Feed Matching diet to workload By Liz Bulbrook, director of nutrition at Baileys Horse Feeds


Matching your horse’s diet to his workload involves supplying the calories and nutrients he needs, to maintain the desired body condition and fuel his work, whilst keeping the diet balanced at all times.


Forage first


Modern compound feeds should be fed at calculated levels, according to work intensity, alongside forage of a recognised ‘average’ nutritional quality, to supply calories and nutrients that are lacking in that forage and provide a fully balanced diet. Nutritional content of forage varies according to type and time of year but typically it is expected to provide calories, from fermentable fibre and soluble carbohydrates, which for some horses will be sufficient for condition and work, plus other nutrients, including some protein, vitamins and minerals, whose levels vary and ideally need supplementing.


Limited appetite


A horse has a limited appetite so, in theory, can only consume the equivalent of 2 to 2.5% of his bodyweight in food, forage or concentrates, per day. As his energy and nutrient requirements go up, his diet must be more energy and nutrient dense to supply ‘more per mouthful’. More nutritious and digestible forage is not always sufficient so concentrate feed becomes the focus, with different ones developed to provide different amounts of calories and nutrients per scoop. Once the correct one is chosen, it is fed according to manufacturer’s instructions to ensure a fully balanced diet.


Forage levels


With more calories and nutrients coming from concentrate feed, the horse may lose some of his appetite for forage but should still have access to it ad lib, to satisfy his need to chew and to maintain a healthy digestive system. (Recommended minimum is not less than 1% of the horse’s bodyweight).


The psychological and physiological benefits of this


Good-doers


As workload increases, the type and energy level of feed may need changing accordingly to give extra calories and nutrients in a manageable quantity. Different horses have different metabolisms so, whilst a horse’s requirement for calories (energy) depends on workload and body condition, good-doers generally have lower requirements whatever the workload.


Make sure your horse is receiving a balanced diet according to his workload


approach far outweigh any that suggest forage intake should be limited for horses in intense work, in an attempt to minimise bulky fibre sitting in the digestive system. The only time forage intake needs managing is for very good-doers or overweight horses, when a calorie-controlled diet is needed but not at the expense of fibre intake. Chosen forages should be as low calorie as possible, so stalky, coarser hay over soft, leafy haylage, and may need feeding in small-holed haynets to make it last longer.


Nutritional support


Whatever level of work a horse is doing, he needs quality protein, vitamins and minerals to support health and well-being, including tissue integrity, muscle tone and healthy hoof growth. This helps his body lay down reserves (not fat) and repair and rebuild any injured tissue. For this reason, balancers are useful as they supply essential nutrients without more calories, ensuring a balanced diet if recommended amounts of even a low energy feed would provide too many calories.


Feed Low Energy High Energy


They are fed in small amounts and may be given as the only concentrate feed with forage or added to reduced amounts of mixes or cubes to top up nutrient (not calorie) levels.


Match feed to workload


With mixes and cubes, match the levels of energy and nutrients they provide to your horse’s needs. The table below gives a guide to the energy levels provided by feeds (Mega Joules per kilogramme (MJ/kg) of Digestible Energy (DE) and to which workloads they are best suited. Levels of other nutrients contained by feeds are also matched to the workload, with lower energy feeds supplying correspondingly lower amounts of vitamins and minerals than high energy feeds. Reputable feed manufacturers use quality ingredients; there is no point including high levels of nutrients of poor quality if the horse is unable to utilise it efficiently.


Their requirement for protein, vitamins and minerals, however, remains directly related to workload, so a good-doer in hard work will still need elevated nutritional support, just fewer calories than a poorer-doer. For these horses, a lower energy feed or reduced amount of higher energy feed may suit calorie requirements but both need topping up with a balancer to provide essential nutrients.


Feeding tips


Divide total concentrate ration into as many small meals as possible to avoid overloading the digestive system. Any changes should be made gradually – reducing the existing feed and correspondingly increasing the new feed - and for some horses, a combination of feeds of different energy levels give best results. Either way, manufacturers’ recommended feeding levels should be adhered to.


For advice on matching your horse’s diet to his workload, contact Baileys Horse Feeds on 01371 850247 or visit www. baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk.


Digestible Energy MJ/kg Workload Typical Activities


8 - 10 Medium Energy 10 - 12 12 +


Rest/Light Quiet hacking, light schooling 1 – 3 times per week


Moderate Hard


Daily hacking 1 -2 hours, schooling 30 – 60 mins, riding club competitions, show-jumping


Hard schooling/training, endurance, eventing, racing


For advertising telephone 01380 734373 | FEBRUARY 2020 15


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