Calculating optimum nutrition for the any horse hinges on knowing the level of exercise it performs. The most common mistake horse owners make is to overestimate the level of work that their horses are doing. The following descriptions should help you to decide which category your horse falls into.

Light Work
Horses in this category are exercised three or four times weekly for between 1-2 hours per day, incorporating walk, trot and canter, with some hill work probably included. Horses may also be in preparation for pleasure rides, and lower level hunter trials, show jumping and dressage.

Moderate Work
Horses in this category participate in a near daily, structured training programme. They may be competing at upper level dressage and show jumping, including 2 day eventing. Polo ponies, endurance horses and young racehorses undergoing breaking and training would fall in to this category.

Heavy Work
These horses will be training and competing at the peak of their physical abilities. Racehorses on an active racing schedule or horses competing at three day event level fit into this classification. Horses that are participating in typical sponsored rides, local shows and hunter trials would not fit into this group.