ANS 3079L RELATIONSHIP OF FORM TO FUNCTION IN HORSES

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Principles of conformation and performance evaluation of horses. A study of the anatomy, physiology and dynamics of the horse as it affects athletic potential and performance.

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

1. Give the student an appreciation for the equine form and function as derived from evolution and influenced by mankind.

2. Expose the student to the relationship of body structure and physiology to body balance, gaits and movement, soundness, longevity and performance potential in the horse.

3. Help the student develop an ability to observe and evaluate horse conformation and movement for the purposes of purchase and/or marketing, competition and breeding; and, to learn the associated terminology.

4. Interested students will be encouraged to participate on the UF Horse Judging Team.

COURSE FORMAT

2 credits: two, two-period laboratories per week; meets: Wed & Fri, 8-9 pds (3:00-4:55 p.m.) in room ANS 155. Please note that several in-class live horse labs are planned through the semester which will require that you meet/go directly to the Horse Teaching Unit -- please mark them on your calendar NOW as missed ones cannot be made up.

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Sandi Lieb - Rm 210B ANS Bldg, 392-7528, lieb@animal.ufl.edu

Office hours: in general 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. M - F, appoints encouraged

Competition Team Coach - Tonya Stephens, stephens@animal.ufl.edu, 384-3686

Dept Chair: Dr. G. Hembry - Rm 100 ANS Bldg, 392-1911

REQUIRED TEXTS

Principles of Conformation Analysis, Volumes I, II and III by Deb Bennett, Ph. D.

ANS 3079L website materials www.animal.ufl.edu/Academics/Courses/ans3079L/

OTHER SUGGESTED REFERENCES GOOD TO ADD TO YOUR HOME LIBRARY:

The Lame Horse (1998) by J. R. Rooney, DVM

Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement by Susan E. Harris

Note: These texts are usually cheaper when purchased on the web

GRADING POLICY AND PROCEDURE

	Points	approx. %of Grade
*Four (out of 5 given) Exercises (10 pts ea)	40	13.3 (3.3 ea)
Scientific written/oral topic assignment	35	11.7
One Quiz	25	8.3
Three Exams	200	66.7
Bonus- Center of gravity, 3 pts; Breed presentation, 10 pts		00
Total	300

The course schedule gives the dates for exam, assignments and exercises. *Because AExercises@ cannot be made-up, points will count on 4 of the 5 scheduled; therefore, one missed exercise (0 points) or the one with the lowest grade will be dropped; however, you will be responsible for information presented in all 5 exercises. Homework reading & video viewing assignments are listed in your syllabus or may be orally assigned. These assignments are meant to reinforce and extend the lectures; so, information from them will be found on exams whether they are specifically discussed in class or not.

Grades: 93-100% = A,

85-92% = B

75-84% = C

65-74% = D

64% and below = E

+ grades will be given when appropriate.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS

Developing a mutual respect between the students and instructor are the foundation of this class. Historically, students come into this class with a wide range of experiences about the horse, all the way from extensive showing and horse ownership to never having owned a horse and no regular contact with it or the industry. Please respect your fellow student’s quests for knowledge and their desires to learn. The instructor promises to work as diligently as possible to insure that all individuals are treated fairly, all opinions and personalities are respected and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed in this class. In return, I expect an equal commitment from you towards me and this course; and, that you will make an honest effort to learn the modern principles presented.

Exams are meant to test a student’s ability to comprehend and think critically. In addition, this course will require the student to develop strong observational skills. Therefore, exams may have questions that will evaluate observational skills, as well as, to put several concepts together. Each exam will cover primarily the materials introduced in a specific time span of the class, but remember, that material and observational skills learned are meant to build through the semester and therefore used to answer questions on broader principles and concepts each subsequent exam.

FOOTNOTES

Academic Honesty

In the process of enrolling and registering for classes at the University of Florida, every student has signed and presumably understands the following statement: I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all their academic work. I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the University.

Use of Library, Personal References, PC Programs, and Electronic Data Bases

These items are university property and should be utilized with other users in mind. Never remove, mark, modify or deface resources that do not belong to you. If you=re in the habit of underlining text, do it only on your personal copy. It is inconsiderate, costly to others, and dishonest to use common references otherwise.

Software Use

All faculty, staff and students of the University are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.

We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers on the highest standards of honesty and integrity.

UF Counseling Services

I hope to establish a class relationship and encourage dialog so that students feel comfortable discussing academic problems directly with me. In addition, resources are available on-campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals which interfere with their academic performance. These resources include:

1. University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575, personal and career counseling;

2. Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171, personal counseling;

3. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual counseling; and

4. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counseling.

COURSE - LABORATORY OUTLINE

Spring 2003

Note: An ANS3079L website is being developed which will post extra reading materials and/or lecture outlines for this class. The materials are ordered by the lecture number indicated in bold after each day of week. I will let you know when something has been put on the site. You should download these materials and put them in your class notebook for study. www.animal.ufl.edu/Academics/Courses/ans3079L/

Jan 8 Wed 1	+Class orientation & pre-course testing of your horse terminology and evaluation skills +Collegiate competition team orientation sign up Handouts: syllabus, skeleton/horse parts ## Learn names and locations of ALL external and skeletal parts of the horse NOW! Ref: Bennett Vol. 1, pgs 95-96
Jan 10 Fri 2	+What is Aform & function@? Evaluation/judging? Conformation analysis? +Determining a horse=s value: Phenotype + Performance + Pedigree +Video on conformation (ext #42) +Reading a Thoroughbred sale catalogue page Handouts: Exercise 1 & sale catalogue, be sure to bring both to Sale with you!! ##Read: Bennett Vol. I. Chs 5 & 6. Work on learning your horse terminology /definitions and be sure to ask for clarification when you hear a new word in class!! (Note that in place of next Wednesday=s class we will meet in Ocala at the Ocala Breeders Sales, directions given in class, you need to arrange to car pool.)
Jan 13-15 Mon-Wed	+ Field trip to OBS Winter Mixed Sale (sale conducted 11:00 am to ~ 6:00 pm daily) + Complete Exercise 1 and turn in before you leave sale or next class period. (Note -- To provide help the instructor will be at the sale part of each day when the most students indicate they can attend. You need 2 hours at the sale to complete the exercise so arrive at sale by 3:30 p.m. at the latest.)
Jan 15 Wed 3	Go to horse sale in lieu of this class
Jan 17 Fri 4	Quiz on horse parts and skeleton + BEING AN EVALUATOR OR JUDGE: standard/rule books, style and pace, placing/evaluation methods, note taking/oral discussion and etiquette. + Format and terminology for reasons/discussions (Ms. Tonya Stephens) ## Viewing of four videos will be required as homework assignments over the next 6 weeks. Viewing is to be done in ANS Rm 101 during regular working days/hours and the videos checked out from the secretary, Shirley in Rm 210. A questionnaire on each video is available to assist you in learning its information; see the keys in Rm 210 to check your answers. Do not under any circumstances retain any of these videos in your possession outside of viewing time in the viewing room as this prevents other class members access (Note: any student found to >harbor= a tape will lose 20 points from their class point total). Each video is suggested to be viewed by the date indicated after it: ASurvival of the Fittest@ - 48 min. (Jan 24); AVisual Defects@ - 26 min. OR AThe Athletic Horse@ - 120 min. (Feb 7); ARooney=s Video Guide to Lameness-The Front Leg@ - 98 min. (Feb 22); and ARooney=s Video Guide to Lameness- The Hind Leg and Back@ - 90 min. (Feb 28). Note: Also, see secretary about additional videos and 3 different CD=s - on breeds, gaits and conformation judging which may be checked out to students wishing further study materials.
Jan 22 Wed 5	+ Phenotype/Conformation Evaluation - What, How & Importance Balance (skeletal proportions), Type, Muscling, Structural correctness (plumbs), Travel (way-of-going), Quality - >BMSQTT= + Video/first half: Conformation Analysis by Bennett (108 min) ##Read: Bennett Vol I, Chs 2 &
Jan 24 Fri 6	+ More on Bennett video and conformation slides ##Homework: Using a horse=s photo from home or a magazine, determine its center of gravity (see Bennett Vol 1, pg 42-43), bring with you to Feb 5 class ready to demonstrate and turn in for extra credit.)To have viewed video ASurvival of the Fittest@ by today
Jan 29 Wed 7	+ Conformation slides + Handout: Bonus credit on Breeds Presentation (10 pts = 5pt oral & 5pt handout) will be given to students who research a breed and produce a brief paper and oral presentation on a breed of horse.
Jan 31 Fri 8	+ Non-competitive and Competitive Uses of horses + Exam 1 (all materials covered through Jan 29, including Survival of Fittest video) + Horse photo center of gravity twirl! and students to list & assign bonus breeds
Feb 5 Wed 9	+ What kind of animal is a horse? + Role of genes and environment in determination of conformation and performance. ## Read: Bennett Vol I Ch 1 & 4 Handout: Exercise 2 (Note: For each AExercise@ please read the exercise handout and reading assignment thoroughly so that you understand before class what you are expected to do and remember to bring the exercise handout, appropriate Bennett books and calculator, if needed, with you to lab.) (Note that the next lab will meet at the Horse Teaching Unit (HTU), see map for location and ask for a ride if you need it.)
Feb 7 Fri 10	+ Meet at HTU. Complete and turn in Exercise 2 + Identifying the 3 B=s: balance, bend and bascule in the moving horse? (a.k.a.: the >ring of muscle/self carriage, lateral and longitudinal flexion) + What are you seeing? Perfect~Primitive~Pathological~Pathogenic + Substance, is there enough? ##Read: Bennett Vol I, Ch 2 & 3 (review) & Vol II, pgs 92-94 Should have viewed AVisual DefectsA OR AThe Athletic Horse@ video by today
Feb 12 Wed 11	+ What are unsoundnesses and their importance to use and longevity; review of leg conformation (slides) Handout: Exercise 3 (read for your comprehension and bring to next class) Note: Next class will meet at HTU, need a ride?
Feb 14 Fri 12	+ Meet at HTU. Complete and turn in Exercise 3 >Bring Bennett=s Vols II & III< + Methods for measuring body balance and strength + What are the functional units of the body? The suspension system~the transmission~the motor ## Read: Bennett Vol II Ch 1,2 & 3; Vol III pgs 5-18
Feb 19 Wed 13	+ ORIGIN of breeds and body types *** Highlight o