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M C Equestrian Centre

Assessing The Nutritional Needs:

Last Modified: January 10, 2002

This guide has been developed for the “Pleasure Horse” Owner, as a guide to better horse care. It is for owners who want to know more about providing horses a healthy, longer life. It has been provided at this location, courtesy of Masterfeeds. A link to the Masterfeeds site is available at the bottom of every page.

The nutritional needs of the horse can be perhaps most readily divided into 7 types. These types of horses are: brood mare, lactating mare, foal, weanling and yearling horse, mature idle horse, mature horse at work or training, and the breeding stallion. (Ask Masterfeeds for a copy of the Complete Feeding Guide for all types of horses)

Each stage requires its specifically balanced diet with unique nutritional combinations. Each horse feed should have a distinct selection of grains, energy sources, protein sources, vitamins and minerals, properly balanced to nourish your horse.

BROOD MARE (LAST 5 MONTHS)

The brood mare is normally expected to produce a healthy foul every twelve months. In order to maintain this pace, her nutrient intake must be related directly to her needs. A mare in foal has the same nutritional requirement as the mature horse until she reaches the last five months of gestation. At this time, she needs about 20% more total protein, 10% more energy and higher levels of calcium, phosphorus, trace minerals and vitamins in her ration. It is essential that the mare be properly fed during this period as a shortage of nutrients will affect her ability to adequately nourish the fetus or to nurse the foal by her side, and to stay in condition to re-breed.

LACTATING MARE

Lactation is a severe nutritional stress on a mare. An average-size mare (500kg) can produce as much as 20kg of milk per day at the peak of lactation which occurs at about eight weeks after foaling. She is expected to produce milk, a rich source of nutrients for the foal, for up to six months. The mare must be fed to meet her milk production plus her normal body maintenance requirements. Failure to meet the mare's needs will result in reduced milk for the foal and/or excessive body weight loss by the mare.

THE FOAL

The young foal has a remarkable capacity for growth. At birth, the foal will weigh about 9% of its Nature weight and by the end of the first month it will have doubled its size. Given proper nutrition, The foal will grow to about 45% of its mature weight by six months and 65% or more, by the time It is twelve months old. This rapid growth demands proper nutrition. Within thirty minutes to two hours after birth, the foal should be up on its feet to get colostrum in the mare's milk, vital to help the foal develop resistance to disease and stress. During the first two months or so, the mare's milk will supply almost all the foal's nutritional needs. But, after two months, additional energy and protein, the primary nutrients which control growth, must be supplemented.

WEANLING AND YEARLING HORSE

Growth of the horse is the most rapid in the first eighteen months. By three to four years of age, most horses have reached their mature weight. The most critical period for the growing horse is from weaning (about four to six months) to eighteen months. At 12 months, the yearling should be at 65% of its mature weight. By eighteen months its weight should be 80% of it’s mature weight. During this period, the nutrient intake determines its adult size. Growth lost during this period can never be recovered. Care needless to he taken to ensure that this is controlled growth which will allow the colt or filly to have proper bone development. Therefore, high quality protein, vitamins, calcium and phosphorus in a proper ration and a consistent diet are most essential. After eighteen months, the horse's nutritional needs can be met by good quality hay or pasture, a proper mineral mixture and a daily feeding of about 500g per 100kg body weight of a good quality horse feed.

MATURE IDLE HORSE (including the Brood Mare)

The mature idle horse is considered to be a fully grown horse, which is relatively idle and it does not need a high energy intake since it is not growing or expending great amounts of physical energy. The feeding program is therefore one of basic maintenance; the horse must neither be starved nor overfed keeping it healthy with the proper balance of nutrition. The barren mare and mare in foal until she reaches the last five months of gestation, fit into this category.

MATURE HORSE AT WORK OR TRAINING

The increased activities of intensive riding, racing or three-day events are termed work because considerable extra energy output is required by the horse. Work results in increased demands for all other nutrients, because of body tissue breakdown and losses due to perspiration. Working horses need a higher grain feeding and less roughage than do idle horses because grains contain more energy. Your horse must receive, in a more concentrated form, what it needs most: energy. Energy is the key to maintaining the horse's performance level.

BREEDING STALLION

The breeding stallion must be regarded as a "performance" animal. He expends great amounts of energy and therefore, must be given adequate nutrients. At the start of the breeding season, feed him above normal levels to compensate for possible reduced feed intake combined with an increased activity level. This approach to stallion feeding will prove beneficial to safeguard against any deficiencies during the critical breeding season. In addition to a proper feeding program, regular exercise is necessary for good performance of the breeding stallion.

ENERGY A MATTER OF NEED

Since not all horses are built alike, or do similar work or performance, horses can be categorized into one of two activity classes: "show and pleasure" or "performance". The show horse must be sound, look fit, and respond to commands. This can be attained by the proper balance and quantity of feed, along with a good training program to develop "bloom" and muscle tone. This preparation for show must be started early and when the show season is over, must be worked back to a base ration, lower in energy. The pleasure horse is kept for enjoyment and recreation, and therefore its workload is considerably less than the performance horse. The feed requirement is relatively small in comparison to the performance horse, yet the horse must maintain good condition through a properly planned feeding and exercise program. It is difficult to feed the pleasure horse as their use and work pattern is usually irregular.

The above content has been provided by and is copyright ©Masterfeeds.
It may not be reproduced without Masterfeeds written authorization.
Reprinted on this site with the kind permission of Beverley
at the Calgary, Alberta Masterfeeds location.

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