Striking the right balance in equine nutrition can improve overall equine well-being.
Effective equine management requires finding the perfect balance between satisfying a horse’s natural foraging behaviors and addressing their health concerns. A recent study investigated the impacts of different feeding methods on the well-being, behavior, and weight management of polo horses.
Feeding Methods Under Scrutiny
The study, designed as a 3 × 3 Latin square, involved 15 polo horses divided into three groups. Each group underwent a 15-day treatment cycle with one of the following feeding methods:
- Free Choice Hay (FC): Horses had unrestricted access to hay, promoting natural grazing behavior. However, this led to increased hay consumption, wastage, and higher weight gain.
- Automatic Box Feeders (BF): This method controlled the hay intake, limiting wastage and overall consumption. Horses using BF exhibited distinct behavioral patterns compared to the other groups.
- Slow Feeders (SF): Similar to BF, SF aimed to regulate hay consumption and minimize waste. Horses in this group displayed specific behaviors associated with controlled feeding.
Behavioral Patterns
The study utilized continuous behavioral sampling (CBS) and cortisol circadian rhythm (CCR) analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the horses’ reactions to each feeding strategy.
Horses under FC and SF spent more than 50% of their time-budget foraging, creating a behavioral pattern reminiscent of natural grazing. In contrast, BF horses spent less time eating, leading to increased engagement in standing, ground sniffing, and coprophagy.
Notably, BF horses exhibited higher levels of aggression, highlighting the importance of providing sufficient space for each horse to partake in eating without experiencing crowding.
Weight Management Implications
The study also revealed significant differences in weight gain among the groups. FC horses recorded the highest weight gain, while BF and SF horses exhibited lower weight gains. This emphasizes the importance of controlled feeding methods in managing equine body weight, as obesity can lead to various health issues.
Optimizing Equine Well-Being
The findings suggest that both BF and SF are effective in controlling hay intake and preventing excessive weight gain. Horses in these groups displayed balanced behaviors associated with controlled foraging. However, FC, while providing free-choice forage, resulted in higher weight gain and increased hay wastage, making it less suitable for overweight horses.
If horse owners and caretakers understand the impacts of different feeding methods on behavior, weight management, and overall equine well-being, they can tailor their feeding strategies to optimize the health, happiness, and longevity of their equine companions.
