Polo & Horse Riding as Emerging Startup in India

Polo & Horse Riding as Emerging Startup in India

The Horse

 The horse (Equus caballus) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the family Equidae.Horses have long been among the most economically important domesticated animals; however their importance has declined with the introduction of mechanization. The horse is a prominent figure in the ideals of religion, mythology, and art, as well as playing an important role in transportation, agriculture, and warfare.Most horses perform work such as carrying humans on their backs or are harnessed to pull objects such as carts or plows. However, hundreds of distinct horse breeds were developed, allowing horses to be specialized for certain tasks; lighter horses for racing or riding, heavier horses for farming and other tasks requiring pulling power. Some horses, such as the miniature horse, can be kept as pets. In some societies, horses are a source of food, both meat and milk; in others it is taboo to consume these products. In industrialized countries, horses are predominantly kept for leisure and sporting pursuits, while in other parts of the world they are used as working animals.Because horses and humans have lived and worked together for thousands of years, an extensive specialized vocabulary has arisen to describe virtually every horse behavioral and anatomical characteristic with a high degree of precision.The English-speaking world measures the height of horses in hands, abbreviated “h” or “hh,” and is measured at the highest point of an animal’s withers. One hand is 4 inches, or 10.16 cm. Intermediate heights are defined by hands and inches, rounding to the lower measurement in hands, followed by a decimal point and the number of additional inches between 1 and 3. Thus a horse described as 15.2 hh tall, means it is 15 hands, 2 inches, or 62 inches/1.57 m in height.The size of horses varies by breed, but can also be influenced by nutrition. The general rule for cutoff in height between what is considered a horse and a pony at maturity is 14.2 hands (147 cm, 58 inches) as measured at the withers. An animal 14.2h or over is usually considered a horse and one less than 14.2h is a pony.However, there are exceptions to the general rule. Some smaller horse breeds who typically produce individual horses both under and over 14.2h are considered “horses” regardless of height. Likewise, some pony breeds, such as the Pony of the Americas or the Welsh pony, share some features of horses and individual animals may occasionally mature at over 14.2h, but are still considered ponies.The difference between a horse and pony is not simply a height difference, but also a difference in phenotype or appearance. There are noticeable differences in conformation and temperament. Ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails and overall coat. They also have proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavier bone, shorter and thicker necks, and short heads with broad foreheads. They often have calmer temperaments than horses and also a high level of equine intelligence that may or may not be used to cooperate with human handlers.

 Light riding horses such as Arabians, Morgans, or Quarter Horses usually range in height from 14.0 (142 cm) to 16.0 hands (163 cm) and can weigh from 386 kilograms to about 540 kg (850 to 1200 lb). Larger riding horses such as Thoroughbreds, American Saddlebreds or Warmbloods usually start at about 15.2 hands (157 cm) and often are as tall as 17 hands (172 cm), weighing from 500 kg to 680 kg (1100 lb to 1500 lb). Heavy or draft horses such as the Clydesdale, Belgian, Percheron, and Shire are usually at least 16.0 (163 cm) to 18.0 hands (183 cm) high and can weigh from about 680 kg up to about 900 kg (1500 lb to 2000 lb). While ponies cannot be taller than 14.2h (147 cm), they may be much smaller, down to the Shetland pony at around 10 hands (102 cm), and the Falabella which can be no taller than 32 inches (78 cm), the size of a medium-sized dog. However, while many miniature horse breeds are small as or smaller than a shetland pony, because they are bred to have a horse phenotype (appearance), their breeders and registries classify them as very small horses rather than ponies.

 The largest horse in (recorded) history was a Shire horse named Sampson, later renamed Mammoth, foaled in 1846 in Bedfordshire, England. He stood 21.2½ hands high (i.e. 7 ft 2½ in or 2.20 m ), and his peak weight was estimated at over 3,300 lb (approx 1.5 tonnes). The current record holder for the world’s smallest horse is Thumbelina, a fully mature miniature horse affected by dwarfism. She is 17 inches tall and weighs 60 pounds.

 

Thoroughbred Racing & Breeding Industries in India

Racing has a long history in India, and it is believed that races were first held in Madras in 1780. As time elapsed and more areas in India came under British rule, the population of horses increased, as did the number of racetracks. The number of horses and horsemen swelled in India—from the mouth of the Ganges River to that of the Indus, and from the Himalayas to Madras. Calcutta, the colonial capital, became the headquarters of racing.

By 1862 the sport of horse racing had grown in popularity to the point that there were close to 100 racecourses in India. These were mostly in towns where there were British army cantonments.

The National Horse Breeding and Show Society of India published Volume 1 of the Indian Stud Book in 1927. This book included horses from various breeds: English Thoroughbreds, Australian Thoroughbreds, Trotters, Marwari, Kathiawaris, Desert Arabians, and half-breds. These days, India has about 3,000 Thoroughbred mares and breeds about 1,800 foals per year, an increase of 50% in the last decade at a time when numbers have been dropping in other countries. Imports of in-foal mares have risen dramatically in the last few years as breeders seek mares with more international pedigrees.

Racing is now conducted on a seasonal basis in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), Mysore, Delhi, and Chennai. About 4,000 active racehorses run in over 3,000 races for a total of $24 million in prize money. Stakes races have increased dramatically in recent years, and the winner of the recent Indian Derby run in Mumbai earned $300,000.

Breeding and rearing Thoroughbreds in India is a big challenge for a number of reasons, and KER has provided consultation services to some farms for many years.

In some areas of the world, horsemen take seasonal availability of good pasture for granted and in places like New Zealand, breeders might have good-quality pasture available all year. But in India a combination of high land values and a monsoonal climate means pasture is a minor or missing ingredient in the diets of most Thoroughbreds.

With India’s booming population of well over a billion people, land is a precious resource, and some stud farms sit on property adjacent to land worth over a million dollars an acre. This means farms tend to be smaller and stocking rates higher than in other countries. The monsoonal climate provides torrential rain over a few months followed by long dry periods. This weather pattern makes it hard to grow grass, and horses are often stabled during the monsoon. Horses usually do not consume meaningful amounts of pasture.

Fresh lucerne/alfalfa (80% water) is commonly fed as a pasture replacer, but in recent times supply has dropped as farming land is lost to the expansion of cities and high prices for sugar cane make that a preferred crop. Some farms are now drying lucerne to provide a more regular supply, and this forage is chopped or chaffed to become a valuable ingredient. But there is no such thing as lucerne/alfalfa hay available. Fresh oats and Rhodes grass are also cultivated for cutting and feeding to horses on some farms. Native grass hay is readily available, but it is poor quality with low protein, energy, and mineral levels, so it supplies necessary fiber for digestive health but little else in the way of nutrients.

Energy requirements for growth, lactation, and performance are higher in the tropical climate of India than in temperate climates. When this is combined with lower-quality forages, it means the need to feed more grain to supply energy needs. Traditional feeding practices involve larger quantities of oats and bran, but soybean meal and corn are also used and are becoming more popular.

In recent years feeds have been imported from Australia for use on the racetracks and some stud farms, but import duties and clearance delays make this a complicated arrangement. In 2007 Kentucky Equine Research (KER) entered a brand alliance partnership with Himalayan Horse Feeds in Delhi to develop the first commercial horse feeds manufactured in India. These feeds were initially developed for polo horses but are now finding favor on the racetrack and on breeding farms.

KER has provided consultancy services to some leading Indian stud farms such as Nanoli, Equus, and Kunigal Stud for many years, and these farms have an enviable record of producing winners and group race winners. The farms make extensive use of KER’s Gro-Trac and MicroSteed software, and KER nutritionists give advice on regular feed programs and nutrition solutions for problem horses.

Peter Huntington, B.V.Sc, director of nutrition for KER Australasia, travels to India on a regular basis for hands-on work with horses on the stud farms. On a recent visit he provided advice to eight breeding farms. This involved inspection of individual horses, review of growth records, and evaluation of individual or group feed programs. This is all part of the KER service, as the company aims to help improve the knowledge of equine nutrition and the productivity and health of horses around the world.

Horse Racing Opportunities In India

Horse racing in India  started more than a century ago, it was first introduced by the British. The first Indian racecourse was set up in Madras in 1777. The British aristocrats and other racing patrons were part of an elite social circle. Today, Royal families still own horses together with a new generation of sporting people including businessmen, entrepreneurs, corporate executives and professionals who are interested in the game. India today has a very well established racing industry with five Turf Authorities that conduct horse racing events at nine racetracks located around the country.

British in India viewed horse racing as a sport and past-time, betting and wagering on horses was exempted to the criminal sanctions imposed on gambling. The Supreme Court legitimized this activity in 1992 with a ruling that wagering on horse races is a game of skill and not just luck, that’s why it doesn’t constitute an illegal form of gambling. This ruling made the horse racing popularity reach an unprecedented level. Lotteries and betting on horses Win-at-Horse-Racing with a licensed bookmaker is exempted from the gambling ban. There are plenty of opportunities for Indian residents to bet on horse racing via the internet. There are no laws prohibiting people from placing bet and free bets  even with online bookmakers based abroad.

Horse racing opportunities in India is vast for people who want to make money in this sport. Horse racing is a profitable business; there are lots of ways a horse owner can make money. There are purses that can be won and money that can be made from using a winning horse as a stud. There’s also money in betting on horses to win. Even retired horses make money from renting his services to broodmares. Professional horse owners who want to make money employ the best trainers, jockey and staff to help ensure their horses win.

Racing also provides numerous opportunities for those who love riding and seeking to make a career in this sport. Horse racing offers a huge economic activity with multiple career options. Some jobs  require an intensive education and experience while others only require experience and high school education. At the administrative level, there are talented people who can work as racing officials, veterinary doctors and race day officials. Horse racing also gives a wide scope of employment opportunities through the club and several license holders.

Horse racing jobs include racetrack operation as well as those which require direct interaction with horses. There are many career options if you have the passion for this sport. Here are some possibilities for those seeking a career with horses:

Horse Jockey
A jockey rides racehorses in competition and delivers commands to encourage the horse to win. They participate in horse training and exercise regimen with horse trainer supervision.

Racehorse Trainer
Trainers oversee the total care of the horse and prepare horses for racing events. They work with jockeys, veterinarians, exercise rider and farriers to provide comprehensive care and maximise each horse’s performance.

Equine Veterinarian
Veterinarians give preventive health care and treat horse injuries. Track veterinarians perform pre-race inspections to determine of horses are fit to compete. They also care for injured horses on the racetrack premises. They take post-race samples for testing of banned and illegal medication. They also perform different exams at the request of horse owners and trainers.

Equine Veterinary Technician
Technicians provide assistance to veterinarians when they perform complete exams and surgical procedures. They must have a two year degree and pass licensure examination in this field.

Equine Dental Technician
Dental technicians are involve in horse dental care and ensures that the horse is eating and performing properly. They perform “floating” or removing sharp points from a horse’s teeth.

Horse Breeder
Breeders are in-charge for caring and raising horses and also sell offspring or charge for access to prized studs. They keep genealogies and detailed records of weight, diet and horse characteristics.

Riding Instructor
Instructors must be specialized in different riding disciplines such as saddle seat, hunt seat, dressage, reining and show jumping. They supervise students and direct them in training sessions and riding lessons.

Exercise Riders
Riders ride horses during morning workouts. Their work begins before down and normally ends before noon. They usually ride 6 to 8 horses each morning. Riders are licensed to be able to ride the racetrack.

Farrier
Farrier’s job is concerned with maintaining equine hooves. They perform routine trims, shape and apply horse shoes. On the average they attend each equine client about 7 times a year.

Groom
Grooms provide daily care for the horses and noting changes on the horse’s behaviour or body that might need veterinary care.

 

RULES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF THOROUGHBRED AND HALF-BRED HORSES IN INDIA

RULES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF THOROUGHBRED AND HALF-BRED HORSES IN INDIA

HORSE IN INDIA

India had an indigenous supply of excellent elephants, but not many good horses. Yet the horse of ‘Ashwamedha’ fame served as a symbol of power and glory in Indian tradition. There are evidences of horse riding in the era of Rikveda. [Coomaraswamy] The earliest known work on veterinary science  India’s Shalihotra-sanghita, proves how seriously the fitness of horses was taken care of. Even so, India had to depend much on imported war horses since the indigenous horses were found inadequate for battlefront and their high war mortality rate. The good horses were imported to the Mughal state from Arabia, Iran, Turan, Turkey,Turkestan, Badakhshan, Shirwan, Qirghiz, Tibbet, Kashmir and other countries. Kabul and Qandhar were the major entrepots on the land-routes for the horse traders. While horses from Central Asia came to India by the overland route, Persian and Arabian horses were largely brought by the sea. [Khan] The ports of Surat, Cambay, Kutch, Thatta, Lahori Bandar and Sonargoan in Bengal were the major entrepots for the bahri horses brought for breeding. In order to establish control over the horse trade, the Mughal Emperors established friendly and diplomatic relations with the neighbouring countries.

COUNTRY-BREEDS
The Indian Country-bred, generally plain heads, long necks, narrow chests, strong hooves and low-set tails, archaically known as tattoo, vary from good-quality riding horses to small and poorly-conformed animals used for pack and draught work. They derive from many diverse horse breeds and types, including the small horses of the Himalayas of northern India, and the strong horses of the Punjab. Outside influences include Arab horses imported to Bombay and Veraval from the Persian Gulf, and the Australian Walers imported in very large numbers in the nineteenth century to Calcutta via Madras. The Indian Half-bred is a cross-breed between Thoroughbred stallions and local and imported mares of various types, raised mainly by the Indian Army as a cavalry mount. Apart from the regulars, the Militia Cavalry also required to be equipped with horses as well. It is also used by the Indian Police Service, as a polo pony, and for recreational and competitive riding. The most distinguished Indian high-breeds are:

Bhutia –       Like Mongolian and Tibbetian horses,

Kathiawari – Western India breed intended to be a desert war horse,

Manupuri –  Famous for their unruffled demeanour and learning ability,

Marwari –    As an ambling gait and a superior level of hardiness ,

Spiti –          A mountain-based breed,

Zaniskari –  In many respect similar to Spiti, Chmmarti – A well-muscled, can easily survive cold temperatures, and

Deccani –   Arabian and Turkic crossbreeds with local ponies; “a perfect compendium of all the qualities required in a campaigner. ”He doubted if even the war-born Arabian Badoo can be deemed the superior of the ponies bred on the banks of the Bhima and Tapti”.

HORSES IN CALCUTTA
Bengal never had any better horses than the Bhutia and the Manipuri breeds of local origin. So long the Sonargaon river port was in operation, Bengal not only received regular supplies of imported horses, but also witnessed the transportation of some of these war machines to the Deccan and China. [Chakrabarti]. The other centre was the Sonepur Cattle Fair for one month long trading of animals – the largest in Asia.

The emergence of Bengal as a regional political entity during the early medieval times must have increased the demand for war horses, but it was never so desperately pressing as the English felt after they lost the 1756 Battle of Calcutta. “The question of our horse supply, though primarily a military one, is far from exclusively so.” [Burckhardt] Burckhardt was right. Life in Calcutta literally depended much on horse power, otherwise Calcutta would have remained stand still even though there had been elephants, camels and bullocks roaming on roads carrying passengers and goods. None of those animals were as agile and sportive as the horses in battlefields, roads and lanes, racing grounds, or ambling for a promenade.

Since the city was rebuilt on the ashes of 1756 Battle horses were being imported in huge quantities particularly from Arabia, Britain and Australia.

ARAB HORSE
The oldest pure breed in the world, Arab horse is actually the horse of the  the wandering Arab – the true Bedouin. The animal possesses incomparable virtue as reverend of hardship and master of abstinence. Its strength and stamina apart a particular form of elegance has made it an enviable sire to breed superior horses everywhere in the world. Either directly or indirectly, the Arabian contributed to the formation of virtually all the modern breeds of light horse. As found in some critical studies, the qualities of the Arabian horses in foreign lands considerably vary. The characteristics of the Arabian horses in India differ from those bred in Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia.

The Arabian is a symmetrical saddle-horse, not a racer – with a bright, alert outlook and great pride of bearing. Men who look only at their stop-watches may be disappointed; but not they who love to look on horses racing. [Daumas] As the people of Persia and Arabia didn’t like mares to go out of their countries, the horses traded were invariably stallions. Over centuries of similar trading – the earlier influx was in the Mughal era – it’s thought the native horses and ponies of India thus gained a lot of Persian and Arabian horse genes. In Bombay during the British era, Arab horse dealers set up stables for selling – most held 1,000 to 1,500 horses.

ENGLISH HORSE
The East India Company in an endeavour to improve the native breeds of horses established a special department, called ‘Stud Department’ in 1794. Both for political and economic reasons, the Company desired India should produce the horses necessary to mount both British and native cavalry, and to horse the artillery. Colonel Hallen gave a list of thirteen country-breeds of Indian horses described as ” possessing good powers of endurance, and showing thereby blood, but generally wanting in size, and many too small for the work of the Indian Army, constituted as it now is ; though some of purely local breeds can be found fit for native cavalry.”

After four decades the British raj abandoned the project, and set up the ‘Army Remount and Horse-Breeding Departments’ in 1876 to introduce the ‘Diffused System’ , which used the Thoroughbred sires and India mares treating the thirteen different Indian breeds of horse as one, all mares being classed as ‘country-bred mares’.  The animal got by the English thoroughbred “is, as a rule, handsome in top and outlines of back, hind quarters, and carriage of head and tail, but is often shallow in girth and back rib, light in barrel, and from 70 to 8o per cent, are leggy and deficient in bone of limb. Diseases of legs are more common among thoroughbred stock. It provided no means nor machinery whereby the result of using any given stallion on any given mare can he ascertained. Sir John Watson’s gravest objection is that because of the ‘Diffused System’ there does not now exist in India even an experimental stud in which the results of different crosses can be observed.

AUSTRALIAN HORSE

Horses first arrived in Australia in 1788, with the First Fleet of prisoners. Like the Arab and the Deccan pony, Waler owes his qualities to the conditions of life amid which he is bred and not on their stud-farms managed on English principles, but chiefly on the grasses which he can pick up for himself on Nature’s own bountiful bosom. Australian horse traders chiefly sold horses to India – where the Waler got its name picked from “New South Waler” – a horse from Australia. In India many famous men and regiments rode Walers – from the Viceroys and Rajah’s down, but pricey for common civilians, like Rudyard Kipling’s father John Kipling who always adored a Waler but could never afford to buy one.

In 1836, the first Governor of Perth city, Admiral Sir James Stirling, received an anonymous letter from Calcutta enquiring about a spot in Albany that can combine good climate and port facility for the purpose of breeding and exporting quality horses for catering the needs of the British India cavalry. A decade after The Hobart Town Courier of 30 January 1845 reported export of horses from Australia to India for the first time. The ‘Waler’ horses were exported from Sydney to the Indian Presidencies. Australia was chosen as an alternative source not only for being the closest supplier but also because of its breed of healthy horse. Horse buyers from India representing the Remount service would attend horse sales in Adelaide. Kidman’s annual horse sales held at Kapunda attracted local and Indian Army horse buyers. In turn, there were South Australians who bought horses from overseas to breed their own stock with and so improve their horses’ speed. Some horse dealers like the Pathan tribesmen from the Quetta, in Pishin district, took their horses down the Ganges Valley, most likely as far as Calcutta, where they sold some horses to Australians.’

In the end, Australia became the principal supplier to the 39 regiments of Indian Cavalry and about 7 more of the British Cavalry, each consisting of 1000 horses. The over all demand was pretty high, indeed, even without taking into account the fact that ‘people did play polo, apart from just hacks’, and horse racing became popular recreation around 1810.

Equestrian or equine law is the law regarding horses and the activities related to them. Horse racing is a very popular sport throughout the world. To regulate horse racing, different countries have their own Equestrian Laws. In India, we have made betting illegal except for the betting in horse races. Horse racing is allowed as it is considered a ‘game of skill’. Equestrian law covers various factors like the safety of the riders, doping in equestrian sports, the legality of horse races, etc.

Equine Law in India

In India, wagering agreements are illegal. Section 30 of the Indian Contract Act,1872 says that the agreements by wager are void. This section lays down a proviso stating that agreements entered into for the purpose of horse racing are valid. Agreements entered into for horse racing were also considered as agreements by way of wager till 1996. In 1996, the Hon’ble Supreme Court gave its landmark decision in Dr KR Lakshmanan v. State of Tamil Nadu and Anr. (1996). In this case, the Tamil Nadu government brought horse racing under the ambit of gambling laws. The petitioner being a horse club owner challenged this decision of the Tamil Nadu government in the Supreme Court. The Court held that horse riding is a game of skill as it depends on the ability and training of the horse trainer. The Court also went on to explain further and said that horse racing involves skill at various stages. First of all, selecting the perfect breed for the race is a skill in itself.

Then the horse is given extensive training with the help of a skilled trainer. The jockey himself is properly trained and thus horse racing is not a game of chance and should be out of the purview of the Madras Police Act,1888 that banned gambling. Horse racing may include certain instances of chance i.e. when the horse becomes unruly, but in totality, horse racing is a skill-based game only. In India, there are no separate laws regarding horses and all the animal-related laws apply to them. When it comes to horse racing, it is permissible in India as held by the Apex Court in the case of Dr KR Lakshmanan.

Glossary

Mare: female horse 5 years old and over.
Filly: female horse 4 years old or under.
Colt: a male horse 4 years old or under.
Gelding: a castrated horse.
Yearling: a one year old horse.
Stallion: a colt horse who is taken to a stud farm for breeding purposes.
Maiden: a horse that has never won a race.
Trainer: A person who holds a license from the stewards of the club to train race horses.
Handicapper: An official who classifies every horse intended to be raced according to his opinion of the horse’s racing capabilities beginning with the best in Class I and on a downward scale to Class V which is then further divided into V-A and V-B.
Colours: Every owner has his own set of racing colours or racing silks which are donned by the jockey when riding a particular owner’s horse in a race.
Weighing Out: Every jockey must be weighed along with his equipment for a specified horse by the clerk of the scales in the weighing room of the club. This is to ascertain that the handicap weight allotted for a said horse to carry is correct.
Handicap Weight: Every horse in a particular race is allotted a weight that he must carry so as to create a case where every horse’s chances are equal. Such weight shall be comprised of the jockey’s individual weight, plus his saddle weight and lead weight which is put into a “lead bag” should the combined weights of the first two not tilt the scales at the allotted weight.
Weighing In: Every jockey must after a race, dismount and unsaddle his horse himself and present himself to be weighed.
Bit: The metal piece inserted horizontally into the horse’s mouth to which the reins are attached. The horse is thus kept in control by the rider by use of the reins.
Green: A term used to describe the run of a horse making his debut in racing. Due to his having run just once or infrequently, he runs erratically and is said to have run “green”.
Classics: 5 races namely the Derby, the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St. Leger
Triple crown: A winner of the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the St. Leger at a particular racing centre is said to be a triple crown winner.
Photo: In a close finish between two or more horses, the judge can call for a photo available to him from the photo finish camera installed opposite the winning post.
Mudlarker: A horse who revels in soft and slushy underfoot conditions.
Sprinter: A very fast horse who performs best over short sprint distances between 1,000 metres and 1,400 metres.
Stayer: A horse who performs best over long distance races of 2,000 metres or more.
Sire: The father of a new born foal.
Dam: The mother of a new born foal.

 

Vices in Horses This chart is an excerpt fromHorse For Sale       ©  2006 Cherry Hill
VICE	DESCRIPTION	CAUSES	TREATMENT
Cribbing	Colic, poor keeper (prefers mind drugs over food). Anchoring of incisors on edge (post, stall ledge), arching neck, gulping air.	Theory: endorphins are released during the behavior; horse is addicted to endorphins which stimulate pleasure center of brain.	Incurable. Cribbing strap prevents contraction of neck muscles; also available with clamps, spikes, electric shock. Possible future pharmacological treatment. Surgery possibleMuzzle can be used in some situations.
Pawing	Digs holes; tips over feeders & waterers; gets leg caught in fence; wears hooves away, loses shoes; most often young horses.	Confinement, boredom, excess feed.	Curable. Provide exercise, diversion, don’t use ground feeders and waterers, use rubber mats, don’t reinforce by feeding. Formal restraint lessons.
Self Mutilation	Bite flanks, front legs, chest, scrotal area with squealing, pawing, and kicking out.	Onset 2 yrs, primarily stallions. Can be endorphin addiction similar to cribbing; can be triggered by confinement, lack of exercise, or sexual frustration.	Manageable/might be curable. Geld non-breeding stallions; increase exercise, reduce confinement, stall companion or toy, neck cradle, muzzle, possible future pharmacological treatment
Stall Kicking	Smashing stall walls & doors with hind hooves resulting in facilities damage and hoof and leg injuries.	Confinement; doesn’t like neighbor; gets attention.	Can be curable depending on how long-standing the habit. Increase exercise, change neighbors, pad stall walls or hooves, use kicking chains or kicking shoe, don’t reinforce by feeding.
Tail Rubbing	Rhythmically swaying the rear against a fence or stall wall.	Initially dirty udder, sheath or tail; shedding HQ, pinworms, ticks & other external parasites or skin conditions. Later, just habit.	Manageable with grooming, cleaning sheath and udder, deworming, other medical treatments. For chronic habit, use electric fence.
Weaving/Pacing	Swaying back and forth often by stall door or pen gate/Repeatedly walking a path back and forth.	Confinement, boredom, excess feed, high strung or stressed horse.	Manageable. Turn out where he can see other horses. Use specially fitted stall door for weaver.
Wood Chewing	Gnawing of wood fences, feeders, stall walls, up to three pounds of wood per day.	Lack of course roughage in diet, boredom, teething.	Manageable. Increase roughage in diet. Decrease palatability of wood. Increase exercise & activity. More time out on pasture.

DR. COL. RC RAM,RVC

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