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Genera: Plural of Genus in Horse Taxonomy
Definition Genera is the plural form of genus, the biological classification rank between family and species. In the taxonomic hierarchy, organisms are classified from broadest to most specific: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. The domestic horse (Equus caballus) belongs to the genus Equus within the family Equidae. The Genus Equus The genus…
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Gene Pool: Genetic Diversity in Horse Breeding
Definition A gene pool is the complete set of genetic information , all alleles of all individual heritable variants , present in a defined breeding population at a given time. For a horse breed, the gene pool is bounded by the animals currently registered or eligible for registration in the studbook. Breeders draw on this…
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Gene: Heredity and Horse Genetics
Definition A gene is a segment of DNA that carries the instructions for a specific heritable trait or biological function. Each gene occupies a fixed position, called a locus, on a chromosome. Horses have 32 pairs of chromosomes, and the traits passed from dam and stallion to foal are determined by which versions of each…
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Generation: Interval and Pedigree in Horse Breeding
Definition A generation, in biological terms, is the interval between the birth of an individual and the birth of that individual’s offspring. In horse breeding, it refers to one step in a pedigree , moving from parent to offspring. A dam and stallion constitute one generation above their foal; the foal’s grandparents are two generations…
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Gastrointestinal: The Digestive Tract in Horses
Definition Gastrointestinal refers to the digestive tract as a whole , the continuous tube that runs from the stomach through the small and large intestines, ending at the rectum. In equine medicine, the term encompasses the entire digestive pathway that processes ingested forage into nutrients and waste. Because horses are hindgut fermenters with a digestive…
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Gaited Horse: Definition and Breeds
Definition A gaited horse is one that naturally performs a four-beat ambling the standard movement categories this extends that provides a smoother ride than the two-beat trot. The ability is primarily genetic, controlled by a variant in the DMRT3 gene that affects limb movement coordination. Most gaited breeds carry this variant in homozygous form, meaning…
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Grazing: Pasture Feeding and Horse Health
Definition Grazing is the practice of feeding livestock by allowing them to consume vegetation growing on pasture or rangeland. For horses, grazing is both a nutritional method and the primary natural behavior through which they spend the majority of their waking hours. A horse kept on well-managed pasture receives fiber, energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals…
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Graze: What It Means for Horse Feeding and Health
Definition To graze is to eat low-growing vegetation , primarily grasses and ground-level forbs , directly from the land surface. Horses are natural grazers; in the wild, they spend ten to seventeen hours per day in grazing movement, covering significant distances while taking small frequent bites. The behavior is not merely a feeding strategy but…
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Hock
The hock is the large, angular joint midway down a horse hind leg, the equivalent of the human ankle. It is a primary source of hind-end power and a frequent site of arthritis (bone spavin) and swelling; heat, filling, or stiffness in the hock is a common reason for hind-limb lameness. See also: bone running…