CHA CHA Horse Health & Veterinary Care 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the normal resting heart rate range for a healthy adult horse?
- 28–44 beats per minute (Correct answer)
- 60–80 beats per minute
- 10–20 beats per minute
- 50–60 beats per minute
Correct answer: 28–44 beats per minute
A healthy adult horse has a resting heart rate of 28–44 beats per minute, which can be measured at the submandibular artery.
Question 2: Which vaccination is required annually for horses in most US states to protect against a neurological disease spread by mosquitoes?
- Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (Correct answer)
- Strangles
- Ringworm
- Pinworms
Correct answer: Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis
Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE/WEE) vaccines are required annually in most US states because the disease is mosquito-borne and often fatal.
Question 3: What is the normal rectal temperature range for a healthy adult horse?
- 99–101°F (Correct answer)
- 95–97°F
- 103–105°F
- 90–94°F
Correct answer: 99–101°F
A healthy adult horse's normal rectal temperature ranges from 99–101°F (37.2–38.3°C).
Question 4: What term describes the condition where a horse's intestines become displaced or twisted, requiring emergency surgery?
- Colic (Correct answer)
- Founder
- Heaves
- Strangles
Correct answer: Colic
Colic is the general term for abdominal pain in horses, and severe forms such as displacement or volvulus require emergency surgical intervention.
Question 5: How often should a horse's hooves be trimmed or shod by a farrier?
- Every 6–8 weeks (Correct answer)
- Every 6 months
- Once a year
- Every 2 weeks
Correct answer: Every 6–8 weeks
Horses typically need farrier care every 6–8 weeks as hooves grow approximately 1/4 to 3/8 inch per month.
Question 6: What is laminitis, and which part of the horse does it affect?
- Inflammation of the sensitive laminae inside the hoof (Correct answer)
- Infection of the respiratory tract
- Inflammation of the fetlock joint
- A skin condition affecting the back
Correct answer: Inflammation of the sensitive laminae inside the hoof
Laminitis is a painful inflammation of the sensitive laminae that attach the coffin bone to the hoof wall, and it can lead to founder if severe.
CHA CHA Horse Health & Veterinary Care 1
What is the normal resting heart rate range for a healthy adult horse?