Horses and Math

Math is Essential for Horse Management

by Eleanor Blazer

 

Train A, traveling 70 mph, leaves Westford heading toward Eastford, 260 miles away. At the same time Train B, traveling 60 mph, leaves Eastford heading toward Westford. When do the two trains meet? How far from each city do they meet? 

Does this give you a flashback to your school days? Do you feel excessive anxiety? Does your brain go numb? Mine does. I hated math class.

Now try this problem: A horse feed product recommends a minimum of 0.5 pounds of feed per 100 pounds of bodyweight per day to an adult horse at maintenance activity level. Your horse weighs 1,150 pounds. How much would you feed? 

I wish they would have had problems like that in math class. I might have paid attention.

The formula to determine the answer is: 0.005 x 1,150 = 5.75 lbs. per day; or: 1,150/100 = 11.5 x 0.5 = 5.75 lbs. per day.

Despite our aversion to math, it’s important to many horse-related activities.

When evaluating a horse’s conformation, we need to understand angles and ratios. For example, the desired shoulder angle is approximately 45 degrees. An upright shoulder will result in a horse with limited range of motion and a short choppy stride. And the angle of the pastern should be near the same angle as the slope of the shoulder. Can you visualize a 45-degree angle?

Here’s a conformational ratio example: the length of the neck, from the pole to the withers, should be twice as long (a 2:1 ratio) as the length of the underline of the neck (from the throatlatch to the point of shoulder). This allows for flexion and balance. An inverted ratio will cause the horse to be “ewe-necked”.   

Understanding ratios is important in nutrition. For example, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus should be a minimum of one-part calcium to one-part phosphorus (1:1). If the diet is providing more phosphorus than calcium (an inverted ratio), the horse’s body will draw on the calcium in the bones. This deficiency will result in fractures, weak bones and poor performance. This is only one example of a nutritional ratio that needs to be correct.

Then there is the dreaded metric system. The United States is one of the last countries to still use the Imperial (Standard) System. It’s hard for us to think in metric, but equestrians need to learn the basics.

Can you trot a 10-meter half circle and canter a 15-meter circle? That’s from the United States Equestrian Federation’s First Level Test 1. (1 meter = 2.8 feet.)

Determining medication and supplement dosages may depend on understanding the metric system. Directions on a popular paste used for equine inflammatory conditions call for: “1 to 2 grams per 500 pounds of body weight, but not to exceed 4 grams daily.” Luckily the delivery method is clearly marked. (A small paper clip weighs about a gram – very light.)

One of the greatest joys of graduating was no more math – little did I know!

For those curious about the answer to the train problem: the two trains will meet in two hours, and will meet at a point 140 miles from Westford and 120 miles from Eastford. Don’t ask me to explain it, but you can see the formula at: www.mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/faq.two.trains.html

© 2017 The Way of Horses

* Take the online courses “Conformation and Selection” and “Nutrition for Maximum Performance” for a fresh look at math. Earn certification or work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Studies. Go to www.horsecoursesonline.com for more information.

 

Originally Published July 2017 Issue