(meaning that too much energy leaves the body and is not being replaced) that breakdown products of fat will start accumulating in the blood. This is an undesired, dangerous medical condition. Forage should be the basis of all horse diets. Preferably,
forage intake should be maximized and feeding concen- trates should be minimized. Selection of “low-energy for- age of good hygienic quality” is desired for easy keepers. Forage analysis can also help to determine the energy and nutrient intake and can be used to assess the amount of forage that will fulfill your horse needs for energy. Restrict- ed forage intake could be indicated as even forage only diets may provide too much energy for very easy keepers. Late seed-cut hay is often utilized for easy keepers as early cut grass, haylage and alfalfa may contain higher amounts of energy. However, the hay should still be digestible; avoid feeding straw. Pasture access often needs to be restricted and easy keepers should not be turned out in lush pasture. One could consider the use of grazing masks, turnout on short mowed grass, strip graz- ing behind other horses, or turn out in a paddock. As these horses often have a restricted diet, the use of dietary strate- gies and techniques that ex- tend the duration of hay intake or other feeds is encouraged to prevent boredom. Easy keepers are more and more used in various sport disciplines up to varying levels. Although generalized rec- ommendations exist regarding the energy requirement for maintenance and exercise, it is difficult to extrapolate these to individual horses, especially if the horse owner characterizes the easy keeper as “lazy.” The following con- siderations should be reviewed: Exercise and fitness: Is the horse indeed lazy by char-
acter or is its behavior a consequence of a lack of condi- tion/fitness? Is the amount of training and exercise that can be provided on a weekly basis sufficient for the intend- ed performance? What about the rider’s condition? These are primary questions to be honestly assessed. It seems likely that a well-trained horse is more willing to work than an untrained horse. Exercise and diet: Horse owners should be realistic re-
garding the amount and intensity of the work they subject their horse to. Do not overestimate the amount of work. To get better insight about the amount of exercise, measure the actual amount (use a stopwatch) and type of exercise for a week that reflects the regular training schedule. Body condition score (BCS): It has been shown that
overweight children are less active than non-overweight children. The same may be true for the lazy horse. Unfor-
54 November/December 2013
tunately, the relationship between body condition score, performance and behavior has been poorly studied in horses. However, it is important to aim for a BCS that is in the ideal range set for an individual performance horse of a specific breed. The Henneke System is the most com- monly used BCS system and can be used as a tool to indi- cate whether your horse is too “fleshy.” In this system, the ideal body weight is set at score “5” (moderate) but some easy keeper breeds may score half a score higher due to their conformation. There are many sources, some online, for more detailed information regarding this system. Minerals and vitamins: Fiber provided by forage should be the main “fuel” for these horses. Concentrates (commercial feeds) are sometimes fed but one should real- ize that it will not provide the correct amount of minerals and vitamins if lower amounts than the manufacturers rec- ommended dose for a specific condition are fed. A broad- spectrum mineral and vita- min supplement is therefore recommended. Salt and electrolytes:
Some breeds known to be easy keepers (e.g., Friesian horses) may be less adapted to hot and/or humid climate con- ditions. Make sure that salt/ electrolyte supplementation is provided, along with plenty of
water, especially if these horses are sweating. If you have incorporated these suggestions and still be-
lieve that you are dealing with a horse that is lazy by nature, are there any strategies left? Traditionally, adding some grain (especially oats) or highly available starch sources (puffed grain) are dietary strategies more common for hard- er keepers and have been used to create a “heating” effect. However this tactic has not been confirmed by any equine studies. In summary, it is advised to limit the intake of starch and sugars for easy keepers as these horses are more at risk for insulin resistance, obesity and subsequently lami- nitis. Thus, controlling energy levels via starch intake is not advocated for these types of horses. If horse owners do consider trying such a strategy, they should make sure that the “lazy” easy keeper has an ideal BCS and no history of laminitis. Horse owners need to compensate the energy intake
above the horse maintenance requirement by the amount of exercise provided. For example, if you provide one pound of oats extra energy on top of your horse main- tenance requirement this should be compensated by exercise. For your information, one pound of oats contains approximately the amount of energy the horse needs for a 5.0 km (3.1 mile) walk, a 3.7 km (2.3 mile) trot or a 2.3 km
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