Your horse’s workload explained - The honest (and slightly funny) guide

The age-old question horse owners have asked for decades. Is my horse in light, medium, or heavy work ... (or just working on your nerves?)

Simple, right? Until you’re looking at feed. Squinting at a bag of balancer that says "For horses in medium to hard work" (hello Pro Feed Balancer). Meanwhile your horse has done precisely 4 laps of the school this week, and spent the rest of his time eating or sleeping.

Here’s how you can actually decipher the workload category your horse fits into, be aware, sarcasm may be involved. We're sure you'll spot your horse in the following descriptions!

Light Work - AKA “Occasional effort, maximum drama”

Your horse might be in light work if:

He’s ridden 3 to 4 times a week, for 30 to 60 minutes each time
You mostly hack, walk/trot in the school, a little cantering, and maybe a pole or two on a good day and the stars are aligned
Your horse spooks at the same flowerpot every ride, burning at least 300 emotional calories (for you)
You spend more time grooming and tacking up than riding

Common horses in this category:

The semi-retired diva
The weekend wanderer
The “I’m just bringing him back into work” (for the 9th month running)

Feeding note: Your horse doesn’t need rocket fuel. Think forage-first the best quality (but probably the lowest calorie option) you can find, low-starch, definitely a balancer (probably a super concentrated one), unless you like being launched into the stratosphere for fun.

Of course there may be some poorer doers in this category who will need additional calories BUT this is often a minority. We'll always treat them as individuals.

Medium Work - AKA “We’re trying our best”

Medium work includes:

4 to 6 days a week of riding
Schooling sessions with a mix of walk, trot, canter, lateral work, and SJ (up to 90cm)
Occasional competitions, lessons, or a “fun ride” that turns into a cardio event for you more than your horse
Your thighs are aware of their own existence at all times

Common horses in this category:

The pony and riding club all-rounder
The one who refuses to believe he's not an Olympic athlete

Feeding note: You might need some more energy. A bit more oomph BUT without the fizz. Again, think forage-first (best quality you can), low-starch, definitely a balancer.

Some may need additional conditioning feeds, such as cubes, oils, or extra fibre-based calories, BUT this DOES NOT apply to all horses. Only is if your horse is burning the calories faster than you can refill the scoop.

Heavy/Hard Work - AKA “Excuse me ... athlete coming through!"

Welcome to the elite squad. Horses in hard work are:

Working 6 to 7 days a week at high intensity
Involved in regular high level competitions, travelling frequently
Likely to be racehorses, eventers, showjumpers, polo ponies or endurance horses
Doing long distance rides, interval training, work on the gallops, and dressage that makes your abs cry
More likely to need physio than their riders

Common horses in this category:

The competition horse with a passport thicker than a dictionary
The point-to-pointer or hunter in full season
The horse whose owner says things like “He’s fit, but I need him fitter”

Feeding note: Now we’re talking performance nutrition. Guess what's up at the start ... forage-first (still best quality, and plenty of it), low-starch, definitely a balancer (with electrolytes). It's likely your horse will need additional calories, and a serious look at promoting best level gut health, because no one enjoys riding a ticking time-bomb fuelled by poor dietary decisions.

Final Thoughts

The key to understanding your horse’s workload is honesty. Not Instagram honesty real-life honesty. Ask yourself:

How many days a week do I ride, and at what intensity?
Is that workload consistent week after week?
Does your horse come out like a sleepy sloth or are you flying a kite in horse form?

Workload also has NO GUILT. If your horse is in light work, that’s fine. If you're keeping a fit eventer going through winter, you're basically an unpaid personal trainer. Whatever the level, feed according to work, that's what keeps your horse healthy and happy.

So next time someone asks what workload your horse is in, you can confidently answer with “Somewhere between light work and unprovoked interpretive dance.”