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Home / Equine Research Bank / Transl Anim Sci / The energy requirements of performance horses in training.
Translational animal science2020; 4(2); txaa032; doi: 10.1093/tas/txaa032

The energy requirements of performance horses in training.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate the energy requirements of performance horses in active, variable training in the field. Sixty horses in England and Switzerland were measured over 2-wk periods and, for 15 of these, the measurement period was extended, ranging from 21 to 42 wk. Energy intake was estimated by measuring daily feed consumption. Energy output was measured using heart rate (HR) monitors during 608 training sessions, relating HR to volume of oxygen (VO₂) and converting VO₂ to energy. Field maintenance requirements were calculated by deducting the marginal energy cost of training from energy input. The mean field maintenance expenditure for performance horses with a normal temperament was found to be 0.118 MJ of metabolizable energy (ME) per kilogram of body weight (BW) per day (SD = 0.008, CI = 0.005, n = 60 horses). This result is between 1.9% (P = 0.086) and 20.9% (P < 0.001) greater than the official guidance found in the United States, France, Germany, and Holland. Heart rate monitoring of training revealed a mean energy expenditure (EE) per ridden session of 0.023 MJ ME (SD = 0.001, CI = 0.001, n = 175 training sessions). The mean daily EE for exercise based on a full week's training was 0.018 MJ ME/kg BW/d (SD = 0.005, CI = 0.001, n = 60 horses), representing a multiple of maintenance of 15.3%. This implies that the official guidance in the United States and France may overstate expenditure for exercise by 111% and 15%, respectively (P < 0.01). Daily EE between countries and within disciplines was consistent, allowing for the creation of user-friendly tables that can be used in budgeting the energy component of diets.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.
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Publication Date: 2020-03-17 PubMed ID: 32705030PubMed Central: PMC7201169DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaa032Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the energy requirements for performance horses during active and diverse training, suggesting that current guidelines in the U.S., France, Germany, and Holland might overstate the energy needs.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers carried out a quantitative study on 60 performance horses located in England and Switzerland over a span of 2 weeks. For 15 of these horses, the study was extended between 21 to 42 weeks.
  • The daily feed consumption of these horses was measured to estimate energy intake. The energy output, on the other hand, was evaluated by monitoring the heart rate of the horses during 608 training sessions. The heart rate was then related to the volume of oxygen consumed which was further converted into energy.
  • To deduce the field maintenance requirements, the researchers subtracted the marginal energy cost of training from the energy input.

Research Findings

  • The study found that the mean field maintenance expenditure for performance horses having a normal temperament was roughly 0.118 Megajoules of metabolizable energy (ME) per kilogram of body weight (BW) each day.
  • This result is 1.9% to 20.9% higher than the official standards found in the USA, France, Germany, and Holland.
  • Further, the monitoring of the heart rate during training showed an average energy expenditure (EE) per ridden session at 0.023 MJ ME.
  • On considering a full week’s training schedule, the daily EE for the exercise was judged at 0.018 MJ ME/kg BW/day.

Implications of Research

  • The research indicates that the official guidelines in the USA and France may overestimate the energy expenditure for exercise by 111% and 15% respectively.
  • The consistency in daily EE across countries and disciplines allowed for the formation of user-friendly tables that can be utilized for budgeting the energy component of diets in performance horses.

The findings of the research suggest a need for a revision in the energy requirements specified in the current guidelines for performance horses to better align with field maintenance and training requirements.

Cite This Article

APA
Ebert M, Moore-Colyer MJS. (2020). The energy requirements of performance horses in training. Transl Anim Sci, 4(2), txaa032. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaa032

Publication

Translational animal science
ISSN: 2573-2102
NlmUniqueID: 101738705
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 4
Issue: 2
Pages: txaa032

Researcher Affiliations

Ebert, Mark
  • School of Equine Management and Science, Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester GL, UK.
Moore-Colyer, Meriel J S
  • School of Equine Management and Science, Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester GL, UK.

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