Why can’t visitors enter the Horse Barn?
a. Biosecurity and Zoonotic Diseases: We try to keep our horses as happy and healthy as possible at the UC Davis Horse Barn. There are many diseases that spread either from horse to horse or from contact with contaminated materials (hands, boots, clothing, equipment, etc). For example, some diseases can be tracked in on our footwear and spread around the facility without us even knowing it. Similarly, there are some zoonotic diseases horses can pass to humans. Occasionally, we may have sick and contagious horses on quarantine at the facility. Visitors may unknowingly spread disease by touching a healthy horse after interacting with a contagious horse. For this reason, we limit the number of people traveling through the facility and ensure those who do enter are trained to follow biosecurity measures to minimize disease transmission.
b. Working Facility: The UC Davis Horse Barn is a hustling and bustling place, especially during the school year and during breeding season. There are often horses and equipment moving around the facility, and there are many blind spots and narrow walkways. It can be dangerous for the horses and visitors if a horse moves unpredictably while a visitor is in the way or unaware of the horse’s movement. Since horses are prey animals, they are often startled by sudden movement, loud noises, or unusual objects and visitors can unknowingly startle the horses. We also routinely perform procedures or tasks that require minimal disruptions and distractions. For example, when our veterinarians are doing an exam on a sick or injured horse, we need to minimize any people moving around the facility to keep the horse still and calm.Why are no dogs allowed at the facility?
a. Biosecurity and Zoonotic Diseases: In the same way diseases can be passed from horses to humans, horses and dogs can also transmit diseases to each other. We must minimize their contact and keep dogs away from any livestock area to prevent the spread of disease. Also, dogs can also track diseases from place to place on their paws-like us tracking them in on our footwear.
b. Safety of Horses and Dogs: Horses are prey animals and dogs are predators. Even if you know your dog is “good with horses,” you should never allow them to approach a horse. Dogs and horses can react unexpectedly, and a seemingly calm experience can turn violent very quickly resulting in an animal being bitten, kicked, or stomped. Even if a horse approaches the dog and seems interested in meeting them, they may suddenly become stressed or feel threatened and try to stomp, kick, or bite the dog at any second. For the safety of dogs and horses, do not let them approach each other.
c. Service Animals: All dogs, including service animals, must stay back a minimum of 5 feet from any horse enclosure to limit biosecurity and safety risks.Why can’t I feed the horses?
a. Formulated Ration: Each horse at the UC Davis Horse Barn is fed a formulated ration that is balanced in forage, protein, vitamins, minerals, and all essential nutrient requirements. We have many horses that are overweight, have issues processing sugar, or have feed allergies. If they are overfed or fed too many treats, they will experience serious health issues. Some issues, like founder or laminitis, are incredibly painful and potentially life-threatening. Similarly, horses have very sensitive digestive tracts that do not tolerate sudden changes in their diet. If they receive too many treats and their ration is changed too drastically, they can have digestive upset called colic. Colic is another very painful and potentially life-threatening condition.
b. Quantity and Quality of Treats: Think you’re the only one feeding these horses some carrots? Think again. We have numerous people every single day that try to feed the horses carrots, apples, pears, bananas, zucchini, broccoli- you name it! We have no way of monitoring how many treats these horses receive each day, or what kind of food they are offered. Visitors also have no way to tell if a horse is insulin resistant and can’t tolerate the sugar they are eating, or if the horse is overweight and should not be getting those sweets. This puts the horses at high risk for serious conditions like colic and laminitis since treats are often over-fed and some of these foods are not supposed to be fed to horses. A horse likely won’t tell you that it shouldn’t have treats, so please take our word for it.
What are some ways horses communicate with us and other horses?
a. Know the Warning Signs: Since horses can’t talk to us, they use their body language to communicate with humans and their fellow herd mates. The easiest way to tell what a horse is thinking is to watch their ears. Horses use their ears to show us where their attention is focused and what they are feeling. If a horse has their ears perked up and pointed in a certain direction, they are paying attention to something in that area. If a horse has its ears relaxed and facing in opposite directions, they feel calm and may be sleeping or relaxing. If a horse has its ears pinned backward and flat to the back of their head- watch out! The horse is telling you that they are upset and need space. Horses will pin their ears at other horses to tell them to move away as well. If humans and horses don’t heed the pinned ear warning, they may get bitten. Horses may also give warnings that they are upset by swishing their tail and raising their back leg off the ground in a warning that they are about to kick. Sometimes though, they may just be swishing their tail at flies or resting one of their hind legs while taking a nap.
b. Horses May Bite: If a horse pins its ears, it is asking for some space, and you should move away. If people ignore a horse’s communication and ear pinning, the horse may bite. Horses also sometimes accidentally bite humans in their search for treats or food. They do not have hands and often use their mouth to explore their surroundings, so use caution when putting your hands or any other object near a horse’s mouth.What kind of care do the UC Davis Horse Barn horses receive?
Every animal at the UC Davis Horse Barn is monitored at least twice a day, 365 days a year without exception. During morning and evening feedings, our student residents monitor each horse’s welfare, behavior, and condition. They check for any signs of injury or illness and administer any required treatments. The horses are fed high quality hay and get added concentrates if required as part of their balanced ration based on their body condition score, metabolic demand, and bodyweight. Each week, students and staff clean the horses’ pens and water troughs, and the horses receive regular hoof trims, grooming, dentals, deworming, vaccinations, and veterinary exams. During fly season, the horses are protected with fly masks (not blindfolds!) and regular fly ointment applications. They are also housed outdoors in pairs or groups, if at all possible, which keeps them happier and more relaxed as a social species. Our pregnant horses receive increased monitoring including 24-hour surveillance when they are near foaling. Every birth is attended by students and staff to ensure the safety and well-being of mare and foal. The UC Davis Horse Barn is regularly inspected by governing bodies, like the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, to ensure we offer the best quality care to our equine residents, and we take pride in the care we provide!Does the Horse Barn offer tours?
There is limited availability for Horse Barn tours for schools, clubs, and educational groups depending on staff availability and the time of year. If you are interested in learning more about the UC Davis Horse Barn, you can visit our website at animalscience.ucdavis.edu/horsebarn. There you’ll find more information on the history of the barn, our current student opportunities, and insight into our equine breeding program. The UC Davis Horse Barn is also open to the public several times during the year, including in April for Picnic Day, in June for our Annual Production Sale, and in October for Horse Day.
