In this study, we systematically investigated the feeding practices of sport and working horses in Slovenia. Studies conducted worldwide have shown that there are common errors in feeding practices, such as overfeeding with starch, insufficient or excessive amounts of certain minerals, and the use of inappropriate feeding techniques (e.g., too large meals or too low feeding frequency). When feeding horses, we must consider their evolutionary adaptations to the continuous intake of high-fiber and low-starch feed. In modern horse husbandry, horses are often kept in stalls and fed starch rich concentrates, which can lead to gastric ulcers, colon acidosis, behavioural abnormalities, and other health problems. For this thesis, we selected eight horse farms from various regions of Slovenia. On these farms, we estimated the horses' body weight, analyzed their daily meals, and collected samples of all feeds (excluding mineral and vitamin supplements and lickstones) for further analysis. We also interviewed the owners about the horses' training regimens and the feeding practices on their farms. Analysis of the hay revealed that, although organoleptically suitable, it did not contain sufficient metabolizable energy (ME) or crude protein (CP) and was too high in neutral detergent fiber (NDF). The horses consumed enough hay, which had a positive effect on their intestinal health. However, they did not receive sufficient amounts of CP. Regarding minerals, the horses consumed sufficient amounts of most minerals except for copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se). The horses' starch intake was within acceptable limits and the feeding techniques on these farms were appropriate. It can therefore be concluded that the horses on the farms studied are generally fed appropriately, but that there is still a need for optimization on some farms.
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