Online Revision Quiz – Equine Knowledge

Test Your Knowledge On Mucking Out & Yard Maintenance

1. The type of bedding chosen to use in the stable must be suitable for the individual horse.

True

False

2. Which answer is NOT a reason for using bedding in the stable?

To encourage the horse to rest and lie down.

To provide warmth, insulation and prevent draughts.

To prevent the horse getting respiratory problems.

To encourage the horse to stale and absorb ammonia.

3. The correct depth of bedding will provide cushioning for the horse's legs and prevent injuries such as bruising, capped elbow or hocks.

True

False

4. Which answer best describes the term “mucking out”?

Removal of wet bedding only from the horse’s stable.

Removal of droppings only from the horse’s stable.

Removal of droppings and wet bedding from the horse's stable.

5. The type of bedding used determines the way a bed is mucked out.

True

False

6. Typically, how often should the horse be mucked out?

Once daily.

Twice daily.

Frequently throughout the day.

7. What does the term “bedding down” describe?

Lifting up the bedding and letting the stable floor dry.

Building the bankings around the bed.

Laying bedding at the correct depth on the stable floor.

8. What is the wheel barrow used for?

To carry muck.

To carry heavy items.

Both answers are correct.

9. What is the pitch fork used for?

Mucking and skipping out a shavings bed.

Mucking and skipping out a straw bed.

Mucking and skipping out a hemp or flax.

10. What is the shavings fork used for?

Mucking and skipping out a hemp or flax bed.

Mucking and skipping out a shavings bed.

Both answers are correct.

11. Garden forks are more suitable for mucking out straw beds than a pitch fork.

True

False

12. What is the shovel used for?

Picking up small amounts of muck and scraping dirt from the stable floor.

Mucking and skipping out a straw bed.

Skipping out a shavings bed.

13. Describe the best type of bristles for a yard brush?

Soft, long bristles.

Stiff, hard-wearing bristles.

Soft, short bristles.

14. Skip buckets are often used whilst mucking out.

True

False

15. When may rubber gloves be worn when mucking out?

For picking up small amounts of droppings, from a shavings or hemp bed, that the fork has left behind.

For picking up small amounts of droppings, from a straw bed, that the fork has left behind.

For picking up all the droppings on a shavings to hemp bed.

16. Which answer is NOT correct safety advice when mucking out with the horse in the stable?

Give the horse a haynet whilst they are being mucked out, and keep a layer of bedding down where they are stood.

Assess the horse’s mood continually whilst your in the stable, and keep them tied up.

Use all tools in the direction of the horse so you do not need to turn your back on them.

17. When mucking out with the horse in the stable, which direction should the wheel barrow handles point?

Outwards of the door.

Inwards of the stable.

It doesn't matter which way around they go.

18. In the stable, all equines should be trained to be obedient and move away when given the correct voice commands.

True

False

19. Which type of bedding is this fork used on?

Shavings, hemp, flax, wood pellets and paper.

Straw, flax, wood pellets and shavings.

Rubber matting, straw, shavings and hemp.

20. Which type of bedding is this fork used on?

Paper.

Straw.

Shavings.

21. Roughly how thick should bedding be laid over the stable floor?

4-6 inches.

1-2 inches.

6-12 inches.

22. Which factors can affect how deep the bedding is laid on the stable floor?

Height and weight of the equine.

Whether rubber matting is fitted underneath, and type of bedding being used.

Both answers are correct.

23. Which answer is the correct method for checking the bed’s depth?

Using a pitch fork, stab the fork into the bed's surface all over the floor.

Using a shavings fork, stab the fork into the bed's surface all over the floor.

Using a shovel, stab the shovel into the bed's surface all over the floor.

24. Stabbing a shavings fork all over the surface of the bed allows you to check whether it is laid at the correct depth.

True

False

25. Which answer is NOT associated with issues regarding a lack of bedding in the stable?

The floor becomes saturated from absorbing the urine, forcing the horse to stand on a wet, dirty bed.

Strain on the limbs whilst moving around the stable.

No protection to the horse's limbs or body.

26. A good quality bed should allow the horse to lie down, or roll, in comfort without causing themselves injury.

True

False

27. Which answer is NOT associated with issues regarding too much bedding in the stable?

It will cause excessive strain on the limbs whilst the horse is moving around the stable.

It will make the horse smell strongly of ammonia.

It will not be cost effective and can create a waste of clean bedding.

28. What is the purpose of using bankings in the stable?

To help prevent the horse from getting cast (stuck against the wall).

To help prevent draughts in the stable.

Both answers are correct.

29. How often should the water and receptacle in the stable be cleaned out?

Once daily, to prevent bacteria and grime building up causing the water to become stagnant.

Twice daily, to prevent bacteria and grime building up causing the water to become stagnant.

Twice weekly, to prevent bacteria and grime building up causing the water to become stagnant.

30. What are the two main methods of providing water to the horse in the stable?

Troughs and automatic watering system.

Troughs and buckets.

Buckets and automatic watering system.

31. Which answer best describes the term “skipping out”?

The removal of droppings and major wet areas.

The removal of droppings only from the horse's bed throughout the day.

The removal of wet from the horse’s bed throughout the day.

32. Skipping out should be done once a day, typically first thing in the morning.

True

False

33. Whilst skipping out, what else should be done within the stable?

Level the bed, tidy up the front of the stable and check the hay and water.

Groom the horse.

Level the bed, tidy up the front of the stable and remove the horse's rugs.

34. Name this type of bedding?

Straw.

Hemp.

Shavings.

35. Name this type of bedding?

Straw.

Shavings.

Hemp.

36. Name this type of bedding?

Un-soaked wood pellets.

Soaked wood pellets.

Straw pellets.

37. Name this type of bedding?

Rubber matting.

Plastic matting.

Wood matting.

38. Name this type of bedding?

Shavings.

Straw.

Hemp.

39. Name this type of bedding?

Hemp.

Paper.

Oat straw.

40. Is straw an absorbent or drainage bedding?

Absorbent.

Drainage.

41. What are the 3 main types of straw?

Wheat, barley and corn.

Oat, corn and barley.

Oat, barley and wheat.

42. Are wood shavings and hemp/flax absorbent or drainage types of beddings?

Absorbent.

Drainage.

43. Wood pellets can produce large amounts of dust, they must not be used for equines with respiratory problems.

True

False

44. Which type of bedding is NOT dust free?

Hemp or flax.

Wood pellets.

Straw.

45. Paper and cardboard bedding originates from newspaper, magazines and any other unwanted paper or cardboard sources.

True

False

46. What can be laid under bedding to offer further protection to the horse’s limbs against the hard floor?

Hemp when deep littered.

Rubber matting.

Straw when deep littered.

47. Wood pellets are a highly absorbent bedding, made from soft wood.

True

False

48. Which answer describes bedding which is made from soft wood and requires wetting before using?

Wood shavings.

Hemp and flax.

Wood pellets.

49. Hemp/flax bedding provides a firm, dense bed and is suitable for deep litter.

True

False

50. Which answer describes a permanent muck heap?

A concrete base with three sides made from either concrete slabs or sleepers.

A trailer.

A designated area of the land for the muck.

51. A muck heap must NOT be arranged in layered steps, as it puts it at risk of spontaneous combustion.

True

False

52. How should a permanent muck heap be managed?

Once a month, the muck heap should be forked back and arranged in layered steps.

Once a week, the muck heap should be forked back and arranged in layered steps.

Once mucking out has been completed, the muck heap should be forked back and arranged in layered steps.

53. A non-permanent muck heap is usually a trailer which, when full, is tipped on a designated area of the land to rot.

True

False

54. How long does it take for horse manure to rot before being able to be spread as fertiliser on grazing land?

Two months.

Two years.

Two weeks.

55. How should yard tools be stored?

Undercover in a designated safe area, inaccessible to horses.

Outdoors in a designated safe area, inaccessible to horses.

Next to the muck heap.

56. How should unwrapped bales of bedding or hay be stored?

In a weather-proof closed-sided barn.

An open-sided barn or outdoors.

In the feed room.

57. What should be put under bales to help prevent the bottom bales getting ruined?

Concrete flooring.

Plastic or tarpaulin.

Wooden or plastic crates/pallets.

58. Which answer is NOT a reason for having a routine on the yard?

To enable the yard to run efficiently and prevent any jobs from being forgotten.

To prevent diseases spreading on the yard.

Horses are creatures of habit and thrive when they live in a steady routine.

59. Which job is important it is kept in a routine?

Turning out and bringing in from the field.

Exercising the equine.

Feeding all equines in the same order, at the same time everyday.

60. Horses are creatures of habit and thrive when they live in a steady routine.

True

False

Test Your Knowledge On Mucking Out & Yard Maintenance

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