Biology of the horse
Course description
The course gives an introduction to Swedish horse industry and treats subject areas such as anatomy and physiology, ethology, breeding, reproduction, feeding, pasture management and horse keeping.
Entry Requirements
60 credits Animal Science or Biology
7,5 credits animal physiology
7,5 credits animal nutrition
5 credits breeding
Course facts
- Course name
- Biology of the horse
- Swedish course name
- Hästens biologi
- Level
- First cycle (G2F)
- Main field of study
- Animal Science, Biology
- Credits
- 7.5 credits
- Rate of study
- 100 %
- Study location
- Uppsala
- Form of instruction
- Campus-based instruction
- Application code
- SLU-10236
- Course code
- HV0212
- Course language
- Swedish
- Included in program
-
Animal Science and Sustainability (BSc)Agriculture with a Specialisation in Animal Science
- Offered as a freestanding course
- Ja
- Tuition fee
-
Tuition fees only for non-EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens
22510 SEK
HV0212, Biology of the horse, 7.5 Hp
Print syllabus
Syllabus
Finalized by: PN-VH, 2024-04-23
Valid from : Autumn semester 2025 (2025-09-01)
Level
First cycle (G2F)
Main field of study
Animal Science, Biology
Biology Area
Zoology (animal biology)
Grading Scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Course language
Swedish
Entry Requirements
60 credits Animal Science or Biology
7,5 credits animal physiology
7,5 credits animal nutrition
5 credits breeding
Objectives
The course gives the student basic knowledge about the biology, ethology, feeding, breeding and management of the healthy horse.
After the course, the student should be able to
- describe the anatomy, physiology, reproduction biology and behaviour of the healthy horse
- describe and apply principles for breeding objectives and methods used within horse breeding
- give an overview of the horse’s common diseases, injuries and genetic defects
- describe the horse’s nutritional needs, feeding and digestion
- perform body condition scoring and visitation of the horse
- suggest measures for a sustainable horse keeping
Content
Subject-related content
Managing organs and live animals may be included in the course. The course gives an introduction to Swedish horse industry and treats subject areas such as anatomy and physiology, ethology, breeding, reproduction, feeding, pasture management and horse keeping. Through the entire course, sustainability, health and welfare are key elements. The students are trained in critically reviewing and suggesting improvements in horse keeping systems. Students will learn how to handle animals.
Teaching formats
The teaching comprises lectures, exercises, group discussions and projects.
The course focuses on the following general skills
Scientific methods, scientific writing and oral communication.
The following components are compulsory
Certain exercises.
Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course
Passed examination and project work together with active participation in compulsory components.
Responsible Department/Equivalent
Department of Animal Biosciences
Supplementary information
Included in program
- Animal Science and Sustainability (BSc)
- Agriculture with a Specialisation in Animal Science
Module set
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 7.5 | 0001 |
The Course Replaces
HV0180, HV0079, HV0153 and partly HV0105
Other Information
The entry requirement of 7,5 credits animal physiology may be fulfilled through completed course BI1410 Physiology of the animals or HV0204/HV0223 Animal physiology and histology or HV0157 Animal Biology 3 - Physiology.
The entry requirement of 7,5 credits animal nutrition may be fulfilled through completed course BI1411 Animal feeding or HV0129 Animal nutrition or HV0205/HV0208/HV0219 Animal nutrition.
The entry requirement of 5 credits breeding may be fulfilled through completed course BI1413 Animal Breeding or HV0206/HV0222
Animal breeding and genetics or HV0131 Breeding 1 or HV0132 Breeding 2.
Kurslitteratur till Hästens biologi HV0212
*Mer litteratur kan komma att göras tillgänglig under kursen. All litteratur är tillgänglig i Canvas, på internet eller som e-book som tillhandahålls av SLU:s bibliotek. *
Generellt
HNS. (2025). Hästar och uppfödare i Sverige. Nyckeltal för svensk hästuppfödning under åren 2020-2024. https://hastnaringen.se/app/uploads/2025/11/avelsrapporten-2025-hastar-och-uppfodare-i-sverige.pdf
Hästhållning i Sverige 2016, rapport från SJV:** **https://www2.jordbruksverket.se/download/18.29f2c2f51624fb1736d1ec63/1521792986570/ra18_12v2.pdf
Beteende
Brubaker, L. & Udell, M. A. R. 2016. Cognition and learning in horses (Equus callabus): What we know and why we should ask more. Behavioural Processes 126, 121‐131. Canvas
Christensen, J. W., Zharkikh, T. & Chovaux, E. 2011. Object recognition and generalization during habituation in horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 129, 83‐91. Canvas
RØrvang, M.V., Nielsen, B.L., McLean, A.N. 2020. Sensory Abilities of Horses and Their Importance for Equitation Science. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 17 pp. Canvas
Sigurjónsdóttir, H. 2007. Equine learning behavior: The importance of evolutionary and ecological approach in research. Behavioural Processes 76, 40‐42. Canvas
Starling, M., McLean, A. & McGreevy, P. 2016. The Contribution of Equitation Science to Minimising Horse‐Related Risks to Humans. Animals 6, 15, 13 pp. Canvas
Anatomi och fysiologi
Bildkompendium Häst. Bilder från Atlas der topographischen Anatomie der Haustiere, P. Popesko 1998. Afys 2003. Canvas
Davies Z. (2017) Equine Science. 3 ed. Wiley‐Blackwell ISBN: 9781118741184. Finns som E-bok på SLU Biblioteket.
Näringslära, utfodring, hullbedömning
Utfodringsrekommendationer för häst (2013), SLU. Används som underlag för allt som har att göra med energi- och näringsbehov och utfodring. Finns här: https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/37156/1/jansson-a-20250516.pdf
Fodertabeller med näringsinnehåll i olika fodermedel för olika djurslag: http://www2.freefarm.se/fodertabell/fodtab.pl?djur=ko Välj djurslag häst för att få energivärden för häst i de olika fodermedlen. Övrigt innehåll i fodren är detsamma för idisslare och häst, så välj idisslare för att se så många andra variabler som möjligt (de kommer tyvärr inte med i listan om man väljer häst).
Carroll, C.L., Huntington, P.J. 1988. Body condition scoring and weight estimation of horses. Equine vet. J. (1988) 20 (l), 41-4. Canvas
Henneke, D.R., Potter, G.D., Kreider, J.L., Yeates, B.F. 1983. Relationship between condition score, physical measurements and body fat percentage in mares. Equine Vet J. 15(4)371-372. Canvas
EAAP 2012: Forages and grazing in horse nutrition. 2012. EAAP Publication no 132. Eds. Saastamoinen, Fradinho, Santos, Miraglia. Wageningen Academic Publishers. **Tillgänglig som e-bok vid SLU-Biblioteket **(logga in som student först och använd sökorden “Forages and grazing in horse nutrition”, välj sökträffen där det finns en fulltext och ladda ned som pdf). I den här publikationen är det sidorna 289‐303, Forage feeding systems (Jansson et al.) som vi använder i kursen.
Ringmark, S., Connysson, M., Arvidsson-Segerkvist K., Jansson, A., Müller, C.E. 2023. Vallfoder till hästar ur ett utfodringsperspektiv. Rapport 308, Inst. för Husdjurens utfodring och vård, SLU.
https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/31005/1/ringmark-s-et-al-20240624.pdf
Referenslitteratur (används som uppslagsverk):
Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition (2013), Saunders Elsevier. E‐bok, åtkomst‐ gör så här: Logga in som student och gå till SLU‐bibliotekets hemsida, klicka på Primo och skriv ”Equine applied and clinical nutrition” i sökrutan. Välj ett av fulltextalternativen så kommer du till en sida där du fritt kan ladda ned hela boken som pdf‐fil.
Avel och genetik
Ablondi, M., Eriksson, S., Tetu, S., Sabbioni, A., Viklund, Å. & Mikko, S. 2019. Genomic Divergence in Swedish Warmblood Horses Selected for Equestrian Disciplines. Genes, 10:976, doi:10.3390/genes10120976. Canvas
Ablondi, M., Johnsson, M.,Eriksson, S., Gelinder Viklund, Å & Mikko, S. 2022. WFFS carrier effect on performance traits in Swedish Warmblood horses and future breeding prospective. Genetics Selection Evaluations 54:4, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-021-00693-4. Canvas
Albertsdóttir, E. 2010. Integrated genetic evaluation of breeding field test traits, competition traits and test status in Icelandic horses. Doktorsavhandling. Hvanneyri: Agricultural University of Iceland. ISBN: 97899798810412. https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/10835/1/elsa%20alb.%20doktorsritgerd.pdf
Andersson, L.S., Larhammar, M., Memic, F., Wootz, H., Schwochow, D., Rubin, C‐J., Patra, K., Arnason, T., Wellbring, L., Hjälm, G., Imsland, F., Petersen, J.L., Mccue, M.E., Mickelson, J.R., Cothran, G., Ahituv, N., Roepstorff, L., Mikko, S., Vallstedt, A., Lindgren, G., Andersson, L. & Kullander, K. (2012). Mutations in *DMRT3 *affect locomotion in horses and spinal circuit function in mice. Nature 488, 642–646. Canvas
Bonow, S. 2026. Breeding, performance, and health in the Swedish Warmblood horse – trait associations and population-level insights. Doktorsavhandling. Uppsala: SLU. ISBN: 978-91-8124-219-5. https://doi.org/10.54612/a.597qsjb0a8
Stock, K. F., Jönsson, L., Ricard, A and Mark, T. 2016. Genomic applications in horse breeding. Animal Frontiers 6:45‐52. doi:10.2527/af.2016‐0007. Canvas
Thorén Hellsten, E. 2008. International sport horse data for genetic evaluation. Doktorsavhandling. Uppsala: SLU. ISBN: 978‐91‐85913‐65‐7. http://pub.epsilon.slu.se/1754/1/Kappa_080420.pdf
Viklund, Å. 2010. Genetic evaluation of Swedish Warmblood horses*.* Doktorsavhandling. Uppsala: SLU. ISBN: 978‐91‐576‐7461‐6. http://pub.epsilon.slu.se/2336/1/viklund_asa_100831.pdf
Information om avelsarbete för de tre största raserna i Sverige:
SWB (www.swb.org)
SWBs Avelsplan: https://swb.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Avelsplan_2021-2026_publ.pdf
Islandshäst (www.sifavel.se)
Avelsplan för islandshästar i Sverige mm: https://www.sifavel.se/%C3%B6vrigt/reglementen-44240611
FEIF Breeding Rules and Regulations: https://www.feiffengur.com/documents/Breeding2026_210062026.pdf (Breeding rules från sid 67)
Varmblodig travare (www.travsport.se)
Artikel om Avelsindex: https://www.travsport.se/avel/ovrigt-om-avel/avelsindex
Avels- och Registreringsreglementet: (https://media-cdn.travsport.se/tqdiqkix/avels-och-registreringsreglemente.pdf).
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Reproduktion
Dalin, A‐M & Malmgren, L. Compendium in Equine Reproduction. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, pp 1‐38, 69‐71 och 131‐138. Canvas
Davies Z. (2018) Equine Science. 3 ed. Wiley‐Blackwell ISBN: 9781118741184. ***Finns som E-bok på SLU Biblioteket. ***Kapitel 12.
Hästgödsel, hästhållning och miljö
Weir et al., 2017. Characterizing ammonia emissions from horses fed different crude protein concentrations. J Anim Sci 2017.95: 3598-3608. ***Canvas ***
Parvage et al., 2013. A survey of soil phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N)in Swedish horse paddocks. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Enivronment 178, 1-9. Canvas
Airaksinen, S., Heiskanen, M. L. & Heinonen-Tanski, H. (2007). Contamination of surface run-off water and soil in two horse paddocks. Bioresource Technology, 98, 1762-6. Canvas
Hästgödsel - en naturlig resurs. Rapport från Jordbruksverket: https://www2.jordbruksverket.se/webdav/files/SJV/trycksaker/Pdf_jo/jo13_5.pdf
Hästen, landskapet och mångfalden: https://internt.slu.se/globalassets/ew/org/inst/afb/block/cg-thulin/thulin-mfl-2021---hasten-landskapet-och-mangfalden_fauna-och-flora-nr-1.pdf
Förebyggande hästhälsovård
SVAs hemsida: https://www.sva.se/djurhaelsa/djurslag-a-oe/sport-och-saellskapsdjur/haest/, ffa nedanstående:
Smittskydd och hälsoläge:
https://www.sva.se/djurhaelsa/djurslag-a-oe/sport-och-saellskapsdjur/haest/smittskydd-foer-haest/
Parasiter:
https://www.sva.se/djurhaelsa/djurslag-a-oe/sport-och-saellskapsdjur/haest/parasiter-hos-haest/
Influensa, kvarka, ehv-1:
https://www.sva.se/djurhaelsa/djursjukdomar-a-oe/sjukdomar/influensa-hos-haest/
https://www.sva.se/djurhaelsa/djursjukdomar-a-oe/sjukdomar/kvarka-hos-haest/
https://www.sva.se/djurhaelsa/djursjukdomar-a-oe/sjukdomar/virusabort-ehv-1-hos-haest/
Parasitologi och beteshygien
Sellen, D.C. & Long, M.T. 2014. Equine Infectious Diseases. 2nd edition. Saunders. ISBN: 978-1-4557-0891-8. Finns som E-bok på SLU Biblioteket. Kapitel 57 & 58.
academic year 2025/2026
Biology of the horse (HV0212-10167)
2025-09-23 - 2025-10-14
academic year 2024/2025
Biology of the horse (HV0212-10111)
2024-09-24 - 2024-10-15
academic year 2023/2024
Biology of the horse (HV0212-10023)
2023-09-20 - 2023-10-11
Contact
- Course coordinator
-
Åsa Gelinder Viklund
Cecilia Müller - Course administrator
- hbio-us@slu.se
- Examiner
- Åsa Gelinder Viklund