As the show season kicks into high gear and training and competition demands increase, it may be time to consider evaluating your horse’s diet. The nutrition advisors at Kentucky Equine Research provide horse owners with practical and science-based insight into the nutritional challenges performance horses face.

Exchanges between nutrition advisors and horse owners often unfold over several days, as advisors ask for additional information from the horse owner, or seek advice from colleagues or veterinarians. This back-and-forth process requires time, but thoroughness is necessary for advisors to formulate a comprehensive response.

Nutrition advice never replaces veterinary consultation. Advisors encourage horse owners to address all health concerns with a veterinarian, preferably one already familiar with the horse and its management, and nutrition advice should be considered auxiliary. Think of a nutrition advisor as part of your horse’s wellness team.

The nutrition team at Kentucky Equine Research has come up with some tips to streamline the flow of information so you get the most out of your ration evaluation.

1. Provide an accurate weight, photos, and body condition score

Supply the most accurate weight possible for your horse. If you have access to a scale, that is best, but a correctly applied weight tape can provide an estimate. Make sure to indicate how you determined the horse’s weight.

Provide a body condition score and photos. There are many resources available online with information on how to assess your horse’s body condition. Provide current photos of your horse from the front, back, and sides.

Indicate whether you are satisfied with your horse’s current weight and condition or if you are seeking advice to achieve weight loss or gain.

2. Alert the nutrition team to any special needs or conditions

Indicate any special needs or disease conditions that have been diagnosed by a veterinarian and for which your horse is currently undergoing treatment.

Include all medications your horse is currently receiving as part of a treatment plan established by your veterinarian.

3. Clearly communicate usage and performance level

Common usage categories include mature and idle, performance horse, breeding stallion, broodmare, growing, and senior horse. If an aged horse is actively engaged in performance activities and not experiencing age-related health concerns, then it should be considered a performance horse.

For performance horses, the following chart will help you determine the most accurate level of activity based on the frequency of exercise or discipline. Nutrition advisors will balance the horse’s requirement for nutrients with its expected performance level.

4. Include an accurate assessment of pasture quality

Pasture can make a significant contribution to the horse’s diet. The quality and quantity of pasture should be considered and noted as accurately as possible. 

The most common assessments are drylot or stalled (no grazing), sparse pasture (very little forage, or poor quality), moderate pasture (decent forage cover), and lush pasture. If you are unsure how to evaluate your pasture, more information can be found here.

5. Provide results from forage analysis

While not a requirement, having your hay analyzed is not as hard or expensive as you may think and can be extremely beneficial when evaluating special-needs diets. While values can vary between time of cutting and time of feeding, there are educational resources available that describe what to look for when testing future supplies. A nutrition advisor can help you interpret the results.

6. Supply detailed ration information

Be ready to upload photos of feed tags and supplement labels in addition to the forage analysis. If the nutrition advisors do not have to search for this information, it will expedite the ration evaluation.

When providing amounts of forage and concentrates fed, giving the weight is best. You can use a simple, inexpensive digital scale to do this, such as one used to weigh luggage. If supplements are supplied, indicate the daily serving amount of each.

7. Complete the picture

Provide any additional notes that you think our team needs to know. You can never offer too much detail.

The following are examples of additional details that can be helpful:

• Was anything in the current diet changed recently?
• Does your horse eat what is offered?
• Do you have any palatability concerns?
• Do you change your horse’s diet in response to the weather or season?
• Is there a specific change you would like to try or an area you would like to improve in your horse’s diet?
• Are you interested in simplifying the ration?
• What information are you most looking to gain from your ration evaluation?

By taking the time to gather accurate and detailed information, you can ensure that your performance horse’s ration evaluation is as effective and insightful as possible. A well-balanced diet plays a crucial role in your horse’s health, condition, and performance. The more precise the details you provide, the better the nutrition team can tailor their recommendations. With these tips in mind, you will be well-equipped to make informed decisions that support your horse’s success throughout the season and beyond.

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***This is advertorial content. This content has been provided by Kentucky Equine Research. COTH has no involvement with the creation of this content***