Applied equine nutrition and training: Equine NUtrition and TRAining COnference (ENUTRACO) 2011

Livestock Prod Sci Sometimes our horses had to run on very hard surfaces as asphalt, on stony tracks, or on slippery surfaces, as wet grass-covered tracks.

That is why as recommended by Pelissier , we chose shoeing being comfortable and light, absorbent, non-slip, protective, solid and durable, that should maintain the horse proprioception. Depending on the nature of the track, we selected shoes in steel or in aluminium. However, steel was chosen in some cases, especially for races on stony tracks Florac for example , as it is more resistant than aluminium. Toggle navigation Comically Speaking Library. A textbook of the diseases of cattle, - download pdf or read online The recent tenth version of this well-respected reference comprises completely revised and reviewed details with content material on new ailments for the main up to date details on illnesses effecting sheep, pigs, goats, horses, and livestock.

The Gestating and Lactating Sow by Chantal Farmer The final publication at the lactating sow used to be released over 15 years in the past. Vet Res Commun 34 Suppl 1: The amount of intervertebral extension is controlled by passive ligamentous and active muscular tension. The head and neck act as a beam that extends out in front of the body mass and stabilized at its base. They are separated across the dorsal midline to avoid the problem of having sensors activated by the sides of the mat being pulled downwards which might suggest that the saddle is impinging on the dorsal spinous processes when this is not the case.

Forces registered by the sensors are transmitted to a laptop computer using Bluetooth technology. Since there are no wires connecting the mat to the computer, the horse and rider can move freely while pressures are being measured. A drawback in the use of the saddle mat is that the sensors only register forces that are applied perpendicular to their surface. Three types of graphs display the pressure patterns Figure 1. Numerical analyses are facilitated by subdivision of the total area of the mat transversely left and right halves or longitudinally front, middle, rear sections.

The mat provides dynamic data during ridden exercise with real time display of the changing pressure patterns on the computer screen. However, this also complicates the process of analysis since each stride is represented by numerous data points for each sensor. The electronic pressure mat has the advantages of measuring the pressure not only at rest but also during locomotion at different gaits.

With a narrow tree, a common problem is bridging, in which pressure is concentrated in the front and back of the panels with the middle part being unweighted Harman, and particularly high pressure at the back of the saddle Meschan et al. If the tree is too wide, pressure increases in the middle part of the panels Meschan et al.

Sheepskin has performed particularly well in my own studies Figure 3 and Kotschwar et al. For example, when the saddle tree was too wide, foam and gel pads were most effective at walk whereas gel and reindeer fur were more effective at trot Kotschwar et al. One of the essentials of riding is to mount the horse. More importantly, the pressure distribution during mounting is highly asymmetrical on the left and right sides. Pressure is highest on the right side of the withers, which stabilizes the saddle as the rider puts weight on the left stirrup.

It is recommended that riders should mount without using the stirrup by either getting a leg up or by using a high enough platform to step onto the horse without using the stirrup. If there is no option to mounting using the stirrup, a mounting block should be used and the rider should switch between mounting from the left and right sides. This will be a positive step toward making the horse straight and symmetrical.

Some riders have a habit of stepping down forcefully into the right stirrup to center the saddle which has been pulled to the left side during mounting. These sensors measure rein tension dynamically but are unable to distinguish whether the tension originates in the rider pulling on the rein or the horse pushing against the bit. A study using side reins in horses trotting in a straight line showed that there are two peaks in rein tension during each stride of trot and these occur during the diagonal stance phases.

Minimal tension, maximal tension and mean tension are all useful measurements that provide different types of information about the rein contact. All three tension variables increase as the reins are shortened. Minimal tension increases and maximal tension decreases with elasticity of the rein Figure 4 Clayton et al. When a rider is present, riding style has a large effect on tension recordings. For example, dressage training requires the horse to seek contact with the bit resulting in higher rein tension values than for horses trained, for example, in Western riding in which the reins hang loosely.

In some riders the left and right reins show very similar magnitude and timing of the rein tension oscillations, other riders have differences in the magnitude of left and right rein tensions or in the timing of the tension changes on the left and right sides. The more recent series of studies used the bits shown in Figure 5. The corresponding lateral radiographs are shown in Figure 6. When tension is applied to the reins, the mouthpiece becomes more deeply embedded in the tongue, so it moves away from the palate. The KK Ultra is a double-jointed bit with a short oval-shaped middle piece.

Rein tension moves the entire mouthpiece of this bit away from the palate by compressing the tongue. Consequently, this may be an uncomfortable bit for some horses. All three Myler mouthpieces were positioned relatively high on the tongue and the barrel prevents any squeezing action on the tongue. The horse may be able to use his tongue to push against the mouthpiece, giving him a degree of control over the position of the bit and the areas affected by pressure. Behaviours other than holding the bit quietly in the mouth or chewing gently increased when tension was applied to the reins.

J Eq Vet Sci 4: Eq Comp Exerc Physiol 2: De Cocq P, Clayton HM, Terada K, Muller M, van Leeuwen J Usability of normal force distribution measurements to evaluate asymmetrical loading of the back of the horse and different rider positions on a standing horse. Kotschwar AB, Baltacis A, Peham C a The effects of different saddle pads on forces and pressure distribution beneath a fitting saddle. Eq Vet J Kotschwar AB, Baltacis A, Peham C b The influence of different saddle pads on force and pressure changes beneath saddles with excessively wide trees.

Comp Exerc Physiol Meschan E, Peham C, Schobesberger H, Licka T The influence of the width of the saddle tree on the forces and the pressure distribution under the saddle. Injuries and diseases of the back occur frequently and are most commonly manifest as a reduction in performance rather than overt lameness, which may pose a diagnostic dilemma. One of our areas of research focus in the McPhail Center is the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of back pain in horses.

Long-backed horses usually have longer vertebral bodies than short-backed horses. This affects the amount of deviation resulting from a change in angle at the joint s ; longer vertebrae deviate further than shorter vertebrae. This means that a long-backed horse shows more lateral displacement for the same angular change at the joints than a short-backed horse. In practical terms, a long-backed horse requires less change in angle at the intervertebral joints than a short-backed horse to achieve the same amount of displacement of the shoulders relative to the haunches when performing a shouldersin or of the haunches when performing a travers or renvers.

These include the abdominal muscles and the sublumbar muscles. Their actions include supporting and protecting the internal organs, pressurizing the abdominal cavity and moving the back. The transverse muscle is particularly important for stabilizing the spine in preparation for and during movement. The back muscles lie on either side of the dorsal spinous processes Figure 1. They can be divided functionally into two groups: When these muscles contract simultaneously on the left and right sides they hollow the back.

When they contract unilaterally, they assist in bending the back sideways. The short back muscles m. Horses and their riders need to develop strength and control of their core musculature both to perform effectively and to protect against developing back pain. Between these supports, the back tends to sag due to the weight of the internal organs.

As the back hollows, the intervertebral joints extend which brings the dorsal spinous processes and articular facets into closer approximation with the consequent risk of bony impingement. This implies using the abdominal and sublumbar muscles to overcome the natural tendency of the back to extend. At the same time, the transverse abdominal muscle and the short back muscles stabilize the intervertebral joints in that rounded position. The horse needs to learn when and how to activate and use these muscles to round the back and then must strengthen the muscles so that the roundness can be maintained throughout the training session.

Get Applied Equine Nutrition and Training: Equine Nutrition and PDF

Lateral bending is achieved by differential contraction of the left and right long back muscles and oblique abdominal muscles. When a horse bends correctly around a turn or circle, the limbs should remain vertical while the intervertebral joints bend to match the curvature of the turn. The smaller the radius of the turn, the more bending is required and the harder the muscles must work to create that bend. This supports the practice of working on large circles and then decreasing the diameter as the bending muscles become stronger.

The natural way for a horse to turn is to lean his body to the inside while swinging the neck to the outside of the circle line as a counterbalance. A young horse under saddle falls onto the inside shoulder rather than lifting the shoulder and bending to the inside. Again, the horse must learn to activate the appropriate muscles and coordinate their action with other stabilizing muscles. Kissing spines vary in their clinical presentation; some cases are asymptomatic, others are exquisitely painful.

The resulting instability may allow micromotion of the joints that predisposes to the development of further pathologies, such as osteoarthritis Hides et al. Horses with back pain seem to follow the same pattern as human patients. The term dynamic indicates that the horse is actively using his muscles to move his body.

The term mobilization implies that the exercises require stretching and therefore have a suppling effect. In order to achieve and maintain these positions, the horse must move his neck to the required position while, at the same time, stabilizing his back and limbs to keep his balance. A large number of muscles are recruited. If you watch closely as a horse does the dynamic mobilization exercises, you can see contractions in the abdominal and back muscles, as well as the pelvic, hamstring and chest muscles.

Core strengthening exercises are a progression from the dynamic mobilization exercises. Pressure on the caudal vertebral spinous processes results in rounding of the caudal thoracic, lumbar and lumbosacral joints. Unilateral pressure to one side of the sacrocaudal region results in rounding and lateral bending. These exercises are described in detail in Stubbs and Clayton Core training exercises should be used in young horses to activate the core musculature in preparation for ridden exercise. It will also be easier for the rider to teach the horse to move with the back rounded during ridden exercise.

When horses must be rested due to illness or injury, the exercises can usually be continued so that core strength is maintained and the core musculature will be strong when the horse returns to ridden exercise. Br J Sports Med Denoix JM Diagnosis of the cause of back pain in horses. Conf Eq Sports Med Sci. Eq Vet J 42 Suppl This general view on equine nutrition is contrasted in many cases by the daily care for feed quality and safe feeding management as well as by the effort to elaborate precise information on nutrition in case of low performance or disease in an individual horse or a group of horses.

It should be noticed that animals do not respond to a mismatch in nutritional demands by visible changes in certain indicators. Even high performance horses can compensate defects in feed quality and nutrient supply without loosing their actual condition. The bottleneck is the application of available data on requirements. However, the majority of equines are held under close human supervision or are even urbanized. These horses are faced by human driven decisions on nutrition which can override proven facts on requirements.

Find a copy in the library

Examples of clinical relevance: That means that the estimated rate of intake for a kg horse is 52 g min Having access to poor pasture grass with 8 MJ digestible energy DE kg-1 DM a horse would need to ingest the feed at the max. Consequently there is a huge difference between the minimum of time required for the intake and the normal behaviour related to feed ingestion. This is far below the maximal rate of intake. These data allow to conclude that: Hydrolysable carbohydrates oligosaccharides, starches can escape small intestinal decomposition and absorption: Fibrous feeds serve complex mechanisms of the GIT and are strictly linked to behaviour.

A minimum of structural carbohydrates and a maximum of non-structural carbohydrates have to be considered. These data can be used as guideline to prevent problems from the GIT, the behaviour of the horse and endocrine responses. A certain microbiota attached to the feed belongs to the normal quality. However, an elevated count of bacteria, moulds and yeasts indicates: Toxicological events are impressive and characterized for the most important toxins but the mechanisms of damage in the GIT simply by elevated numbers of bacteria, moulds and yeasts are still not well understood.

Those data are available for most equine feeds and are an extremely helpful tool to perform risk assessment of a feeding condition. A refusal of hay is a quite common event in some horses; up to now there is no satisfying explanation for this e. The age-effect is mostly created by erosions of teeth or bad shape of teeth. The incomplete feed processing during intake results in a risk for GIT function and loss in feeding value.

This can be associated with an age dependent loss on the availability of digestive enzymes and in gut motility. In the case of a disease there can be an extra need for a nutrient. Most diseases related to infections are linked to elevated energy and protein metabolism and turnover respectively. There is no model to create factors for corrections of diets to consider the side effects of disease. The stress of disease includes a challenge for antioxidative capabilities of the organism; little is known about the effects e. However it has been shown in ruminants that antioxidative support after treating a displaced abomasum enhances postsurgical recovery.

The principles for the adaptation of a diet for an individual horse can be summarized as follows: Examples for clinical relevance: Oversupply of protein and minerals results in elevated faecal or renal excretion and transfer of nitrogen, macro and trace elements to the soil. In addition, volatile compounds may be liberated; ammonia is the most relevant.

Provision of nutrients adjusted to the requirements ensures keeping the emissions from horse husbandry within an acceptable range. Most nutrition related health problems are related to one or more of the following causes: The critical point in practice is simply the lack of objective information on feed composition. It is evident that information about this part of the ration is a leading factor.

Account Options

If missed, concentrate selection in particular for high performance horses remains imprecise or even risky. Diets low in hay reduce the effect of unknown chemical composition of the entire diet because concentrate e. Many mineral feeds are used without precise rationing. Ca-intake at 3fold of requirement but still marginal Zn-intake.

The aims of processing feed are to: No roughage at night will speed up concentrate ingestion at the following morning. This is associated with low saliva production and challenges gastric function. The load of the stomach by feed is of special interest in case of discontinuous pasturing. A starchy meal before turnout of the horses on pasture predisposes the animal to become affected by dysfermentation and uncontrolled gas production in the stomach. An often neglected aspect in feeding technique is the stimulation of compensatory straw intake if hay is low in quantity or badly distributed over meals with long intermeal periods.

This can increase the risk for colic by impaction. The strong link between dust levels in stables and feed quality explains the need for feed evaluation regarding the hygiene standard. This aspect of feed quality is an issue for GIT function. It is of great interest that after challenging exercise the defence capabilities of the respiratory tract are severely depressed and the small intestine may show a reduced integrity. The mechanisms on how the intestinal tract is affected by bacteria and moulds is not clear s. As mentioned above, microbial toxins can induce intestinal and extra intestinal damages.

Toxins from Clostridia and some moulds are of practical relevance. As mycotoxins are naturally ubiquitous occurring substances, they are detectable in many cases. In many cases nutrition is not the only driving force for a disease but risk assessment and avoidance requires the management of nutritional factors.

To reach that goal, the need for other equine models than horses at maintenance soon arose and we created an experimental endurance equestrian team. This is how doing research led us to manage endurance equine athletes. At that time, we were conducting experimental trials to better understand the impact of feeding practices on the digestibility of dietary energetic constituents and on the microbial balance of the hindgut ecosystem. This limited the application of our nutritional observations towards the exercised horse.

Also, we had both a pool of good riders among the Agrosup students, and the support of our general director. In September , the AgroSup endurance team was born. From there, our experimental endurance team served as a support for many research projects: Because our horses were kept under experimental conditions, we recorded lots of observations. The present paper aims at sharing what science brought to us and could be of interest for people involved in equestrian endurance. Most of them were pure-bred Arabians, only one being cross-bred Arabian.

At arrival, horses were adult, but relatively young: Only half of the horses had experienced endurance training prior to their arrival. Three mares, Naya, Samira and Bemira, were not broken, being broodmares for several years before entering our team. Horses were selected according to three main criteria: Arabians or Arabian crosses were chosen as they are the most competitive horses in endurance events Crandell, ; Cerchiaro et al.

Due to muscular, metabolic and morphological predispositions, Arabians are better adapted to endurance work compared to other breeds. Their energetic metabolism is particularly adapted to endurance exercise Prince et al. When horses had already experienced endurance rides, we did not select them if they had been eliminated for lameness. Contrary to common practice, we did not take into account the cardiac recovery power in our selection criteria. The competition consists of a number of phases.

No phase may exceed 40 km and should, in principle, be not less than 20 km in length. At the end of each phase, there will be a compulsory halt for veterinary inspection. Fitness is evaluated by pulse recovery, metabolic stability and gait www. This completion rate differed according to the competition level: These data suggest that the endurance effort really begins from 90 km rides on.

Lameness concerned the forelegs 8 of 12 cases mainly and hind legs in a lesser extent, as observed by Meyrier This horse did not require medical treatment to recover. These results are representative for elimination causes in endurance rides Robert et al. Depending on the duration of our experiments, and also according to their performances too low or on the contrary, too high , horses stayed from one to seven years at AgroSup, on average two years and a half.

Two years later, our research team moved into more convenient facilities. Today these facilities can accommodate up to twenty sport horses and have individual paddocks, and an automatic horse walker. In addition, these facilities are located in a very hilly countryside, which offers better training tracks compared to the plain ground we had before. Because we experienced all these different environments, we were able to make some comparisons.

However, when our horses arrived at AgroSup in , we only had a stable with individual free stalls, but no turn-out. When we moved to the next stable, we had the opportunity to build individual paddocks which allowed to turn-out horses all day long. Thus, they became calmer and worked a lot better.

Managing horses in individual paddocks rather than in collective ones enabled to avoid injuries among horses that could compromise performances and to monitor water and feed intake individually. Julien Goachet, who spent several years in UAE endurance stables, and Jean-Louis Leclerc, who was the trainer and selector of the French endurance team from to From to , the daily monitoring of exercise date, rider, and duration of exercise… allowed us to determine a posteriori the training programs we had applied to prepare the horses for 60, 90 and km.

The training season should theoretically match competitive season which takes place between March and October in France. In practice, our start was delayed due to the cold climate during winter in our region. As the outdoor tracks were frozen and slippery, our training program could not start before March-April. So our horses had a resting period from December to March-April, and began competition in June. Three different kinds of exercises Outdoor rides: From , the countryside was a lot hillier with very hard grounds.

The distance of the rides was 12 km at least and 30 km at most Figure 1. According to the stage of training, the hills were climbed at walk at the beginning of the training season , or at trot, in order to increase exercise intensity. Horses always went down the hill walking in order to avoid tendon and joint injuries.

Applied Equine Nutrition and Training: Equine Nutrition and Training Conference (Enutraco) 2011

The outdoor ride efforts were less intense than event efforts performed mainly within and bpm; Figure 2 , being so safer for the legs. These exercises were done within the last month and two weeks minimum before the competition. This enabled us to exercise the horses earlier in the endurance season, i. After two years of conditioning at minimum, our horses were able to compete in elite levels.

At those levels, horses were prepared to compete in two races per year on average. The training programs were different depending on whether the horse was un-experienced or experienced. Training for 20, 40 and 60 km rides: Horses did not complete canters on racetracks and were not exercised in the walker.

A posteriori, we counted 12 weeks of training on average to prepare horses to compete in 20, 40, 60 km endurance rides. Training for 90 km rides: Consequently the weekly workload increased to 4h30 instead of 3h30 Table 3. The training period was of 19 weeks. Training for and km: In both programs, canters were added before the events, and exercise frequency increased compared to the lower stages of training.

With both programs, 20 weeks of training were necessary to prepare horses for and events. This was the ratio we used previously for our experimental horses. Because we wanted our horses to receive at least 8 kg hay per day, the quantity of pelleted feed was 5. Hay was given in two equal meals at Theoretically, this ration covered the nutritional needs recommended by INRA for horses providing a moderate exercise INRA, , as our horses were trained to compete in 90 km rides.

However, our horses gained weight and body condition score. They looked nervous and one even developed muscular pathology resembling rhabdomyolysis, probably due to the high amount of concentrate they were fed. On average, our horses received approximately 10 kg DM of hay daily, whatever the training level. The daily supply of concentrate increased progressively from 1 to 2. On average, the level of feed intake varied from 2.

We are aware that whatever the level of training, it is essential to provide large quantities of good quality forages to endurance horses. It ensures the behavioural integrity of the animal Nicol, ; Goodwin et al. Our horses had free access to a salt block and did not receive any other supplement. They also had free access to water and drank in average 25 l per day. Also, we wanted them to have access to paddock and free exercise on the event place, in order to avoid muscular problems exertional rhabdomyolysis during the race.

If there was no possibility to build paddocks, our horses were walked in hand or ridden at walk. Except in Gulf countries, where rides are run faster, a km ride last between 6 and 10 hours, and a km ride between 8 and 13 hours in many countries www. Also, characteristics of the ground can vary a lot, according to area and climate. Sometimes our horses had to run on very hard surfaces as asphalt, on stony tracks, or on slippery surfaces, as wet grass-covered tracks. That is why as recommended by Pelissier , we chose shoeing being comfortable and light, absorbent, non-slip, protective, solid and durable, that should maintain the horse proprioception.

Then, the running shoes we used for our horses had an important rolling on the external front border to ease the process of break over in front feet Van Heel et al. Depending on the nature of the track, we selected shoes in steel or in aluminium. However, steel was chosen in some cases, especially for races on stony tracks Florac for example , as it is more resistant than aluminium. Hoof pads were used to improve shock absorption and avoid concussion Benoit et al.

The technical properties of these pads depend on their thickness, weight, and density simple or bi-density pad. YPPMERH the entire sole, 4,5 mm, dual density , the MV2 dynamic enduro 80 g, 3 mm, dual density , and the blue plastic pads g, 3 mm, simple density. As recommended by Pelissier , packing materials have to be as soft as possible 10 shore D to avoid any pressure on the sole. For those horses, the farrier cut the pads in V-notched to keep the frog exposed, or opened the pad on the toe. The only change was the quantity of hay that was offered ad libitum, during the night before the ride.

Even if hay was often provided by the organizer, we preferred to bring hay from home in order to prevent hay refusals or digestive disturbances. On the event place, we provided horses free access to drinking water and salt block. We observed that whereas the average level of intake was 2. This decrease was due to a lower consumption of hay from 2.

The racing day Before departure, we offered our horses hay ad libitum but no concentrate. During the ride, one kilogram of the same concentrate as fed usually and hay was presented at each vet gate. As underlined by Crandell , perhaps the single most important key to successful completion of the race is the ability of the horse to eat whenever it has a chance.

Water was offered to our horses every 20 minutes on the track and at vet-gates. Although it was a very common practice to supplement horses with electrolytes Goachet, , our horses were not. We measured a decrease in feed intake the day of the race that was on average 2. We also observed important individual variations, with some horses being able to maintain a pre-ride intake while others reduced hay intake to 0. Contrary to the other days, the day of the race, horses had a lower time budget for feeding.

Also, the required physical effort, the excitement and the fatigue probably contributed to decrease the appetite during the day and the evening. After the race At the end of the ride and the day after during the travel back to home , our horses received only hay ad libitum. Interestingly the horses that had the lowest intake the day before the race also had the lowest intake the day of the race and the day after it.

When our horses were back home, they had the same feeding program as initially and their level of intake returned to initial values. This is why among other things we recorded so many data regarding training, feeding, and shoeing. Honestly we did not think this would ever be useful for other purposes than our research. Eq Vet J Suppl Bergero D, Assenza A, Caola G Contribution to our knowledge of the physiology and metabolism of endurance horses. Livestock Prod Sci Comp Exerc Physiol 5: Sport Horse Publication, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Crandell K Trends in feeding the American endurance horse. Crandell K Observations and recommendations for feeding the endurance horses. Duren S Feeding the endurance horse.

1. Murder Laid Bare (Hope and Carver Book 1)!
2. Get Applied Equine Nutrition and Training: Equine Nutrition and PDF - Comically Speaking Library;
3. A Primer in the Psychology of Crime;
4. Towards a Dark Horizon (The Sunday Girls)!
5. The Englisher (Annie’s People Book #2) (Annies People).

Advances in Equine Nutrition I. J Eq Vet Sci Geor RJ Nutritional management of endurance horses. Quelles recommandations en nutrition clinique? Liesens L Endurance: Liesen L ed , France; Pp Doctoral thesis Univ Toulouse. Proc Eur Assoc Anim Prod.

Meyer H, Gomba Y, Heilman M Postprandial renal and recal water and electrolyte excretion in horses in relation to kind of feedstuffs, amount of sodium ingested and exercise. Nicol CJ Equine stereotypies. Parkins T How to train sport horses: Pietrzak S, Strzelec K Attempt at a definition of the relationship between conformation and efficiency level in endurance horses. Ralston SL Nutritional management of horses competing in km races.

Shoeing sound Warmblood horses with a rolled toe optimises hoof-unrollment and lowers peak loading during breakover. Proc Eq Nutr Phys Symp. When managing an animal that has become obese it is obviously key to recognise that it is obese and to put in place a diet and management plan that includes regular monitoring and reviewing. In some individuals initial weight loss may not be accompanied by an obvious change in the externally assessed body condition score.

Any weight loss programme needs to be targeted to the individual animal and a process to monitor and review, during and after, the weight loss has been achieved must be established. In a prospective US study A. Recently, interest, however, has focused on the apparent increased risk of laminitis in obese ponies Treiber et al. A recently published consensus statement suggested that the majority of equids with equine metabolic syndrome EMS; Frank et al. Clinical or subclinical laminitis that has developed in the absence of recognized causes such as colic, colitis or retained placenta.

It is important to recognize, however, that not all obese horses are insulin resistant IR and that IR can occur in non-obese animals and without raised basal plasma insulin concentrations Bailey et al. Many horses that spend most of their time in stables with occasional hacks may require no more than maintenance energy intakes, yet many are fed much more than this. Such cyclical changes may not occur when food intake and quality is maintained during the winter resulting in further weight gain. Horses are however, individuals; the amount and type of feed they require to maintain bodyweight plus the desired level of condition and provide the type of ride required therefore depends upon several factors, including: If a horse is thought to be working hard, as we all recognise, it does not mean that it is actually working hard and even if it is, it does not necessarily mean that more feed or one providing higher energy levels is needed.

Amounts of complementary feed recommended by feed manufacturers can therefore obviously only be a guide. Any weight loss programme needs to be targeted to the individual animal but to have a chance to work requires initially: Analysing the forage may be required especially in resistant cases or the decision made to use low energy forage replacers.

The preferred option will depend on the present and desired bodyweight as well as the individual circumstances. A low-calorie hay replacer may be useful at this stage. Group and individual behaviour should be monitored closely to observe any potential concerns caused for example by changes to the herd dynamics. Total exclusion muzzles are not advised. Ideally, a combination of one or more of the above measures along with an increase in exercise or activity is recommended. Where appropriate, the diet can be made up to near appetite levels by adding low-energy forages, but caution when feeding poorly digested e.

Compound manufactured feeds are formulated to be fed at certain levels. For some individuals however, more severe restrictions may be required, e. Straws generally have lower energy contents than good quality horse hays and may be of value to help calorie dilute the ration of some obese animals. But it is important to select clean, carefully harvested straw with minimal cereal heads also shake thoroughly to remove any loose cereal grains. The risk of gastric ulceration was also increased in one study when straw was the main forage Luthersson et al.

The ration should be divided throughout the day and strategies to prolong feed intake time should be considered, e. It is very important to maintain an appropriate vitamin and mineral intake. Finally when the management system means that there are animals within sight or hearing that are being fed it may be advisable from a behavioural standpoint to provide a small meal at the same meal times.

This highlights the individual responses to dietary restriction.

Applied Equine Nutrition and Training: Equine NUtrition and TRAining - Google Книги

Especially in the more resistant animals actual feed intake from any source needs to be tightly controlled. Wood shavings are often advised as an alternative bedding source to help prevent dietary supplementation from this non-controlled non-feed source. Up to an estimated 3. For those already in work this may involve just increasing the number, length or intensity of the exercise. Preliminary studies in healthy and EMS horses have demonstrated weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity in some animals following a month period of levothyroxine sodium treatment.

It has been recommended that treated animals should be gradually weaned from the drug when treatment goals have been attained and put on a diet and management program to prevent regain of weight. Make all dietary changes gradually and avoid prolonged periods of feed withholding. Abrupt starvation especially in obese ponies, donkeys, and miniature horses especially pregnant animals carries the risk for hyperlipemia.

Develop, and continually update, an appropriate weight maintenance program once the target weight and body condition have been achieved to avoid a return to weight gain. Currently, there are a number of differing systems that can be used to determine condition score Gee and Harris, The author currently uses the point BCS scale adapted from the original work of Henneke et al. Recent work has suggested that in animals with a stable BCS there can be a very close correlation between the BCS using this system and the total soft tissue mass Dugdale et al.

However, this system was originally developed from work carried out predominantly using Quarter Horse broodmares and is therefore more suited to a lighter breed type of animal, including the Thoroughbred. It has been adapted slightly for the warmblood type of horse Kienzle and Schramme, Most importantly the amount of total body fat does not increase linearly with increasing body condition score See Dugdale et al.

Fat ultrasound measurements have been used to provide a guide to the total fat content of a horse but recent work has suggested that this may not be as accurate as previously thought. Finally, expanded abstracts of original research are provided in very diverse fields of nutrition and training of horses. All those concerned with training, riding and feeding in the equine industry will benefit from the contents. Allow this favorite library to be seen by others Keep this favorite library private. Find a copy in the library Finding libraries that hold this item Conference publication, Document, Internet resource Document Type: Arno Lindner Find more information about: Reviews User-contributed reviews Add a review and share your thoughts with other readers.

Add a review and share your thoughts with other readers. Similar Items Related Subjects: Horses -- Feeding and feeds -- Congresses. Horses -- Training -- Congresses. Horses -- Feeding and feeds. Life sciences User lists with this item 1 springerlink 78 items by hollisteraj updated Linked Data More info about Linked Data. Home About Help Search. Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions. Remember me on this computer. Cancel Forgot your password?

English View all editions and formats. Horses -- Nutrition -- Congresses. User lists Similar Items.