{"id":29958,"date":"2025-09-19T14:04:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T13:04:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lineaunika.it\/?p=29958"},"modified":"2025-09-19T14:04:48","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T13:04:48","slug":"how-to-define-a-horses-nutritional-requirements-a-practical-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/how-to-define-a-horses-nutritional-requirements-a-practical-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Define a Horse\u2019s Nutritional Requirements: A Practical Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"29958\" class=\"elementor elementor-29958\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-14c82bb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"14c82bb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2cbe1dd\" data-id=\"2cbe1dd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7639f3d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7639f3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Determining what and how much your horse should eat each day is essential for ensuring health, wellbeing, and athletic performance. An imbalanced diet can lead to health issues, metabolic disturbances, suboptimal body condition, or poor performance. In this article, we will review the key factors to consider in order to define your horse\u2019s nutritional requirements as accurately as possible.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7db01d2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7db01d2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c29e57a\" data-id=\"c29e57a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2c096a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c2c096a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Why It\u2019s Important to Assess a Horse\u2019s Nutritional Needs<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1548654 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1548654\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2b55c89\" data-id=\"2b55c89\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8954de elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f8954de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Understanding a horse\u2019s true nutritional requirements is fundamental to designing a diet capable of:<\/p><ul><li>Preventing both deficiencies and excesses of nutrients<\/li><li>Maintaining optimal and stable body weight and body condition score (BCS)<\/li><li>Actively supporting athletic performance<\/li><li>Preventing or managing metabolic diseases and disorders<\/li><li>Planning targeted supplementation and avoiding unnecessary treatments or costs<\/li><li>Ensuring long\u2011term health<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-aa7172c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"aa7172c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7fdeec8\" data-id=\"7fdeec8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76a47d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76a47d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Key Factors to Evaluate<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-728d1af elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"728d1af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A horse\u2019s nutritional needs derive from the analysis of its individual characteristics\u2014what is often termed the anamnesis. <br \/>Key factors include:<\/p><h4>1. <strong>Current body weight<\/strong><\/h4><p>Which can be estimated using the formula:<\/p><h5>Weight (kg) = (Heart girth\u00b2 (cm\u00b2) \u00d7 Body length (cm)) \/ 11,880<\/h5><p>We have a video on this topic\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DFbBCmtKkhB\/\">click here<\/a> to review it!<\/p><h4>2. <strong>Body Condition Score (BCS)<\/strong><\/h4><p>Which helps determine if the horse is underweight, ideal weight, or overweight. We also have a video for assessing BCS <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DOJj3bsiMWj\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p><h4>3. <strong>Health status<\/strong><\/h4><p>Because the presence of conditions such as gastric ulcers, laminitis, insulin resistance, etc., require specific dietary adjustments.<\/p><h4>4. <strong>Type and intensity of work<\/strong><\/h4><p>As well as frequency and duration of training sessions, to estimate actual energy expenditure.<\/p><h4>5. <strong>Temperament<\/strong><\/h4><p>Since more nervous or excitable horses generally have higher maintenance requirements.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c0770c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c0770c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Practical Example<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a06b2be elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a06b2be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Consider a <strong>500 kg<\/strong> horse, with a <strong>BCS of 4<\/strong> (good body condition but slightly lean), competing in 130 cm show jumping, training 6 times per week for 1 hour per session. Its estimated nutritional requirements are:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d99a8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9d99a8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/media.lineaunika.it\/unika\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Articoli-15-en.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-29979\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.lineaunika.it\/unika\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Articoli-15-en.png 1080w, https:\/\/media.lineaunika.it\/unika\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Articoli-15-en-300x125.png 300w, https:\/\/media.lineaunika.it\/unika\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Articoli-15-en-1024x427.png 1024w, https:\/\/media.lineaunika.it\/unika\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Articoli-15-en-768x320.png 768w, https:\/\/media.lineaunika.it\/unika\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Articoli-15-en-600x250.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78076b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"78076b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Based on these requirements, a sample feeding program might be:<\/p><ul><li>High\u2011quality forage: <strong>10\u201112 kg\/day<\/strong> (~2\u20112.5% of body weight), especially because of the need to improve BCS. Forage should generally supply around 50% of the daily energy requirement.<\/li><li>Complete feed for sport horses with high protein content: <strong>3\u20114 kg\/day<\/strong>, split into three meals.<\/li><li>Supplementation:<br \/>&#8211; Mineral salts throughout the year to compensate for electrolyte losses from sweating (e.g., <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lineaunika.it\/en\/shop\/food-and-vitamins\/elyte-ce\/\">Elyte C+E<\/a>).<br \/>&#8211; Adding a fat source if needed (e.g., <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lineaunika.it\/en\/shop\/food-and-vitamins\/olio-vit\/\">Olio Vit<\/a>).<br \/>&#8211; Possible additional supplement for muscle health, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lineaunika.it\/en\/shop\/food-and-vitamins\/beta-e-muscle\/\">Beta E\u2011Muscle<\/a>, containing Betaine and Vitamin E.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-977f3b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"977f3b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Final Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0b0299 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b0b0299\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Review the diet every <strong>3\u20114 months<\/strong>, especially during competition season.<\/li><li>Regularly <strong>monitor body weight<\/strong> and <strong>BCS<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Be alert to <strong>changes in behavior<\/strong>,<strong> coat condition<\/strong>, <strong>feces<\/strong>, <strong>performance<\/strong>, or <strong>appetite<\/strong> &#8211; they may indicate a nutritional imbalance.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4461aae elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4461aae\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c028e3a\" data-id=\"c028e3a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63a11c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"63a11c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Defining a horse\u2019s nutritional requirements is a highly personalized process. Every horse is unique: what works for one may not be suitable for another.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d947ae8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d947ae8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f6e7508\" data-id=\"f6e7508\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b87854 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b87854\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Interested in nutritional advice?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-129a6ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"129a6ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>At Unika, we develop personalized nutritional solutions every day for athletic horses of all disciplines. Contact us for free advice and to create the perfect plan for your horse<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0ff449 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"d0ff449\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-xs\" href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/message\/PVEVLDZ7BW5NB1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">book your appointment<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7897d77 elementor-shape-rounded elementor-grid-0 e-grid-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-social-icons\" data-id=\"7897d77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"social-icons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-social-icons-wrapper elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-instagram elementor-repeater-item-b386e93\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lineaunika\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Instagram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-instagram\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-facebook elementor-repeater-item-fe622b4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lineaunika\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-facebook\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon elementor-social-icon elementor-social-icon-linkedin elementor-repeater-item-3a0b4dd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/unika-nutrition\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-linkedin\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As September approaches, the quality and nutritional composition of pastures and forages change, which directly impacts your horse&#8217;s well-being. This makes it the perfect time to adjust their diet. Summer hay: what makes it different?\u00a0 1. Decreased Protein and Energy Content Late-cut hay tends to contain less protein, especially if harvested after flowering and seed&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":29959,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[433,41,233],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition","category-uncategorized","category-useful-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29958"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29995,"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29958\/revisions\/29995"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unika.sitointest.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}