EQUIMO BLOG

Calorie management in human athletes is easy: we feel when we’re hungry or underfuelled and simply eat more. But what about our horses? They cannot go to the fridge and have a second dinner…

It is up to us to compare their feed to energy burnt while training and come up with a proper feeding plan, potentially with some help of a specialist. So let’s answer the question on hand: how much do our horses need to eat?

An average 550kg horse with a moderate workload needs approximately 26 500 Calories per day. This number varies enormously; this horse in light work needs 22 600 Calories daily, and if their workload is heavy, they need around 30 400 Calories per day. 

Still, two horses of the same body weight, workload, and the same calorie income may gain or lose weight differently. There are several reasons for that; individual body condition, metabolism, stress, and others.

It is, therefore, essential to keep track of your horse’s burned calories. After an exhausting session, you may want to supplement your horse with added feed. If your horse is on rest, you may want to consider lowering your feeding dose. In either case, EQUIMO is here to support you!

With the horse’s feeding dose added to their profile, and their training tracked, you’re all set. The app works with digestive energy levels, which is the energy the horse needs to cover their metabolism’s needs. Everything above this level is a consequence of a workout, and the numbers grow according to the workload. This is why it is vital to cover a horse’s whole day (there is a possibility to add unmeasured training) to estimate how much calories the horse needs in the feed form. 

You can also see a long-term overview of your horse’s calorie management. EQUIMO is here to help you know if your feed dosages are right and to help you realize if you are overfeeding your horse - or underfeeding on the contrary!