The relationship between a horse’s workload and its caloric intake is direct: the more work a horse does, the more calories it needs to consume to maintain its weight and energy levels. Horses at light work require adequate nutrients that can be supplied through good-quality grass-legume pastures and iodized or trace-mineralized salt. Horses performing medium to heavy work may require supplementation with a high-energy source, such as grain.
How Does a Horse’s Workload Affect Its Caloric Needs?
A horse’s caloric needs depend on its activity level. Horses that perform light work, such as pleasure riding or light trail riding, will have lower caloric needs than horses that perform heavy work, such as racing or pulling heavy loads.
What are the Caloric Requirements for Different Workloads?
The specific and exact nutrient requirements of horses are poorly understood. However, general guidelines exist to help horse owners determine how much to feed their horses based on workload:
- Light Work: Horses engaged in light work, such as recreational riding for 1-3 hours per week, require a diet primarily of good-quality forage.
- Moderate Work: Horses in moderate work, such as training and showing, need additional calories from grains and concentrates to maintain energy levels.
- Heavy Work: Horses performing heavy work, such as racing or pulling heavy loads, require a significant amount of calories from grains and concentrates to meet their energy demands.
How to Calculate a Horse’s Daily Caloric Intake?
Calculating a horse’s daily caloric intake can be complex, as it depends on various factors, including weight, age, metabolism, and workload. Consulting with an equine nutritionist or veterinarian is recommended to determine the specific caloric needs of your horse.
As a general guideline, weanling foals require three pounds of feed per hundred pounds of live weight per day; as they approach maturity, this requirement drops to one pound of feed per hundred pounds of live weight daily.
What are the Best Feed Options for Horses with Different Workloads?
The best feed options for horses vary depending on their workload and individual needs.
- Forage: Good-quality pasture, grass, and legume hays should form the foundation of every horse’s diet.
- Grains: Oats are the preferred grain for horses because of their bulk. Corn (maize), barley, wheat, and milo can be used, however, whenever they are less expensive.
- Concentrates: Commercial feeds formulated to provide a concentrated source of calories and nutrients are available.
- Supplements: Vitamin and mineral supplements may be necessary to balance the diet, especially for horses with specific needs or deficiencies.
How Does Temperament Affect a Horse’s Caloric Needs?
Horses will vary from the normal requirement in terms of weight, temperament, and previous nutrition.
What Happens If a Horse Doesn’t Get Enough Calories?
If a horse doesn’t get enough calories to meet its energy demands, it will start to lose weight. Other signs of inadequate caloric intake include:
- Lethargy
- Poor performance
- Weakness
- Muscle loss
What Happens If a Horse Gets Too Many Calories?
If a horse consumes more calories than it needs, it will gain weight, which can lead to obesity and other health problems, such as:
- Laminitis
- Equine metabolic syndrome
- Insulin resistance
Want to learn more about horse nutrition?
Related Posts
- Can poor vision make a horse difficult to catch?
Poetry about horses throughout literary history- What are the benefits and drawbacks of herd behavior?
- What role do reins play in downward transitions?
- What is the impact of not practicing enough on steering skills?
- What impact does the horse's balance have on rein contact during transitions?
- What precautions should be taken when working with a horse that bites?
- What is the role of play in the emotional development of horses?
- How does social identity theory explain crowd behavior?
- How do I ensure accurate girth measurements?