How to check your horse's workload
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Read time 3 min
Your horse's workload influences everything from feeding and fitness to overall management...
But, working out whether they're in light, medium or hard work isn't always as straightforward as it sounds.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Most leisure horses are in light work
Judge your horse by a typical week (not one hard session).
Intensity matters more than riding frequency.
If your horse is holding its weight, they may not need extra calories even if they're working a little harder.
A feed balancer supplies essential nutrients and digestive aids without unnecessary calories, making it ideal for many horses in light and medium work.
Light work
Most leisure horses fit into this category.
Typical examples include:
- Leisure hacking
- Basic schooling
- Mostly walk and trot, with some canter
Most owners think...
"My horse is ridden five days a week, so they must be in medium work."
Reality: Not necessarily. If those rides are fairly relaxed, your horse is probably still in light work.
Image from Blue Chip Feed
Common mistakes
Judging your horse by its hardest session.
Assuming competitions automatically mean hard work.
Counting riding days instead of exercise intensity.
Medium work
Medium work means your horse is working more consistently and at a higher intensity.
Typical examples include:
- Flatwork schooling
- Jumping lessons
- Longer, more active hacks
- Regular local competitions
Most owners think...
"One jumping lesson each week means my horse is working hard."
Reality: It's the overall workload that counts—not one more demanding session.
Image from Blue Chip Feed
Exercise doesn’t always burn as many calories as horses consume from forage, which is why workload and diet should always be considered together.
Hard work
True hard work is much less common than many owners realise.
Typical examples include:
- Advanced event horses
- Racehorses
- Endurance horses
- Horses in intensive training
Most owners think...
"We compete regularly, so my horse must be in hard work."
Reality: Most leisure competition horses are still in medium work. Hard work is usually reserved for horses undertaking demanding training or elite competition.
Image from Blue Chip Feed
Ready to balance your horse's diet?
What does this mean for feeding?
Workload influences energy requirements but it's only one part of the picture.
Body condition, forage intake, age and temperament are just as important.
One of the biggest surprises is how little extra energy many ridden horses actually need.
|
Typical exercise |
Approx. energy used * |
| 30-minute walk |
100–200 calories |
| 30-minute hack (walk & trot) |
250–450 calories |
| 45-minute schooling session |
350–700 calories |
| 1 hour jump lesson |
500–900 calories |
| Cross-country round |
800–1500 calories |
*Approximate calorie equivalents for a 500 kg horse carrying an average rider. Energy use varies considerably depending on pace, terrain, rider weight, fitness, jumping effort and the individual horse.
If your horse is maintaining weight, looking well and has plenty of energy, moving from light to medium work doesn't automatically mean they need a larger bucket feed.
Many horses in light work and even plenty in medium work maintain their weight perfectly well on forage alone. Before adding more calories, ask yourself whether your horse actually needs them.
A feed balancer provides essential vitamins, minerals, quality protein and digestive support without unnecessary calories, helping horses make the most of a forage-based diet.
Quick reference guide
| Workload |
Typical Exercise |
Most Common Horses |
| Light |
Hacking, basic schooling, gentle exercise |
Most leisure horses |
| Medium | Regular schooling, jumping, riding club activities |
Active amateur competition horses |
| Hard | Intensive training, advanced competition, racing, endurance |
Performance horses |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my horse is in light, medium or hard work?
Assess your horse’s typical weekly workload by considering the intensity, duration and type of exercise they do. A horse ridden frequently may still be in light work if most sessions are relaxed hacking, while a horse doing regular schooling, jumping or competitions may fall into medium work.
Does my horse need more feed if they move from light to medium work?
Not necessarily. Many horses in light or medium work maintain their weight and condition well on forage with a quality feed balancer. Before increasing feed, consider your horse’s body condition, forage intake, age, temperament and overall energy levels.
How many calories does exercise burn for a horse?
The calories used during exercise vary depending on your horse’s size, fitness, terrain, pace and the type of work. A relaxed hack may use far less energy than an intensive schooling session or competition, which is why workload should always be assessed as a whole rather than by one individual ride.
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Blue Chip Feed
Blue Chip Feed
Written by: Laura Cackett
Managing Director at Blue Chip and has over 25 years’ experience in the equestrian industry. Passionate about horse welfare and nutrition. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and expertise to help horse owners make informed feeding decisions.
