Fine-tune your horse’s summer diet with Dodson & Horrell
Fine-tune your horse’s feed this season with the help of the Performance Range from Dodson & Horrell
IKE HUMANS, HORSES require the correct amount of nutrients to support normal bodily functions at rest, during training and in competitions. By providing the best nutrition to suit your horse’s requirements, you’ll be providing the best foundation on which to compete throughout the season.
Energy expenditure
One of the first things to assess is the number of calories needed in order to carry out the work required. A base level needs to be thought about. For example, how many calories are required in order to maintain the horse in a good condition at rest or light work? In the first instance, this will be influenced by your horse’s age, temperament, whether or not he’s a good doer, and also the weather and the quality of forage provided. After that, energy expenditure increases with the type and intensity of the work, which will change as your horse gets fitter. Condition-scoring your horse every couple of weeks will give you a good idea of whether or not you’re providing too many or too few calories. Too many and the extra weight will cause unnecessary strain upon the musculoskeletal structure and cardiorespiratory system, whereas too few will leave him without the energy needed to carry out the work required. The type of energy needed depends on: Intensity of work: Are you regularly working your horse at a hard or fast pace? Higher intensity can require an increased level of fast-releasing carbohydrate; for medium-paced work, slower release energy sources are a good choice.
Temperament of the horse:
You can’t change your horse’s personality through nutrition, but it can help to not exacerbate existing or potential problems. A highly-strung horse may benefit from a slower-releasing, controllable form of energy, whereas a lazy type might benefit from something that’s quicker releasing. Fast-release energy is provided through feed with higher starch and sugar levels,
while slow-release is provided through fibre and oil. Oil is also calorie-dense, making it excellent for those horses that are not particularly good doers or tend to drop weight at competition. Horses that have a tendency to tie-up as a result of consuming starch can also benefit from obtaining their energy from oils.
Fibre provider
Always ensure that your horse has plenty of quality forage as he needs to consume 1.5-2% of his bodyweight per day. Not only is forage a vital source of calories and nutrients, a regular supply also helps guard against colic and gastric ulcers. A horse’s stomach continually secretes acid (around nine gallons a day) and is designed to cope with trickle feeding. Saliva produced when chewing helps to buffer the acid. Chewing also alleviates stress – common in the competition horse – which contributes to the forming of gastric ulcers. Try to provide your horse with ad lib (unrestricted) forage. Feeding a small scoop of chaff, such as alfalfa, before exercise helps to stop stomach acid splashing onto the unprotected parts of the stomach. Having forage tested for its nutrient content gives you a good base on which to build your horse’s feed requirements. Ensure it is dust-free to avoid negative impact on the respiratory system. A hygiene test for moulds and bacteria would also be beneficial.
The power of protein
Good-quality protein is essential for the development of the competition horse, who requires roughly 20% more protein than a horse at rest. Protein is essential for the repair and development of muscles. It is also a component of sweat, coat and hooves. Horses have the ability to produce around half of the amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), but the others (essential amino acids) must be provided within the diet. A deficit of good-quality protein will result in slow recovery rates and a lack of general condition. Giving the correct feed for the level of work will keep you on track.
Providing daily vitamins and minerals
If your horse is a good doer or displays exuberant behaviour in competition, feed may be cut back. This is often at the expense of the correct intake of vitamins and minerals though, which can affect performance and recovery. These are all vital for normal physiological functions and are required in greater quantities as workload increases. Calcium, for example, is required at 1.5 times more at medium work than at maintenance, due to loss in sweat, bone turnover and physiological processes such as muscle contraction. Another example is vitamin E, which is required for the immune system. It is also a powerful antioxidant needed to counter free radicals, which occur during exercise. Feeding a vitamin and mineral supplement or a balancer will ensure your horse gets the amount required, without any excess calories or starch. Added antioxidants may also be beneficial for the equine athlete.
Replacing lost minerals
Electrolytes are minerals responsible for the correct function of nerves, muscles and the vital organs. They also maintain hydration levels, making them essential for your horse’s performance and recovery. Electrolytes are lost through urine and faeces, but can also be lost in large amounts while sweating. Providing electrolytes in water in the run-up to a competition, while travelling and after competition will help combat any loss.
Digestive support
An increase in work levels, travelling, competitions and separation from companions can all lead to increased levels of stress, both psychologically and physiologically, and your horse’s digestive system is often the first thing that is affected. Adding prebiotics and digestive support supplements to the feed helps support healthy hindgut function, and maximises nutrient conversion. Although it can be difficult, try to keep your feeding routine consistent in the run-up to a competition. Unlike human athletes, horses are unable to tolerate carbohydrate loading, but as long as you’re feeding the correct feed at the correct levels there’s no need to increase the amounts just before or on the day. If required for reasons of temperament or the risk of muscular problems, the hard feed can be reduced on your horse’s days off. Additional forage should be fed and a balancer used to ensure all vitamins and minerals are still provided. This will ensure enough nutrients are available during the post-work recovery process, while reducing starch and sugars in the diet. Free access to water should be available at all times.