Eight Standardbred mares aged from 9 to 21 years (mean ± SD, 16 ± 4.93 years) and nine Amiata donkey jennies aged from 7 to 15 years (mean ± SD, 12.36 ± 2.5 years) were included in the study. All animals were healthy, with body condition scores between 3–4 out of 5 [25 (link)], cyclic, and had a history of normal fertility. Mares and jennies were kept in paddocks. Mares were fed mixed-grass hay and water ad libitum, and the diet was supplemented once a day with commercial horse feed (moisture content 12.2%, protein 16.3%, oils and lipids 1.7%, cellulose 6.8%, ash 2.7%, sodium 75 mg/kg; Equifioc, Molitoria Val di Serchio). Jennies were fed mixed-grass hay twice a day and water ad libitum. Quality details of the hay cannot be provided, but none of the animals were affected by contextual pathologies such as stomatitis, dysphagia, or FFWS linked to the poor quality of the hay, suggesting the adequacy of the provided hay [26 (link)]. Animals are checked weekly and body condition scores of both mares and jennies were monitored once a month and did not change during the study.
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