Download Basic Needs

American Quarter Horse
Hall of Fame & Museum
Basic Needs
of
American Quarter Horses
2
This Basic Needs lesson is a higher level continuation of
The 1st grade Basic Needs lesson and is based on a 3rd
Grade level.
What are the basic needs
of a
Quarter Horse?
Food
Water
Shelter
Space
Food
What do horses eat?
Horses eat all different types of hay
A few examples are:
•Bermuda Grass Hay
•Alfalfa
•Bluestem Grass Hay
Horses have to receive
certain nutrients from
their food…
Energy- comes in different forms and
combinations.
Protein- helps build muscle, provides energy,
and keeps the heart healthy.
Amino Acids- are smaller parts of proteins that
give young horses energy.
Minerals- help digestion and keeps bones
strong.
Vitamins- keep your horse’s muscles, organs,
and bones healthy
Fiber- helps your horse digest food.
A balanced diet includes A
minimum of…
•Protein/
amino acids
•Minerals
•Vitamins
Bermuda Grass Hay
• 20% more nutrients
than prairie hay or
Bluestem Hay.
Legumes
Known for higher protein and is a good
source of iron.
Known as a “Hot” hay.
This means it gives the horse lots of
energy.
Other legumes include: clover, peas,
beans, and peanuts.
Alfalfa
A legume hay.
20-30% more energy
Twice the protein of
Bermuda
Grows 15-36 inches high.
Prairie Hay
Prairie Hay is what
grows on the land
naturally.
Bluestem grass
Grows to be 1-6 ft tall
An improved prairie hay
Cheaper
20% more nutrients
than prairie hay
Horses can also eat grain
mixtures.
Most horse grain feeds are rolled into
pellets.
By feeding your horse
grain you can offer it more
nutrients with one kind of
food.
Grain mixtures have large amounts of
starches and sugars.
Water
Water is important to a
horse’s health.
An adult horse must have 5-8
gallons of water a day.
Major effects of the
amount of water a horse
needs:
Perspiration
(how much a horse sweats)
Exercise
Weather
Horses sweat to cool their
body and they must be able
to replace this with fresh
water!
When horse’s work they can lose up to 4
gallons of sweat per hour.
Horse Water
Horses should have fresh and clean water
available throughout the day. However,
after an extreme work out you must let
your horse cool down before letting him
drink the cool water.
Horses usually prefer water at room
temperature.
When it’s cold outside…
Horses will drink up to 14% less water
when the temperature drops suddenly.
Shelter
Just like you….Horses need
shelter.
The shelter you choose for your horse can
be as simple or as fancy as you want.
Horses need shelter from…
Weather
Predators
Can you name
some predators
of horses?
Your Horse’s Stall…
Inside a horse stall, a horse should have
room to stand, eat, lay down, turn around,
and grow.
The stall should always be clean and block
the wind.
Space
Space allows a horse to…
Graze
Exercise
Grow
Horses need space.
Some horses are kept mostly outside, but
for those who aren’t you should pay
special attention to how often they are
turned out in either a pen or a pasture.
Space Keeps Horses
Healthy
Exercise allows a horse to keep a good
attitude and a healthy mind.
Exercise helps them build muscle tone, be
flexible, and it keeps their lungs and heart
healthy.
Exercise keeps your horse’s bones strong.
Preparing For Winter
When horses are turned out in cool
weather, it helps their hair grow thicker to
protect them from the cold winter weather.
Foals need space too!
It is important for young horses to be
turned out to “play” just like kids!
It helps them to learn, grow, and develop.
Some things you can do to
exercise your horse are…
Resources
http://www.nutrenaworld.com/Screens/ProductDetails_Equine.aspx?ProductID=170
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.saguarojuniper.com/i_and_i/invasive_spp/bermudagrass_lge.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.saguar
ojuniper.com/i_and_i/invasive_spp/bermuda_grass.html&h=802&w=700&sz=96&hl=en
&start=2&tbnid=90odF4HKZpIOBM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=125&prev=/images%3Fq%3D
Bermuda%2Bgrass%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den
http://spinpro.from-the.net/graphic/feed-pellets.jpg
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/image/vbig/greenacres/bluestem1.jpg
http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/legumeimages/alfalfa/Alf6_plantb_med.JPG
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/image/vbig/greenacres/bluestem1.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://
http://www.jedhart.com/subimages/arena1.jpg
http://foundationstallions.com/images/roping.jpg
http://www.horsehaven.com/barn/elkhorn/graphics/medic-roping.jpg