| Finer details of feeding need to be considered once | | | | energy per kilogram of dry matter.) It is important to |
| the work load intensifies. In order to sustain the | | | | remember that despite the bulk that forage adds to |
| maximum performance levels, it becomes more | | | | the diet, making utilisation of energy poorer from this |
| necessary to consider the losses that the horse is | | | | than from a more concentrated feed, fibrous feeds |
| subject to due to the increase in workload. As stated | | | | are a crucial ingredient to the correct functioning of the |
| previous it is still necessary to determine the goals that | | | | gut. |
| you wish to achieve from your feeding programme | | | | Concentrates provide the horse with a more |
| and aim to ensure the horses requirements are met as | | | | concentrated energy source, 12-16MJ DE/kg DM. Each |
| efficiently as possible. | | | | concentrate varies in other nutritive content, e.g. starch, |
| Up to 75% of an adult horse's body mass is water. If | | | | fibre, so before weights can be determined, the most |
| this is jeopardised it can pose a serious threat to the | | | | suitable feed for the purpose should be decided. The |
| performance of the horse and a drop of just 2% can | | | | dietician can then establish the most suitable feeds and |
| reduce performance, (Marlin and Nankervis 2002.) | | | | quantities for the best utilisation of all nutrient and |
| Water is lost at an increased rate in horses due to the | | | | energy contents. All this can be done by inputting the |
| permeability of their skin and performance horses will | | | | different values of the feeds into the spreadsheet |
| increase this loss during exercise by up to 80%. The | | | | package. |
| amount of water that the horse will require in its diet | | | | Protein vitamin and mineral components of a |
| can be estimated by calculating the moisture content | | | | competition horse's diet often increase as workload |
| of other dietary substances, the amount of protein and | | | | increases the energy needs. This makes it important |
| salt in the diet and the energy output of the horse, | | | | for the construction of a well balanced ration. By using |
| which can be done with the help of spreadsheet ration | | | | the spreadsheet package, the values of these can be |
| formulation. | | | | known, and as the workload varies, concentrations of |
| Digestible energy is the Gross energy, (of any feed | | | | feeds rich or poor in these can be changed to suit. |
| consumed) minus the energy content of any faecal | | | | Using spreadsheets to formulate rations for |
| matter. Competition horses must gain as much of the | | | | competition horses is probably the most cost efficient |
| nutritive value of this feed being consumed, with as little | | | | method due to vast amounts of money being spent in |
| additional side effects, e.g. weight gain, as possible. The | | | | other areas of their schedule. This would be a big |
| horse, on average, has a feed intake of 2-2.5% of its | | | | deciding factor for managers and owners when |
| body weight. It is important for body function, to gain | | | | considering whether or not to use it. |
| the correct ratio of roughage to concentrates in order | | | | Energy values of desired feeds can be identified from |
| to fulfil requirements. Carbohydrates are vitally | | | | the bags or by contacting the supplier. Using these |
| important as they are most apt at providing the horse | | | | values and knowing the average energy needs of the |
| with energy, 9MJ DE/kg DM, (Megajoules of digestible | | | | horse, construction of a feed ration can be achieved. |