adult horse at rest runs about 99 to 100.5 degrees F. Know your own horse's normal so you can spot a fever early and tell your vet the number.

  2. What is a normal resting heart rate for an adult horse?
    Show the answer

    30 to 44 beats per minute. An adult horse at rest has a slow heartbeat, about 30 to 44 beats per minute. That is far slower than a person's. A much faster resting pulse is a reason to call the vet.

  3. How many breaths per minute is normal for a resting adult horse?
    Show the answer

    8 to 12 breaths per minute. A resting adult horse breathes slowly, about 8 to 12 times a minute. Count one breath as one rise and fall of the ribs or one puff from a nostril, ideally while the horse is calm.

All 155 practice questions

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  1. What is a normal resting temperature for an adult horse?
  2. What is a normal resting heart rate for an adult horse?
  3. How many breaths per minute is normal for a resting adult horse?
  4. Press a horse's gum until it turns pale. How fast should the color return?
  5. When taking a horse's pulse at the jaw, why should you avoid using your thumb?
  6. In horses, what does the word colic actually mean?
  7. Which behavior is one of the most common signs of colic?
  8. You think your horse has colic and are waiting for the vet. What should you do with its feed?
  9. Per UMN Extension, why might you hand-walk a horse that is showing early colic signs?
  10. Why should you talk to your vet before giving a horse a painkiller like bute?
  11. According to the AAEP, what is the number one killer of horses?
  12. UMN Extension says each extra pound of whole grain or corn fed raises colic risk by about how much?
  13. Why does UMN Extension advise against feeding hay on the ground in sandy areas?
  14. Per UMN Extension, horses cared for by their owner are how much less likely to colic than those cared for by a trainer?
  15. UMN Extension cites research that colic risk rose when horses went without water for as little as how long?
  16. Which hoof sign is typical of laminitis, also called founder?
  17. Which feeding mistake is among the most common causes of laminitis?
  18. Per UMN Extension, when should horses prone to laminitis graze?
  19. Which horses does UMN Extension list as susceptible to pasture-caused laminitis?
  20. Per UMN Extension, which pasture plants tend to store more carbohydrates (sugars)?
  21. Does a small, shallow wound lower a horse's tetanus risk compared with a deep one?
  22. A vaccinated horse gets a wound 6 or more months after its last tetanus booster. What does the AAEP advise?
  23. How common is survival once a horse shows clinical signs of rabies?
  24. How does a horse most often catch rabies?
  25. Can a horse with West Nile virus pass it directly to other horses?
  26. When does the AAEP say to give a previously vaccinated adult horse its West Nile shot?
  27. About what share of horses that get sick with West Nile virus die, per UMN Extension?
  28. Where is Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) commonly found, according to USDA APHIS?
  29. Per USDA APHIS, what is now the most common way equine infectious anemia spreads in the US?
  30. Is there a vaccine or cure for equine infectious anemia?
  31. The Coggins test checks a horse for which disease?
  32. What happens to a horse that tests positive for equine infectious anemia?
  33. What helps decide whether an adult horse needs deworming?
  34. What can happen if horses are dewormed too often?
  35. Per UMN Extension, foals should start a deworming plan targeting which parasite, at about what age?
  36. What does it mean to float a horse's teeth?
  37. How often does Merck say a vet should check a horse's teeth?
  38. A horse forms chewed hay into a ball in its mouth and drops it. What is this called?
  39. How do a horse's teeth change over its lifetime?
  40. What is the classic sign of choke in a horse?
  41. You think a horse is choking. What should you do with food and water while waiting for the vet?
  42. How often do most horses need their hooves trimmed?
  43. About how long does it take a horse's hoof to grow out completely?
  44. Which conditions tend to cause thrush, the foul black ooze around the frog?
  45. Which problem does Merck call the most common cause of lameness in horses?
  46. On the 1 to 9 Henneke body condition scale, which range is considered ideal?
  47. How often should a horse over 20 years old see the vet, per Merck?
  48. UMN Extension says to ideally isolate new horses for how long to guard against strangles?
  49. Per UMN Extension, how often should you take the temperature of a horse isolated after possible EHV-1 exposure?
  50. About what share of adult horses have stomach ulcers, according to Merck?
  51. About how much forage should a horse eat each day, as a share of its body weight?
  52. About how many gallons of water does a typical 1,000 pound horse drink in a day?
  53. What is the most grain a mature horse should get in one feeding, as a share of body weight?
  54. When switching a horse to a new hay or grain, how much of the old feed should you replace at a time?
  55. How should salt be offered to a horse?
  56. A horse's diet should have at least as much calcium as phosphorus. What is the minimum calcium to phosphorus ratio?
  57. Horse quality hay should be baled at what moisture level?
  58. Moldy hay is mostly a danger to which part of a horse's body?
  59. Soaking hay for 15 to 60 minutes lowers what in the hay?
  60. What should you stack hay bales on in storage to let air flow underneath?
  61. In a UMN study, how long did horses take to finish a meal from small-holed slow-feed hay nets?
  62. Turning a horse loose in a field, which way should it face before you take off the halter?
  63. Which plant's mold causes 'slobbers', heavy drooling, in horses?
  64. What is the best way to give a horse extra energy in cold winter weather?
  65. A horse working hard in the heat can lose how much sweat per hour?
  66. Black walnut shavings in horse bedding can cause poisoning at what share of the bedding?
  67. Which maple leaves are poisonous to horses?
  68. Yew shrubs are toxic to horses because they contain which compounds?
  69. Oleander is dangerous to horses because its toxins act on which organ?
  70. Bracken fern harms horses by breaking down which vitamin?
  71. A horse lays its ears flat back against its neck. What is it most likely telling you?
  72. Wilted chokecherry leaves are deadly to horses because they release what poison?
  73. A horse's height is measured in hands. To which point on the horse is it measured?
  74. Which parts of oak trees can poison a horse that eats a lot of them?
  75. Horses are prey animals. What is a horse's most common reaction to something scary?
  76. Which type of fire extinguisher controls most small barn fires?
  77. The inside of a hay stack reaches 175 to 190 F. What should you do?
  78. What is the main job of ventilation in a horse barn?
  79. What is the minimum recommended size for a standard horse stall?
  80. How tall should a pasture perimeter fence for horses be at minimum?
  81. Before you walk up to a horse or touch it, what should you always do first?
  82. What should you never do with a lead rope or reins while handling a horse?
  83. Which knot should you use when tying a horse with a halter rope?
  84. According to horse safety guides, how should protective headgear be worn when riding?
  85. What footwear do horse safety guides recommend when working around horses?
  86. Hauling just one horse in a two-horse trailer, which side should it ride on?
  87. When you work on a horse, where should you stand?
  88. Which two spots should you avoid standing right next to a horse?
  89. Which part of a horse is in its own blind spot, so reaching for it can annoy the horse?
  90. Unloading a tied horse from a trailer, what must you do before undoing the butt chain or bar?
  91. Weaving, swaying side to side in a stall, is often a sign of what in horses?
  92. True or false: Cribbing horses swallow air as they bite on fences or stall doors.
  93. In the usual grooming order, which tool comes first?
  94. Where should a curry comb NOT be used on a horse?
  95. In horse terms, what is a gelding?
  96. About what share of its ideal body weight can an average adult light riding horse comfortably carry?
  97. Which footing does UMN recommend for muddy, high-traffic horse areas?
  98. A correctly mixed horse manure compost pile heats to what range?
  99. As a UMN rule of thumb, about how many acres of pasture feed one horse in the grazing season?
  100. UMN budget tips say testing your hay costs less than buying what?
  101. Your riding so far is about ten lessons. What does Rutgers suggest before buying a horse?
  102. Which horse is the worst match for a beginner rider?
  103. Penn State Extension advises someone new to horses to keep their first horse where?
  104. Is a horse like getting a dog, something a child can care for alone?
  105. Where does most of a horse owner's time go?
  106. For most horses, which costs more: buying the horse or keeping it?
  107. Can the tack and equipment cost more than the horse itself?
  108. Rutgers lists four essential items to buy first for a new horse. Which set is it?
  109. Does a cheaper, lower-quality horse cost less to feed and keep?
  110. Keeping a horse at home is usually cheapest. What is the big catch?
  111. At a stable, what does "full board" mean?
  112. With "self-care" board, how often must the owner come to the barn?
  113. What does "pasture board" mean for a horse?
  114. When should a horse owner decide how much they can spend on emergency vet care?
  115. What is often the best way to find a good farrier?
  116. Why can a horse's trim schedule stretch a little longer in winter?
  117. When can a horse go barefoot (no shoes)?
  118. What are the two main jobs of horseshoes?
  119. How often should you pick out a horse's hooves?
  120. When picking out a back hoof, where does Merck say to rest it?
  121. For a healthy coat, what matters more: bathing or daily brushing?
  122. Why brush a horse's hair flat before putting on the saddle?
  123. Where should the girth or cinch hang on a horse?
  124. Why tighten a girth a little at a time instead of all at once?
  125. How many girth checks does Rutgers list before and just after mounting?
  126. How should a bit sit in a horse's mouth?
  127. How loose should a bridle's throatlatch be?
  128. How snug should a curb chain or curb strap be?
  129. You need to tie your horse for a minute. Can you tie it by the bridle reins?
  130. Can a saddle that fit your horse last year stop fitting?
  131. You find a cracked rein and a frayed stirrup leather. What should you do?
  132. Can you ride a horse wearing a bicycle helmet?
  133. You fell while riding, and your helmet looks fine. What should you do with it?
  134. From which side do riders traditionally mount a horse?
  135. Where is the safest place to get on a horse?
  136. When getting off a horse, what should you do before your feet touch the ground?
  137. How much wider than your boot should a stirrup be?
  138. Riding in a group, how much space should you leave between horses?
  139. Is it a good idea to keep just one horse by itself?
  140. Does a horse need lush green pasture to stay healthy?
  141. A new horse is moving onto lush pasture. How should grazing start?
  142. Your horse came in soaked from the rain. When can you put its blanket on?
  143. Penn State says a horse needs a blanket when it has no shelter and it gets colder than what?
  144. Which group lists the AAEP's core vaccines that every horse should get?
  145. Which risk-based vaccines address added respiratory exposure at horse shows?
  146. In most states, whose Coggins rules apply when a horse crosses state lines?
  147. In most states, what document accompanies a horse crossing state lines?
  148. When can you load a horse into a trailer?
  149. After a horse walks into a trailer, what do you do first?
  150. What kind of halter should a horse wear in a trailer?
  151. On a long trailer trip, how often should you check on your horse?
  152. With good health care, how long can many horses and ponies live?
  153. An older horse is a bit stiff with arthritis. Is it better kept in a stall or turned out?
  154. An old horse can't chew hay well. Which pelleted feed can replace hay?
  155. Why do older horses need extra attention to shelter in hot and cold weather?