RATION FORMULATION
FOR HORSES
Step 1: Factors to consider
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Present state of condition and health.
Size and type.
Age.
Weight.
Amount of work.
Temperament.
Ability of rider.
Weather (horse in / out?).
Cost-effectiveness.
Availability of foodstuffs.
Feed storage and ease of handling.
Step 2: Assessing condition
in horses
• The horse’s condition can be described as GOOD or BAD.
• Good condition
• Bad condition
Soft
Hard
Underweight
Overweight
• Condition is assessed by using the “condition scoring” system.
• This measures the weight distribution over the neck, back, ribs
and quarters.
Step 3: Calculating the
horse’s weight
• How big is the horse? Either measure or estimate.
• Ideally, use a weighbridge.
• Weightapes – measure around the girth and they give an
approximate weight.
• Formulae - Girth & body length measurements – measure around
the girth (G) & from the point of shoulder to the point of hip (L)
and use the following equation:
• G(cm) x G x L(cm) = Bodyweight (kg)
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8700
• G(in.) x G x L(in) = Bodyweight (lb)
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241.3
or
Table of approximate bodyweights:
Type
Height
(h.h.)
Approx.
weight (KG)
Approx.
weight (lb)
Pony
13.0
300
660
Large pony
14.2
425
950
Small hunter
15.2
500
1100
Medium
hunter
Large hunter
16.0
575
1250
16.3
650
1500
Draft /
shire
17.0
1000
2200
Step 4: Calculating
total daily feed requirement
• A horse can eat up to 2.5% of its bodyweight daily, although it
does not have to eat the maximum.
• Calculation used:
• Bodyweight (kg) x 2.5 = Max. daily amount of food kg
100
• For example – a 15.2hh small hunter weighs approx. 500kg.
• 500 x 2.5 = 12.5kg (28lbs) (to convert kg to lbs x 0.25)
100
• Quantity then needs to be adapted to suit the individual & the
circumstances.
EXERCISE
• Using the formula given, calculate the total
daily feed requirement for the following
horses:
• 1. 300kg horse
• 2. 375kg horse
• 3. 600kg horse
• 4. 520kg horse
Step 5: Roughage:
concentrate ratio
• Total daily feed
intake is split into
the hay / haylage /
grass ration & the
concentrate ration.
• Based mainly on the
horse’s workload.
Work done
Roughage
Concentrates
Resting
100%
0
Light work
80%
20%
Medium work
65%
35%
Hard work
50%
50%
• The percentages then
have to be converted
into weights of feeds.
• For example, the 500kg
horse being fed 12.5kg
food / day.
• If being fed 75:25% R:C
• 12.5 / 100 x 75 = 9.38kg
roughage / day
• 12.5 / 100 x 25 = 3.13kg
concentrates / day
EXERCISE
• Individually, work out a ration for your own horse or
one that you care for.
• State the height & type & estimate the weight.
• State the work done & temperament etc.
• Calculate the total daily feed requirement & roughage
: concentrate ratio.
• Calculate the weights of the roughage &
concentrates.
• Suggest suitable types of feed & forage.
Step 6: Allocating feed types
• You have calculated the daily intake, and the
roughage: concentrate ration.
• You now have to decide on what types of feeds to
give.
• Start with the roughage. Use this as your base and
try to give as much energy as possible through the
roughage.
• Any shortfall can then be made up with the
concentrate portion of the ration.
• Does the horse need high energy or low energy
foods?
• Does the horse need quick releasing or slow releasing
energy?
EXERCISE: Suggest a suitable daily diet for a
14.2hh horse doing 1 hour of hacking / day:
Feed type e.g.
Hay
Haylage
Cool mix
Hi-fi
Sugar beet
Total kg / day:
Quantity fed kg / day
EXERCISE: Suggest a suitable daily diet for a
16hh horse hunting twice a week :
Feed type e.g.
Total kg / day:
Quantity fed kg / day
Step 7: Monitoring
• Ongoing monitoring of the horse’s response to its diet
is vital (i.e. condition scoring), to gauge whether she is
loosing / gaining weight or maintaining a desirable
body condition.
• The diet can then be manipulated to take the
response into account, in one or more of the following
ways:
• Reduce the maximum daily appetite from 2.5% of
bodyweight to as little as 2% of bodyweight.
• Roughage : concentrate ratio.
• Choice of feed types.
• Proportions of different feeds (particularly
concentrates).
• Workload.