List the essential components for maintaining an equine healthcare program.
List should include
- developing an annual plan for vaccinations, deworming, and dental and hoof care
- performing fecal studies
- maintaining health records
- creating a basic plan for horse nutrition
- identifying differences among vaccination needs for different ages (e.g., foals, broodmares, geriatric horses)
- planning for the care of an older horse
- describing sanitation procedures and protocols
- having an exercise plan.
Process/Skill Questions:
- When is it best to administer vaccinations? Why?
- How often should a horse receive hoof care?
- Why do a horse’s teeth need to be checked and floated?
- When might a horse’s health records be needed?
- How do the nutritional and management needs of an older horse differ from those of a younger horse?
- How is the vaccination series different for brood mares vs. other adult horses? Young horses?
- What are the core vaccine guidelines for Equids in North America?
- How do the exercise needs of a horse change over its life span?
Teacher Resources:
- Vaccination Program for Horses Links to an external site., Merck Manual Veterinary Manual
- Equids' Core Vaccines Guidelines in North America: Considerations and Prospective Links to an external site., National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes for Health (NIH)