Fibre first for the competition season

Providing your horse with the right amount of fuel for the work he’s doing can be tricky to get right. Dengie explains how different forms of fibre can give him all the energy and stamina he needs

PROVIDING A HIGH-FIBRE diet for your horse isn’t just for when he’s in little or no work. If your plan is to get out competing this coming season, fibre should still play a major part in your horse’s diet. There are various types of fibre you can feed your horse and each can benefit your horse in different ways. Here, Dengie explains what areas you need to look at to ensure your competition horse is getting all the energy he needs, and helps you choose the high-fibre feed that’s best for him. If you compete or work your horse regularly then there are five key areas you need to consider when trying to provide a high-fibre diet.

l1 Respiratory health – feeds that contain straw are not as clean as those that contain just high-temperature dried fibres such as the Dengie Alfa-A range. Straw is fine for good doers and leisure horses but Dengie believes clean fibre is best for sports horses. l2 Energy level – the Dengie Alfa-A range contains as much energy as a cool mix in the case of Alfa-A Original, right up to a competition or conditioning mix in the case of Alfa-A Oil, which contains 12.5MJ/kg of digestible energy but is just 4.5% sugar and 2% starch. You really can do hard work on a fibre- and oil-based diet. l3 Quality protein source – the Alfa-A range is abundant in essential amino acids compared to other fibre sources. The alfalfa plant is amazingly clever as it is able to convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into amino acids in its own tissues, which the horse then benefits from. l4 A natural buffer – alfalfa is richer in calcium than other chopped fibres, which gives it greater natural buffering properties against acidity in the digestive system. l5 Traceability – the alfalfa used in the Dengie Alfa-A range is grown in the UK and every bag can be traced back to the field it was grown in, so you know exactly where Dengie’s feeds come from.

Alicia Wilkinson and Perfect Timing II who completed Blenheim in 2017 on a Dengie Grass Pellet, Alfa-Beet and Performance+ Balancer diet

Whatever your horse’s requirements, there’s a Dengie feed to suit him

Event rider Lucy Jackson gives Dengie feeds to her team of horses and has seen great results