Variation in the energy and nutrient supply of horses under practical conditions.

Abstract

Forty farm/stables in Bavaria where horses (mainly riding horses, German Warmblood) are kept were visited for sampling. The horses were used as leisure horses or for competitions. The individual ration components of a selected horse were weighed. The quantity and composition of the mineral supplement was also recorded. The horses’ live weight was estimated according to the equation given by Carrol and Huntington (1988), where LW (kg) = (girth, cm)2 x body length, cm /11900. Age and energy expenditure (light, medium or heavy work) were noted. The actual supply of energy, crude protein and minerals was calculated from the weight of the individual component in the ration and the chemical analyses (Schwarz et al. 2005) of the feeds used, and these results were compared with the recommendations for rations which would meet their requirements (GfE, 1994).