How hard is your horse working?
Short version: see the overview
Count the minutes in a normal training session and find the level: light work and turnout, moderate or hard.
The level decides which row of the dosage chart you use. Your horse's weight decides the column.
Your horse's workload
The most important factor in the calculation, apart from your horse's weight, is its workload. The chart below guides you to a correct assessment. Workload is given in minutes.
| Workload | Walk | Trot and tölt | Gallop, medium | Gallop, fast | Total time per session | Weekly training |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light work and turnout | 20 min | 10 min | 10 min | 0 min | 0:40 | 1 to 6 times |
| Moderate | 30 min | 20 min | 35 min | 0 min | 1:15 | 4 to 6 times |
| Hard | 40 min | 35 min | 50 min | 15 min | 2:30 | 2 to 3 times |
What the level means in grams
Every Day Happy and Peak Performance share a dosage chart for horses aged 0 to 14. If your horse is 15 or older, it follows the senior chart, where the same three levels are higher. All figures are grams per 100 kg of horse per day, given as dry weight.
Horses aged 0 to 14
| Workload | Normal | Ekstra | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light work and turnout | 45 g | 65 g | 85 g |
| Moderate | 60 g | 80 g | 100 g |
| Hard | 76 g | 106 g | 121 g |
Senior horses from 15 years
| Workload | Normal | Ekstra | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light work and turnout | 54 g | 80 g | 102 g |
| Moderate | 73 g | 97 g | 121 g |
| Hard | 91 g | 127 g | 145 g |
If you don't have a mineral analysis of your forage, use the Ekstra level. It is the best way to make sure your horse gets enough of the important trace minerals.
The full weight scale at Ekstra level
This is what the Ekstra level looks like for horses aged 0 to 14 when you read it straight off the weight. All figures are grams per day.
| Horse's weight | 200 | 250 | 300 | 350 | 400 | 450 | 500 | 550 | 600 | 650 | 700 | 750 | 800 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light work and turnout | 130 | 165 | 195 | 230 | 260 | 295 | 325 | 360 | 390 | 425 | 455 | 490 | 520 |
| Moderate | 160 | 200 | 240 | 280 | 320 | 360 | 405 | 445 | 485 | 525 | 565 | 605 | 645 |
| Hard | 210 | 265 | 320 | 370 | 420 | 475 | 530 | 580 | 635 | 680 | 740 | 790 | 845 |
Weight is in kg and dose in grams per day. The full charts with Normal, Ekstra and Maximum are on the individual dosage pages. Salt is given separately, 10 g per 100 kg of horse per day for maintenance.
Rider and tack
The weight of the rider and tack also affects the load on your horse. The ideal ratio between the weight of rider plus tack and the horse's normal body weight is 1:5. For a 500 kg horse, that equals 100 kg of rider and tack combined.
If the weight of you and your tack exceeds 20% of your horse's weight, you need to compensate with a larger daily dose, as the load on your horse is increased.
Correct balance
Your balance on the horse and the correct fit of your tack also affect the load. A rider or tack sitting crooked on the horse increases the load and calls for a larger daily ration of vitamins, minerals and herbs. Naturally, it is best for you and your tack to be well balanced so your horse stays healthy.
Physical and mental health
Health in general has a big influence on the load on your horse, and it should be assessed from both sides.
Physical health is defined by
- State of health
- Conformation, muscling and weight
- Stable and turnout
- Arena surface
- Forest tracks, beach and water
Mental health and stress levels are affected by
- State of health and injuries
- Social skills and relationships
- Physical surroundings
It is important to have a full overview of these different elements. Some of them are very often forgotten or overlooked, and in the long run that harms the horse.
Situations that change the level
Some horses should not be assessed on training minutes alone. Here you read the chart at a different level from the one the work alone points to.
| Situation | How to feed |
|---|---|
| Stallions | At least 10% higher daily dose than the chart states. We recommend the Ekstra level relative to the workload |
| In-foal mare, months 1 to 8 | According to her own workload |
| In-foal mare, months 9 to 11 | As a horse in moderate work |
| The first 3 months after foaling | As a horse in hard work, because she is producing milk for the foal |
| After the 3 months and up to weaning | As a horse in moderate work |
| In foal and still lactating | As a horse in hard work for the whole period she is producing milk |
| Foals from approx. 2 to 5 months | Approx. 1 g feed per day per kg the foal weighs |
| Foals from 6 months and youngstock | According to expected adult weight, as horses in light work or normal turnout activity |
Help with an individual assessment
If you are unsure where your horse fits, you can contact our nutrition expert for help with an individual assessment and a feeding plan that takes work, health and the rider's weight into account.
Glossary and the most common questions
The feed terms, that is forage, roughage, hard feed, concentrates, complete feed and supplementary feed, and the answers to the most frequently asked questions about soaking, dry weight and mash are gathered in one place.
