The Horse Industry The most common sectors of the horse industry in the United States are: „ Horse showing „ Ranch work „ Rodeos „ Racing „ Recreational riding „ Other horse employment Did You Know? An easy way to remember the gestation of a horse is that it is about 11 months and 11 days for most horse breeds. Owning and Caring for a Horse Visit www.g-wlearning.com and view the “Owning and Caring for a Horse” video clip. After viewing the clip, answer the following questions. 1. How many horses are in the state of Texas? 2. How much water and hay will the average horse consume in a day? 3. What is the average initial cost of owning a horse? Video Clip Bureau of Land Management R Bar T Quarter Horses Figure 10-21. A—This mare has just completed foaling. B—Nursing mares have very demanding nutritional needs. Make sure that you are feeding mares high-protein feed so that they do not lose muscle mass when nursing. What are some of the considerations that the producer should be mindful of to take care of this mare and her new foal? A B Chapter 10 Large-Animal Production 541 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.