Characterization of Feeding, Sport Management, and Routine Care of the Chilean Corralero Horse during Rodeo Season.

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe Chilean corralero horse holds great cultural importance due to its use in Chilean rodeo, the national sport. However, information regarding this breed is sparse, especially husbandry, feeding, and training recommendations, which could present challenges for their proper care. A survey of horse farms in several regions from central to southern Chile was conducted in order to document current management of the Chilean corralero horses which participated in the 2014–2015 Chilean Rodeo Federation season. In the survey, horse owners and trainers were asked about horse gender and size, daily routine, exercise and competition regimen, and feeding practices. All horses in the study were kept in stalls for at least 12 h daily and spent the rest of the day either tied or loose in pens or paddocks. Horses were in moderate- to high-intensity exercise programs, with workouts six days/week and two rodeos per month. Feeding practices varied greatly among farms but most horses received forage (alfalfa or grass hay) and an energy feed (oats, corn, or concentrate), while protein and lipid supplements were less common. The goal of this characterization of current management of the Chilean corralero horse is to contribute to information available about this breed to improve husbandry practices.The aim of this study was to characterize the routine care, training, feeding, and nutritional management of Chilean corralero horses that participated in the rodeos of the Chilean Rodeo Federation. Forty-nine horse farms between the Metropolitan (33°26′16″ south (S) 70°39′01″ west (W)) and Los Lagos Regions (41°28′18″ S 72°56′12″ W), were visited and a survey was conducted on the management and feeding of the Chilean horse. Of the horses which participated in at least one official rodeo in the 2014–2015 season, 275 horses were included in the study. The survey consisted of five questions about general data on the property and the respondent, four questions on the animal characteristics, five questions about where the horses were kept during the day, seven questions to characterize the amount of exercise done by the horse, and 18 questions about feeding practices; additionally, the amount of feed offered was weighed. All horses in this study were in training and kept in their stall for at least 12 h and remained tied or loose for the rest of the day. The intensity of daily exercise of the rodeo Chilean horse could be classified as moderate to heavy and consisted of being worked six days/week and participating in two rodeos/month. Ninety-eight percent of respondents had watering devices in the stables. The diet of the Chilean corralero horse during the training season is based on forages, mainly alfalfa hay, plus oats as an additional energy source. Protein supplements such as oil seed by-products are used less frequently. A wide variation was observed in the diets and quantities of feed offered, which suggests that the feeding management of these individuals is not formulated according to their requirements.