Utfodring och hälsa hos privatägda ridhästar
The aim of the study was to investigate feeding routines, management, health and level of activity of riding horses in Sweden. This was obtained by a survey requesting information from owners who kept horses at a non-professional level. Owners to approximately 500 horses were contacted and the usable response of the survey was 56 %. The dominating breed in the study was Swedish warmblood (38 %). Fiftytwo percent of the horses were geldings, 45 % were mares and 3 % were stallions. The average age was 11 years. According to the owners, it was most common that the horses performed work at a medium hard level. A large number, 45 %, of the horses had participated in competitions during the last six months, with the most popular discipline being showjumping.
The majority of the horses, 54 %, had a calculated feed plan according to the owners. However, 20 % of the horses that were reported to be on a calculated feed plan were fed hay or silage which was not analysed. Hay was the most common roughage, 54 % of the horses were fed with hay and 3 % with both hay and silage, and oats the most common concentrate, given to 62 % of the horses. Feed supplements of different kinds, with garlic being the most popular, were given to 70 % of the horses. When asked to judge the horses condition, the horse owners stated that 35 % of the horses were overveight. Colic was commonly observed: 22 % of the horses had had colic that the owners were aware of, 7 % during the last six months. Stereotypical behaviour was observed in 13 % of the horses.
A small field study was carried out to investigate the validity of some of the judgements made by the horse owners, such as body condition, weight of the horse and weight of the feed. It was concluded that owners in general are good at judging the weight of the horse, but less good at judging the body condition (body fat). The study concluded that horse owners need to be further informed foremost about feeding, feed supplements and the importance of roughage in the diet of horses.