During the Review of  TCO2  levels in the Harness Racing Industry by the Australian Harness Racing Council commissioned Subcommittee, a Survey of the Feeding Practices of the Australian Racing Standardbred was conducted. This was the first time that a survey of this type has been carried out in a Standardbred industry and possibly the first such survey for any racing or performance horse industry in Australia or overseas.

One aim of the Survey was to examine the current feeding practices and management of the standardbred and investigate if any practices could predispose the horse to increased TCO2 levels.  A second aim was to analyse the information on these practices so that an education program on the nutrition of the racing standardbred could be developed and made available to industry participants.

John Kohnke, an Equine Nutrition consultant , who is well known to many people in the horse industry, has provided the Australian Harness Racing Council with a review of the results of the Survey.  He has identified areas where the feeding practices may be detrimental to horse performance, for example , the universal feeding of commercial, ready-to-feed sweet feeds and the higher risk of tying-up in Standardbred fillies.

The Survey provided a benchmark against which future research into the nutrition of the Racing Standardbred can be based.  The 525 trainers across Australia who provided information for this Survey are thanked for their valuable contribution to the Australian Harness Racing Industry.

Dr Diane Ryan
Chairperson - AHRC TCO2 Review Subcommittee.

Click here to go to Results of the Survey

January 2002