Dosage schedule - Senior horses

1. Reduced absorption and utilisation. With age, the gut becomes less efficient at absorbing nutrients. Even on the same feed intake, the horse gets less benefit from vitamins and minerals.

2. Dental wear and chewing problems. Worn teeth, tooth loss or sharp points make it harder to make use of the forage, which is otherwise an important source of minerals.

The result is a lower intake of micronutrients from the feed. That's why the senior chart is higher than the chart for horses aged 0‑14 years.

Normal is for sound, healthy horses fed quality forage, i.e. grass, hay or haylage.

Ekstra is for horses under strain from things other than weight and workload: physical or mental health challenges, stress, or forage that doesn't meet the recommendations. Also used as a booster for 8‑16 weeks.

Maximum is for heavy strain: convalescence after illness, weakened digestion and immune system, long-distance transport. It is the maximum ration for a healthy horse and can be used as a booster for 4‑12 weeks.

During special periods such as moulting, competitions or stress, requirements can rise by 50‑60 % in total, for anything from a few days to 4‑6 weeks.

Light work and turnout: 20 min walk, 10 min trot, 10 min canter, 0:40 in total per session, 1‑6 times a week.

Moderate work: 30 min walk, 20 min trot, 35 min canter, 1:15 in total per session, 4‑6 times a week.

Hard work: 40 min walk, 35 min trot, 50 min canter and 15 min gallop, 2:30 in total per session, 2‑3 times a week.

If rider and tack weigh more than 20% of the horse's weight, the requirement increases. The optimal ratio is 1:5. Always feed according to the horse's current weight, not its ideal weight. Weight formula: girth in metres cubed, times 80. A girth of 1.7 m gives approx. 392 kg.

If your forage analysis is roughly here, you can safely use Normal: copper 4‑5 mg/kg, zinc 20‑22 mg/kg, manganese 40‑50 mg/kg, iron 100‑110 mg/kg.

Horses only absorb 10‑15% of the iron in forage, and many analyses show low levels. If your forage is particularly low in iron, we recommend Ekstra to Maksimal.

Stallions need at least 10 % more than the chart states to be covered. We recommend feeding them at Ekstra for their workload.

In-foal mares are fed according to workload up to and including month 8. From month 9 to 11, they are fed like a horse in moderate work.

After foaling the mare is fed as for demanding work for the first 3 months, because she is producing milk. After that, as for moderate work until the foal is weaned. If she is both in foal and lactating, she is fed as for demanding work for the whole period she is producing milk.

Foals from approx. 2 to 5 months: 1 gram per day per kg the foal weighs. Foals from 6 months and young horses are fed according to their expected adult weight at the level for light work and turnout.

Horses have no salt reserves and need salt every day alongside the daily dose. Salt keeps muscles, nerves and fluid balance in order.

Give 10 g per 100 kg of horse per day for maintenance. For a 500 kg horse that is 50 g. For moderate work, give 15-17 g of salt and for demanding work 22-27 g per 100 kg on top of Every Day Happy or Peak Performance (with Supreme Minerals, 18-20 g and 25-30 g in total). Heat, pregnancy and lactation also increase the requirement.

A salt lick isn't enough on its own. Give loose salt in the manger, and start with half a teaspoon, building up over 14 days.