Use and organization of feeding of Hutsul mares in equine therapy

Abstract

Based on the center of hippotherapy "Berehynia Polissia" (Zhytomyr, Ukraine), a study was conducted on the preparation and organization of feeding of Hutsul horses used in hippotherapy to prepare children with psychoneurological disorders for an inclusive educational process. The analysis of animal feeding systems was developed and carried out, and the leading indicators of the growth and development of horses were determined using generally accepted zootechnical methods. The data obtained were processed using the methods of mathematical statistics. The determined values of the indices of the body structure of horses corresponded to the characteristics of the Hutsul breed. The physiological parameters of the animals allowed for convenient interaction and practical therapeutic sessions with children. The organized feeding provided for feeding the animals in sufficient quantities of feed with high biological value, which is necessary to meet the needs of the horses for energy, organic, mineral, and biologically active substances. In the structure of winter rations, roughage accounted for 67.3 %, root crops for 6.5 %, and concentrates for 26.2 %. In the summer rations, the share of roughage ranged from 57.3 to 61.7 %, fodder beet – about 6.1 %, and concentrated feed – from 24.43–25.78 %. The premix was fed within 1% of the total nutritional value. The daily salt content in the horses' diets ranged from 30 to 40 g. It was found that the consumption of an appropriate amount of metabolic energy, organic matter, and mineral elements by horses during active exercise helps to maintain their condition at a level of average fatness. The horses demonstrated a therapeutic effect, confirmed by an experimental study. In particular, 83.3 % of children with neuropsychiatric disorders had an average level of adaptation to the inclusive educational process, 10.4 % had a high level, and 6.3 % had a low level.