Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Digestible Energy (DE) vs Protein

> Just my own personal experience with my own endurance horses and
> broodmares--in hard work or lactation, they will readily go up to about
4%.
> I do think there is some degree of familial tendency there, though--the
only
> horses I've seen do this are the older-style Arabs, and the numbers that
> Susan quotes are more what I've seen out in practice in the horse
population

Yes, I would agree with that.  For everyone else (you already know this,
Heidi), appetite increases with energy requirements, so for a horse getting
a lot of consistent and steady work (by our standards, not a show barn's),
then it's amazing what an endurance horse will hoover down given the
opportunity.  However, that usual 3-3.5% *is* dry matter, not on an as-fed
basis, so 4% per day for a thousand pound horse is around 44-46 pounds of
hay in a day.  Lotta food.  I have seen it, though, as you have, but I have
also seen it in non older-type Arabians---my Anglo, for one.  He can put
away food like you wouldn't believe.

>Just one more of those parameters where the little >horses adapted
>to tough conditions, developing the capacity to eat when >it was available,
mayhaps...

I do also agree that it seems to be familial, or at least is a consistent
trait in successful (long term) distance horses.  Granted, I'm biased, but
if any asked me for the traits to look for in a good endurance prospect, way
high on my list would be the ability and willingness to eat like a pig in
the midst of cannon fire.

Susan G



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