Please note that these are approximate guidelines designed to provide a starting place when considering the work level of the horse. A horse's individual needs in light of workload, and environmental conditions should be considered when choosing nutritional solutions.
Maintenance:
Nutrient requirements that support or maintain the current body weight and condition.
Stall rest:
Horse is confined to a stall or comparable sized enclosure that severely limits free exercise.
Free turn out:
Horse is provided the opportunity to exercise at will typically in a paddock or pasture, as a significant portion of their daily routine.
Light work / pleasure:
Horse is exercised for approximately 1 - 3 hours per week at low intensities, involving mostly walk, some trot, and limited cantering. Examples: recreational riding, horses in early stages of training or conditioning.
Medium work:
Horse is exercised for approximately 3 - 5 hours per week with increases in the amount of time spent at the trot and canter compared to horses in light work. Medium work may also incorporate some skill work (e.g. lower level jumping, cutting cattle). Examples: school horses, show horses, recreational riding, lower to mid-level dressage, horses used for ranch work.
Heavy work:
Horse is exercised for approximately 4 - 5 hours per week with increases in the intensity of and/or amount of time spent at the trot, canter, gallop, and skill work compared to horses in medium work. Examples: school horses, show horses (frequent shows, strenuous events), polo horses, horses used for ranch work, low to medium level eventing, race training (middle stages of conditioning), upper level dressage.
Very heavy work:
Horse is exercised for approximately 6 - 12 hours per week at lower intensities, or for approximately 1 hour per week at high intensities (speed work). Examples: elite 3-day eventing, racing (sprint and endurance), grand prix level show jumping.
Breeding Horses:
This includes mares and stallions used for reproductive purposes. A mare's nutritional needs are dependent on her stage of reproduction. A stallion's nutritional requirements are dependent on his body condition and workload.