Equine An Overview of the Equine Industry Objectives

Equine An Overview of the Equine Industry

Objectives The student will be able to: – Demonstrate the importance of the equine industry. – Name the most common breeds – State key facts about each breed. – Rank GA with other states according the equine production.

Why is Equine important to Georgia • The Georgia’s equine industry is a healthy and growing segment of our state's economy with an estimated value of $300 million. • There are more than 230, 000 horses in GA today. • The breeding of horses generates more than $750 million dollars for GA’s economy yearly.

Riding Style • • Western Has a horn More enclosed seat Used for roping and rodeoing Heavier saddle • • English Smaller saddle No horn Used for jumping, dressage and racing Stirrup irons

Terminology • • Mare- female horse older than 4 Filly- young female horse Colt- young male horse Stallion or Stud- male horse used for breeding • Gelding- castrated male horse • Foal- baby horse of either sex

Horse Breeds in Georgia • Light Breeds • Draft Breeds

LIGHT BREEDS

Quarter Horses • bred for sprinting short distances, typically races of a quarter mile or less. • the most popular breed in the United States • AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) is the largest breed society in the world, with over 3. 2 million Quarter Horses registered worldwide. • Stock type horse

Tennessee Walker • singularly tractable and comfortable riding horse. • originally bred to carry the owners of plantations around their lands. • Their unique four-beat "running walk" is especially comfortable to ride, making the breed a well-suited trail companion.

American Saddlebred • • • developed in Kentucky by plantation owners. Today, they are used almost exclusively for saddleseat riding in the show ring They are also used as barrel racers, hunters, jumpers, and parade mounts.

American Paint • Developed in the U. S. • Stock Type Horse • characterized by a spotting pattern of white hair over unpigmented skin combined with some other color

Appaloosas • Created by Native Americans • distinct patterns of spots. • Sure-footed and fast • Stock type horse

Morgan • Came from Figure the “Justin Morgan Horse” • Smaller, versatile breed

Arabian • characteristic dished profile with a prominent eye, large nostrils and small teacup muzzle • Extreme endurance • Smaller framed

Mustang • Created from wild Spanish horses • Small durable and hardy • Live wild in the West today

Thoroughbred • Racehorse bred in England • Most trace back to the Godolphin Arabian • Used to create the quarter horse breed

DRAFT HORSES

Clydesdale • • From Scotland Bay in color Used for agriculture Famous Budweiser Clydesdales

Percheron • Tallest breed in the world • From France • Originally bred for a war horse • Typically grey or black

Belgian • Originated in Belgium • Cream in color • Most popular breed in the U. S.

Freisian • Originated in Friesland, a province of The Netherlands • Carried Knights in the Middle ages • Thick manes and tails and a black color

Gypsy • Used by gypsies in early England • Piebald and pinto in color • A lot of feathering around the hoof

• • Gypsy Vanner Quarter Horse Arabian Morgan American Paint Horse Tennessee Walker American Saddlebred • • Mustang Thoroughbred Appaloosa Clydesdale Belgian Friesian Percheron

United States Equine Industry 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Florida/Texas Kentucky Louisiana New York Maryland

Interesting Facts • • A horse is considered an adult at age four. A female horse over 4 years old is called a mare. A male horse over 4 years old is called a stallion. Horses are measured in hands, a hand is four inches. A horse is generally over 14. 2 hh (hands high). Anything under 14. 2 hh is a pony. There are over 200 breeds of horses in the world.

Assessment 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What is the horse industries value in Georgia? What is the estimated amount of horses in GA? Name the five horse breeds that are predominate in GA. What two states are number one in the amount of money that is generated from horses? How old does a horse have to be before it is considered an adult?

Answers 1. $300 million 2. 230, 000 horses 3. Quarter Horses, Tennessee Walkers, Paints, American Saddles, Appaloosas. 4. Texas/Florida 5. 4