Influence of management and nutrition on growth in the young horse

Growing period in horses lasts between 3 and 5 years, depending on the genetic type and utilisation, that is to say 40 to 75% of the productive life of the horse. Athlete horses include horses destined to races and saddle horses destined to high level equestrian competitions. Race horses are expected to grow at a faster rate to reach mature weight at a much earlier age. In this case management, feeding practices and grazing management should be adjusted to support a high body development as permitted by their genetic potential; but such a growth often involves development diseases. Growth and bone characteristics are strictly linked to the evolution of live weight and are influenced by age, exercise and by the corresponding feeding strategies. Saddle horses destined to equestrian competitions are late-maturing animals; as a result growth management and the feeding practices include more or less compensatory growth. In the case of saddle horses destined to low level equestrian competitions and/or to leisure management practices, feeding systems and technical assistance are extensive as far as these classes of horses contribute widely to the exploitation of marginal lands in the extensive management practices.