Equestrian Feeding In Riding Schools: What To Expect

Riding schools are used by a wide variety of people for many different purposes

, all of which must be catered for by the establishment. It is the manager's responsibility to make sure that the horses available for use are safe, fit and healthy. Along with the fitness regimes, shoeing needs and daily maintenance of the horses, the feeding of correct and suitable feeds is vital.

As so many horses are usually present in this form of establishment, it could become very complicated if suitable methods of identifying each horse and their feed requirements are not established. Here the use of spreadsheets to display a ration formulated feed chart would be very beneficial.

This form of displaying the horses' rations will identify the feeds that are to be fed. This will reduce any misunderstandings and incorrect feeding. Quantities of individual feedstuffs can be weighed out, benefiting the horse by not under / over feeding. The yard also benefits by reducing the amount of wastage that can often occur via the trial and error method of feeding and thereby becoming more cost effective. By monitoring the daily amount of dispensed feedstuffs, problems including colic and other feed related illnesses can be reduced. This is a great incentive for riding schools as the prevention of such problems is going to be much more convenient, time efficient and cost reducing than curing them. Courses of medication can be administered safely using this spreadsheet method. It allows for feeing times and dosage quantities to be specified, reducing any misunderstandings that could be e.g. dangerous to the horse. It also enables any precautionary measures to be identified and displayed for any of the staff to see.

Riding schools often feed a compound feed that will fulfil most of the main requirements for the horses on the yard. The use of a spreadsheet for rationing will enable the correct sample size for each horse. These compound feeds, e.g. mixes will have a standard energy level (MJ DE/kg) which will allow the staff to determine the most suitable ration quantity for each horse, dependant on their energy output. This will enable the horses to gain the most from their feed whilst providing the service that is required of them.

Horses used within a riding school are not often asked to perform at high intensities and skill levels for extended periods of time. The uses of spreadsheets for feed rationing become more precise when determining the competition horse's feeding ration.

by: Tammy Patterson

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