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Basic Guidelines for
Operating an Equine Rescue
or Retirement Facility
Introduction
There are all types of equine
management facilities, from state-of-the-art complexes with
individual stalls and caretakers for each horse to more basic
operations where horses are pastured year-round with access to
simple run-ins for shelter. Depending on the resources available,
including acreage, quantity and quality of forage, staff levels,
management preferences, numbers of equines, and a variety of other
factors (including financial considerations), management practices
can vary widely. However, with a sound knowledge of equine
management, good planning and some creativity, equines can be kept
healthy and happy for a relatively inexpensive cost.
Caring for a horse or other equine
(the broader term of equine is used throughout this document) is a
significant, time consuming, and long-term commitment not to be
entered into lightly. No organization or facility should house more
equines than can be managed with available resources, particularly
where the health and condition of the equines and sanitation of the
facility are concerned. Taking in more animals than can reasonably
be cared for endangers the welfare of the animals and their
caretakers.
Equine rescue and retirement
facilities must have a good working relationship with a local
licensed veterinarian and should consult with him or her as needed
on various matters, including routine health maintenance, emergency
veterinary care, and the evaluation of incoming equines. Facilities
also should have a good working relationship with a local farrier.
Forging a relationship with local law enforcement, humane
organizations and equine rescue facilities is also encouraged.
Telephone numbers for
veterinarians, farriers and other professional service providers
should be prominently displayed at the facility in case of an
emergency. Written documentation on matters such as feeding,
schedules and medications should be kept in a central location so
that more than one person is aware of and has access to the standard
operating procedures. Developing and practicing an emergency
preparedness plan, including an evacuation routine for both people
and animals, is also highly recommended.
These guidelines, while applicable
to general equine management, are designed especially for use by
non-profit equine rescue and retirement facilities. While not
exhaustive, they offer basic parameters for operating such a
facility. In addition, any facility or individual keeping equines
must comply with all relevant federal, state and local laws and
zoning ordinances. ^Top
Enclosures,
Shelter & Fencing
Various types of enclosures are
available for keeping equines, including stalls, dry lots and
pastures. Regardless of what type is employed, unless otherwise
directed by a veterinarian, equines shall be provided sufficient
opportunity and space to exercise daily and have freedom of movement
so as to reduce stress and maintain good physical condition. Space
and provisions for exercise shall be appropriate for the age, breed
or type, condition and size of the equine.
Provided the health and safety
of any equine is not compromised, compatible equines shall be group
pastured to allow social interaction. Equines pastured together
shall be monitored to ensure that more dominant equines do not
prevent others from accessing shelters. If this occurs, the animals
shall be separated as necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of
each equine.
Equines shall be provided with
natural or man-made shelter that provides each equine protection
from extreme weather (including, but not limited to, prevailing
wind, snow, sleet, rain, sun and temperature extremes). Run-in
shelters consisting of a roof and three sides are versatile and
inexpensive to construct. In times of inclement weather, they allow
equines shelter from the elements, while sides may be removed as
needed in warmer weather, with the remaining structure offering
shelter from the sun.
Shelters shall be constructed to
provide sufficient space for each equine to turn around, lie down,
move his or her head freely, etc. For instance, a stall measuring 10
½’ x 10 ½’ is the recommended minimum for the average 1,200 lb.
horse.
Shelters shall be constructed or
modified to allow free air flow to control humidity, avoid
temperature extremes, reduce airborne contaminants, and prevent air
stagnation. As a general rule, ventilation shall not be sacrificed
for warmth.
All enclosures and shelters
shall be kept in good repair and free of standing water, accumulated
waste, sharp objects and debris.
Fencing shall be of solid
construction, without sharp edges, and visible to equines. Electric
wire or tape fencing may be used, but shall be visibly marked for
horses (via brightly colored hanging streamers or ties) and humans
(via signage). Barbed wire and high tensile wire fencing pose
serious safety risks and should never be used as fencing for
equines. The sharp points and twisted barbed wire can injure a horse
even when the fence is well maintained. Both barbed and high tensile
wire can cause severe damage to a horse’s legs and even cause broken
bones if the horse should get caught in downed or sagging sections
of fence. All fencing shall be monitored on a regular basis to
ensure its safety and effectiveness is maintained.
^Top
Feed
Under normal circumstances,
equines shall receive at a minimum the equivalent of 1.5 percent to
2 percent of their body weight in high quality forage per day,
unless otherwise directed by a veterinarian. If natural forage is
insufficient in quality or quantity, quality hay shall supplement
the diet. Nutritious grain may also be used to supplement the diet.
Diet shall be planned with
consideration for the age, breed/type, condition, size and activity
level of the equine. Pregnant or lactating mares require
significantly more feed to meet their nutritional needs, and their
diets shall be adjusted accordingly. Starved equines shall receive a
starvation refeeding diet, as directed by a veterinarian (see “New
Arrivals”).
If more than one equine is fed
at the same place and time, it shall be the responsibility of the
owner, manager or caretaker to ensure that each of the animals
receive nutrition in sufficient quantity. If necessary, equines
shall be separated during feeding to ensure each has access to
adequate nutrition without interference from more dominant
individuals.
Equines shall have access to
trace mineralized salt formulated for equines. Both block and loose
form work well.
All feeding receptacles shall be
kept clean and free of contaminants, such as feces, mold, mildew and
insects. Grain shall be kept in closable containers to prevent
infestation by insects and rodents. Hay shall be kept dry and free
of mold and mildew.
^Top
Water
Pastured or stalled equines
shall have access to clean, potable water at all times.
Equines who are being trained, worked, ridden or transported shall
be provided water as often as necessary for their health and
comfort. Activity levels and climatic conditions such as relative
humidity and air movement must also be considered.
All water receptacles shall be
inspected daily, kept clean and free of hazardous contaminants, and
be positioned or affixed to minimize spillage.
Where possible, water
receptacles shall be placed in shaded areas in warm climates.
Use of defrosters to prevent
possible freezing of drinking water in inclement weather is
recommended, although wiring should be secured out of any equine’s
reach. Any ice that forms must be broken and/or removed regularly so
as to allow equines constant access to water.^Top
General Equine
Health and Veterinary Care
Each equine shall be observed for
illness and/or injury at least once every 24 hours, and a veterinary
professional shall be contacted if an equine is known or suspected
to have experienced injury or illness, or displays abnormal behavior
attributable to injury or illness.
All equines shall maintain a body
condition of no less than a score 4 on the Henneke Body Condition
Scoring System (see Appendix A).
Exceptions shall be made for equines having been at the facility for
less than six months and showing continued and documented
improvements and for equines under the regular care of a
veterinarian. Photographic and written records of the animal’s
condition over time should include body condition, weight
fluctuations, feeding program and veterinary care. This
documentation is strongly recommended for any equine arriving at the
facility in a poor condition or for any equine failing to reach a
score 4 on the Henneke Body Condition
Scoring System within six months of arrival at the facility.
Quantitative fecal exams shall be
performed as recommended by a veterinarian and equines shall be
treated for parasites as needed or as otherwise directed by a
veterinarian. Control of insects and parasites also can be assisted
through manure management. Dry lots, paddocks and relatively small
pastures shall be picked of manure on a regular basis, and stalls
shall be cleared of manure every 24 hours. Manure shall be disposed
of properly and can be spread onto empty pastures during hot, dry
weather. Removal of standing water, where applicable, also can
assist in controlling insects. Use of fly sprays, masks and other
methods may also be used to control insects, particularly in summer
months.
Equines shall receive vaccinations
as recommended by a veterinarian, including, but not limited to,
Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis (Sleeping Sickness), West Nile
Virus and Tetanus. Other vaccinations to consider in consultation
with a veterinarian include, but are not limited to, Rabies,
Influenza, Rhino and Strangles.
Requirements for screening for
Equine Infectious Anemia (via Coggins Test) vary from state to
state, and facilities must comply with all relevant laws. In
addition to being required when moving horses across state lines, a
Coggins Test is recommended for all new equine arrivals and when
equines are being adopted out to new homes or are being taken to
shows or other gatherings.
The facility shall maintain and
have clearly posted for all staff and volunteers the name and
telephone number of a veterinarian able to make emergency calls to
the facility. If foster facilities or homes are used to board
equines, those caretakers shall have access to veterinarians able to
make emergency calls, and the names and telephone numbers of those
veterinarians shall be kept on file with the primary rescue or
retirement facility.
^Top
Dental Care
Equines shall receive regular
dental check-ups and treatment as necessary to facilitate proper and
adequate food digestion. It is recommended that equines up to 5
years of age and over 15 years of age receive dental check-ups twice
annually, while equines 5 to 15 years shall receive dental check-ups
once a year. Equines with dental problems shall be examined by a
veterinarian and receive treatment as needed.
^Top
Hoof Care
Equines shall receive hoof care,
maintenance and trimming every six to eight weeks, or as directed by
a veterinarian or qualified farrier. Hoof care shall be performed by
a qualified farrier or other experienced person knowledgeable in
farrier practice. Exceptions may be made when a veterinarian
determines that such care would endanger the equine and/or his
caretaker(s), i.e., in the case of a newly arrived equine (see
“New Arrivals”), or in the case of a wild
equine who is pastured in sufficiently rocky or rough terrain so as
to be able to virtually self-maintain his or her hooves. Whenever
such exceptions are made, regular photographic and written
documentation of hoof condition is recommended. ^Top
New Arrivals
Unless accompanied by veterinary
records, and provided the health and safety of the equine,
veterinarian and caretakers is not compromised, it is recommended
that all new equines arriving at the facility undergo a physical
examination by a veterinarian and be quarantined for at least two
weeks. Where a full physical is not possible, a veterinarian shall
at least observe and make recommendations on the equine.
If emaciated, the equine shall
receive a starvation refeeding diet, along with other necessary
veterinary care. One suggested refeeding program was developed by
Dr. Carolyn Stull (see Appendix B).
New arrivals who are debilitated,
untamed or otherwise difficult to handle need not be vaccinated
immediately, nor should they be bathed, groomed or have their hooves
trimmed unless they have a medical condition for which these are
treatments prescribed by a veterinarian. Such equines are often best
cared for through relative isolation, rest and care from one or two
people.
Deworming of an equine with unknown
deworming history and who is in a debilitated state shall be
performed according to the direction of a veterinarian. ^Top
Adoptions
It is strongly suggested that all
adoptions be accompanied by a legally binding document prohibiting
the adopter from selling or placing the equine in question with
another owner or facility without first contacting the facility from
which the equine was adopted. The original owner may then allow said
facility the opportunity to assume possession of the equine.
^Top
Breeding
No breeding of equines is
permissible. All studs shall be gelded, except when determined by a
veterinarian to be medically dangerous for the equine. Studs unable
to be gelded shall be kept separate from mares. If pastured, studs
shall be physically separated from pastured mares by a buffer zone
or aisle between each pasture wide enough to prevent nose-to-nose
contact and/or fighting.
If mares arrive at the facility
pregnant, a veterinarian shall provide necessary care. Following
birth, it is recommended that mother and foal shall be allowed to
stay together for a minimum of four months, unless otherwise
directed by a veterinarian. A veterinarian shall be consulted in any
event and can offer advice on safe weaning to minimize stress and
digestive upset, and sound nutritional advice for pregnant or
lactating mares, who require sufficiently more forage than normal.
^Top
Humane
Euthanasia
Humane euthanasia shall be
employed:
- When an equine is not mobile and
a veterinarian is of the opinion that mobility will not return;
- When the equine’s quality of
life is deemed, with veterinary guidance, so poor that euthanasia
is the most humane option within the means of the organization;
- When an equine is experiencing
continual pain for which there is no medical relief or the relief
is not within the financial capability of the facility;
- When an equine is affected by a
degenerative medical condition for which there is no cure; or
- When an equine is dangerous to
him or herself or other animals
or humans.
Euthanasia shall only be
administered by a licensed veterinarian, except in emergency
circumstances where the equine is injured beyond recovery and is
suffering irreversibly. The carcass shall be disposed of in
compliance with all relevant laws.
^Top
APPENDIX A
Henneke Body Condition Scoring System
Don Henneke, Ph.D., developed the
Henneke Body Condition Scoring System during his graduate study at
Texas A & M University. It is based on both visual appraisal and
palpable fat cover of the six major points of the horse that are
most responsive to changes in body fat. The
Henneke Chart is a standardized scoring tool, whereas the
terms, “skinny,” “thin,” “emaciated” or “fat” are all subjective
terms that have different meanings to different people.
The Henneke Scoring System is a
scientific method of evaluating a horse’s body condition regardless
of breed or type, sex or age. It is widely used by law enforcement
agencies as an objective method of scoring a horse’s body condition
in horse cruelty cases, and is accepted in a court of law.
Six parts of a horse are checked in
this system—the neck, withers (where the neck ends and the back
begins), shoulder, ribs, loin, and tailhead. When using the Henneke
system, you should always make physical contact with these parts,
and the kind of touch you use is important. Simply stroking the
animal lightly won’t provide an accurate idea of the horse’s
condition; you have to apply pressure to each part in turn. When a
horse has a long haircoat it is particularly imperative that you use
your hands to feel the horse. The horse’s long haircoat will hide
the protrusion of bones in all but the most extreme cases.
The pressure you apply should be
much like that of a massage; if you press a horse’s side with your
hand, you’ll be able to feel the fat covering his ribs to get an
idea of how much fat is present. Likewise, when checking the
withers, feel all around the area, as if you were squeezing firm
clay. It is possible to be firm and gentle at the same time, and
both traits are necessary to properly score a horse.
After pressing each part of the horse with your hands to feel for
body fat, you then assign each area of the body the numerical score
that corresponds with the horse’s condition. The scores from each
area are then totaled and divided by six. The resulting number is
the horse’s rating on the Henneke Body
Scoring Condition Chart.
Conformational differences between
horses may make certain criteria within each score difficult to
apply to every animal. In these instances, those areas influenced by
conformation should be discounted, but not ignored, when determining
the condition score.
Conformation also changes in
pregnant mares as they approach parturition (birth). Since the
weight of the foal tends to pull the skin and musculature tighter
over the back and ribs, emphasis is placed upon fat deposition
behind the shoulder, around the tailhead and along the neck and
withers in these cases.
The chart rates the horses on a
scale of 1 to 9. A score of 1 is considered poor or emaciated with
no body fat, and a score of 9 is considered extremely fat or obese.
Equine veterinarians consider a body score of between 4 and 7
acceptable. A 5 is considered ideal.
(Source:
Habitat
for Horses, 2004) ^Top
APPENDIX B
Reprinted from:
“The Horse Report”
Volume 21, Number 3, July 2003
Nutrition for Rehabilitating the Starved
Horse
Dr. Carolyn Stull and her team
of equine welfare experts provide new guidelines for refeeding
starved horses
It is difficult to comprehend the
long-term neglect and surrounding situation that produce such a
devastated, depressed creature as a starved horse. The bones are so
prominent that the skeleton appears to belong to a larger horse, the
head is disproportionately large compared with the body, and the
tail is always low and motionless. But the low hanging head tells it
all. The ears barely move to any sounds in the environment, no extra
energy is spent interacting with herd mates. The eyes are dull,
without expression, without expectations.
Researchers from the UC Davis
Center for Equine Health conducted a survey to assess the prevalence
of starved horses in California and found the results quite
disturbing. Among the responders to the survey were animal control
and humane society organizations in 36 counties, with an estimated
equine population of 1,041,560. Of this number, 2,177 horses were
found to be severely malnourished. The most common reason for these
cases was owner ignorance, followed by economic hardship.
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|
This
horse has a body condition score of three. The ribs can be
observed easily, even with the horse's winter coat, the tail
head is prominent and can be felt easily, and the hip bones
are rounded and protruding. (above and below right).
Note the dip in the withers in front toward the neck and
behind toward the back, exhibiting little or no fat deposit
around this area. |
 |
|
|
At
left, the hip shows an inverted V shape with the spine at
the apex, representing a lack of fat deposition |
A research team comprised of Dr.
Carolyn Stull (UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Extension), Dr. Anne
Rodiek (California State University, Fresno), Dr. Christine Witham
(private clinician), Dr. Pamela Hullinger (California Department of
Food and Agriculture), and Kelly Weaver (UC Davis Veterinary
Medicine Extension) has been studying the problem. Funded in part by
Purina Mills, Inc., the study provides a standard body condition
scoring system to assess the weight status of a horse and compares
different diets for refeeding the malnourished horse. In both humans
and horses, abrupt refeeding can cause dysfunction of the body’s
metabolic systems, which can lead to failure of the heart and lungs
and ultimately to death. The goal of this research is to provide new
information and guidelines for recognizing and treating malnourished
horses. ^Top
What Happens During
Starvation
During the starvation process, the
horse initially uses any fat and carbohydrate stores in his body to
supply energy for metabolism. This is the normal process for any
healthy horse: fat and carbohydrates are used for energy, exercise,
brain function, circulation, etc., and are then replaced with
nutrients from food. The cycle is constant and never-ending, even
during sleep. In a starved animal, once this source of fat and
carbohydrate is gone, energy is derived from the breakdown of
protein. While protein is a component of every tissue, there are no
inert stores of it in the body such as there are for fat and
carbohydrates. Consequently, the starved body uses protein not only
from muscles, but also from vital tissues such as the heart and even
gastrointestinal tissues-tissue that is necessary for life. The
starved body cannot select which tissue protein will be metabolized
for energy. As time goes by, the horse’s survival is in a precarious
situation. When a horse loses more than 50% of its body weight, the
prognosis for survival is extremely poor. ^Top
The Refeeding Problem
Refeeding starved animals,
including humans, is not an easy process. In humans suffering from
starvation caused by illnesses such as anorexia, cancer, or
gastrointestinal obstruction, patients can develop “refeeding”
syndrome when they are given concentrated calories, and this in turn
can lead to heart, respiratory, and kidney failure usually 3 to 5
days after the initial meal. This same syndrome has been reported in
the literature for horses. Thus, our research team wanted to develop
a refeeding program for horses that would minimize these effects and
enable the horse to return back to normal body weight. Our goals
were to test feeds that were commonly available and used in horse
rations, so the refeeding program could be implemented easily in any
area of the country. ^Top
Experimental Diets for
Refeeding
We selected three types of feed
that were very different in nutrient composition: alfalfa hay, oat
hay, and a commercially available complete feed consisting of grain,
molasses, fat, and alfalfa. Alfalfa is known to be high in protein
(20%) but low in carbohydrate starch (3%). Oat hay is high in fiber
but low in protein (7%). The complete feed represented a feed high
in carbohydrate concentration, with 19% starch. The three types of
feed were given to 22 starved horses that were brought to the UC
Davis research site as representative of horses rescued by equine
organizations. Horses were fed one of the three diets over a 10-day
rehabilitation period. The researchers focused on this time period
as critical to successfully transitioning the gut from a starved
state to a fed state. Even though the diets were different in
composition, they were fed in amounts that were equivalent on a
caloric basis, so that horses assigned the oat hay diet, for
example, received the largest volume of feed, while the horses on
the complete feed received the smallest amount but the same number
of calories at each meal. ^Top
 |
|
This
horse has a body condition score of five (above). She
appears very smooth, with no skeletal prominence. Her neck and
withers blend smoothly into her shoulders. Ribs do not show,
and the loin and hip are nicely rounded. |
Which Diet Worked Best?
Our results with the complete feed
were very consistent with human studies conducted 20 years earlier
using concentrated calories. As the horse ate the high-carbohydrate
diet, insulin was released in response to the high level of starch.
The job of the hormone insulin is to store the carbohydrate in cells
for future energy use, but it also simultaneously draws the
electrolytes phosphorous and magnesium from circulation into the
cell. Since the starved horse has no stores of electrolytes, this
depletion may lead to kidney, heart, and respiratory failure. These
effects do not occur with the initial meal but usually several days
to a week later due to the repetition of insulin release following a
high-carbohydrate meal and the cumulative depletion of electrolytes.
The oat hay diet was very bulky and caused diarrhea in several
horses. Several essential nutrients such as phosphorous and
magnesium were low in the oat hay compared with the other diets;
thus, this diet did not support a successful rehabilitation. The
alfalfa had the best results due to its high composition of quality
protein, but also the major electrolytes, phosphorus and magnesium.
Since alfalfa hay is very low in carbohydrate content, there were
minimal effects due to insulin response.
^Top
|
Right,
this horse has a score of nine. Note the obvious crease from
his spine sunk between fat deposits on either side.
|
 |
In a subsequent feeding study, we
compared an alfalfa hay diet to a diet of combination alfalfa hay
and corn oil. Equine diets usually do not contain much fat, but in
recent years the use of corn oil to increase the energy density of a
meal has been widely used in nutrition programs for older horses and
in horses undergoing intensive training programs. The two diets were
fed again on an equal-calorie basis. Although the corn oil had no
harmful effects, substituting calories from corn oil for alfalfa
decreased the total nutrient content of phosphorous and magnesium in
the diet. Thus, the response to the diet combining corn oil and
alfalfa showed a decreasing blood phosphorous level over the 10-day
period, which was not advantageous to the rehabilitation. Again, the
alfalfa diet was the most effective at delivering the necessary
nutrients in the correct amounts to the starved horse.
Our research showed that starved
horses had very different responses to several diets. We found that
the best approach for initial refeeding of the starved horse
consists of frequent small amounts of high-quality alfalfa. This
amount should be increased slowly at each meal and the number of
feedings decreased gradually over 10 days. After 10 days to 2 weeks,
horses can be fed as much as they will eat. The horse will show
signs of increased energy after about two weeks. Ears, eyes and head
movement will be the first noticeable movements. Some weight gain
can be achieved in one month, but three to five months usually are
needed to rehabilitate back to a normal body weight. Veterinary care
and nutritional advice should be sought as complications can arise.
^Top
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Copyrighted © 2001-2003 by the Regents of the University of
California. Use of this material for re-publication is allowed only
by permission of the Center for Equine Health.
Contact CEH (cehwebmaster@ucdavis.edu)
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© 2004 - 2008
Animal Welfare Institute/The Humane Society of the United States
Copy by written permission only from
AWI/HSUS
2nd Edition - Printed February 2008 |
