1. Wiggins, Lindsey1; Baucum, Les1; Carlisle, Bridget2; Crawford, Sonja1; Davis, Courtney3; Gornto, Randall4; Hogue, Patrick3; Kirby, Christa5; Sellers, Brent6; Silveira, Maria6;
Speckmann Reyna6; Vendramini Joao6
Speckmann, Reyna ; Vendramini, Joao
1 Hendry County Extension Service, LaBelle, FL, 33975; 2 Polk County Extension, Bartow, FL, 33831; 3 Okeechobee County Extension Service, Okeechobee, FL, 34972;
4 Highlands County Extension Service, Sebring, FL, 33875; 5 Manatee County Extension Service, Palmetto, FL, 34221; 6 UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research Education Center,
Ona, FL, 33865
Abstract Objectives
Revenue generated from the performance of a horse, is
• Increase horse owners’ knowledge of forage and
dependent on overall health and fitness of the
pasture management, nutrition, parasite control, tack
animal. Sustainability of performance horses and
operation, conditioning, health, anatomy, and hoof
profitability of equine operations can be improved by
care.
implementing these management practices: proper tack
i l i h i k
selection, adequate nutrition, parasite control, proper • Horse owners with this knowledge will make informed
forage selection, maintain body condition, and pasture decisions and adopt some of the husbandry
management. SFBFP offered Performance Horse Short techniques.
Course & Trade‐Show in 2009 and 2010 to educate
participants about proper management of performance
horses and provide them the opportunity to network Program Results
with trade‐show exhibitors. • 1,592 South Florida horse owners increased their
knowledge about parasite control, tack operation, hoof
Concepts taught in classrooms are supported by care, health, conditioning, nutrition, anatomy, and
demonstrations and hands‐on activities; such as: UF Equine Specialist demonstrates proper hoof care forage and pasture management.
gastroscopic examination of a live horse to determine • 103 horse owners and industry professionals attended 3
gut health by UF Mobile Equine Diagnostics Service Short Courses in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
director and tack fit and selection demonstrations by
nationally recognized saddle maker Dale Martin. These • Participants represented approximately 300 horses.
activities provide participants rare opportunities; • Fecal floats were performed on 29 manure samples and
including, looking inside a horse stomach, projected on 93% tested positive for debilitating parasites.
screen.
screen Programming efforts are made by livestock
agents from multiple counties, state specialists from the
Range Cattle REC and the Department of Animal Impacts
Sciences, and professionals in the allied industry. • Follow‐up survey indicated:
• 95% implemented something learned at Short Course;
1,000 brochures were distributed to the public via such as, rotational de‐worming schedule, feeding 2% of
newsletters and through news stands. 60 horse owners; horse’s body weight in forage, or applying a broad‐leaf
herbicide in grass pasture to control weeds and increase
including 4‐H, FFA, and Junior/High School Rodeo
pasture efficiency.
members, participated in the Short Course. Pre/post test
• Approximately 216 horses now have their hooves
evaluations indicated 100% of participants experienced a trimmed every 6 weeks.
41.2% increase in equine management knowledge and
Dr. D’Amato teaching participants Participants visiting feed company’s • The program met or exceeded 100% of the participants’
100% of participants plan to change current or the importance of proper spine expectations.
booth in Trade Show for a chance to
implement new production practices. As a result of alignment win 1 ton of grain! • Economic Impact:
knowledge gain and subsequent adoption of
• By implementing pasture management practices taught at
management practices, improvements in
the Short Course participants potentially reduce hay
competitiveness and overall health and well being are consumption by 50%, saving $361,350 annually! (Cost of
certain. quality hay in S FL is $.30/lb. 300 horses consume 1,204.5
**2011 Short Course was after the abstract was submitted and tons(DM) of forage, annually, multiplied by $.30 =
the Impacts include numbers from that event, unlike the abstract.
th I t i l d b f th t t lik th b t t $722,700 and 50% of that = $361,350)
• 100% of Trade Show exhibitors received business from
Methods the Short Course participants
• 1 Day Interactive Workshops
• Partner with veterinarians and UF Animal Science
Department professors and research scientists
• Distributed proceedings to accompany presentations
“Thank you for
• Complementary fecal floats, saddle fitting and
Complementary fecal floats, saddle fitting and
showing me that my
gastroscopic examinations horse has worms! I
• Live equine demonstrations will de‐worm as soon
• Newsletters as I get home.”
Short Course participants observe UF veterinarian performing a ‐ 2010 Participant
• Website
gastroscopic examination on a participant’s barrel horse whose times
• Conducted Pre‐ and Post‐surveys were diminishing at rodeos – ulcers found, a prescription was made, and
horse’s times improved, ultimately winning the owner cash prizes and
increasing the horse’s value.