Feeding the competition horse correctly can prove to be quite a challenge.
For these individuals not only is it important they receive the right amount of essential vitamins and minerals, but they also need their diet to provide the correct amount of energy.
Too much and the horse may become too sharp, meaning a loss in concentration not to mention control; too little and there’s the risk of them running out of stamina and that all-important sparkle.
Forage First
Even for horses competing regularly, forage should still form the basis of their diet. However, unfortunately, what goes into a horse’s net is frequently not thought important as it’s considered purely bulk.
Whatever level you’re competing at, forage can have a huge impact on general well-being and performance so it is important not to overlook this part of the diet. Firstly (and perhaps most obvious) is the requirement for clean, dust and mould-free hay/haylage.
Dusty, mouldy forage is highly likely to cause respiratory problems which will affect overall health and undoubtedly impact the performance of any horse. Transporting horses often means prolonged periods of time in the confined space of a lorry/trailer, so a clean, dust-free forage is essential.
Additionally, travelling can be a stressful experience for any horse, so providing a highly palatable forage source is more likely to tempt a stressed/excited individual to pick at his net en route to a competition. Keeping this trickle of fibre moving through his digestive system will help to buffer the natural stomach acidity and reduce the chance of your horse or pony being prone to gastric ulcers which we know to be particularly prevalent in competition horses.
Lastly, don’t forget that forage sources such as bagged forages can have a valuable impact on the calories in your horse’s diet; for example, one with higher calories is ideal for horses who are competing regularly and require a little help maintaining their weight or stamina during prolonged exercise. Lower calorie options meanwhile are invaluable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis or holding their weight well.
As the Official Supplier of Dust-Free Forage to The British Equestrian Team, HorseHage has been supplied to the British Equestrian Teams at every Olympic Games since Los Angeles in 1984.
Choosing the Correct Concentrates
Having found appropriate forage for your competition horse, there are a multitude of concentrate feeds to pick from!
A good starting point is to be honest about your horse’s workload.
The nutritional needs of a child’s show pony are likely to be very different to those of an endurance horse, whose nutritional needs will be very different to those of a show jumper. All these horses can be considered competition horses in their own right, but whilst the show jumper may want a quick hit of fast-release energy, an endurance rider will be looking for slow-release energy to fuel the horse over a long period of time.
Higher calorie fibre choices may suit the endurance horse as these supply calories through controlled energy whilst a small pony prone to laminitis will require low sugar and starch levels.
Remember that whilst there is a large choice of competition feeds available, many will be high in cereals (and therefore starch) which can cause unwanted, excitable behaviour as well as weight gain.
Whatever product you decide to feed, if it contains vitamins and minerals, you must be comfortable feeding them at the manufacturer’s recommended amount. This is the amount the manufacturer has calculated is appropriate for your horse’s weight in order to provide him not only with calories but also those essential vitamins and minerals he is unlikely to be getting from his grazing and forage.
Many a lazy horse only seems lazy when in reality he isn’t fit enough for the work being asked of him, and his diet is unbalanced and is therefore lacking in the essential vitamins and minerals he needs.
Protein… Friend or Foe?
Many riders are still very cautious about protein levels in their horse’s feed.
Historically, protein was blamed for causing the excitability/heating effects which we now know are actually caused by the inclusion of too many calories, particularly from high levels of starch and sugar in the diet (cereals being the main offender).
In fact, the horse doesn’t really utilise protein as an energy source. Its main role is one of growth, renewal and repair within the body. Whilst horses are highly unlikely to be deficient in protein, it is an essential component in the diet as it consists of chains of amino acids, some of which provide the building blocks to help us improve the horse’s topline/ muscle development when the horse is worked correctly.
Remember also, quality not quantity, is key when thinking about protein. Good quality protein (ie. high in essential amino acids) is found in feedstuffs such as alfalfa, soya and linseed.
Quality does not mean you have to pay over the odds! Mollichaff Alfalfa Oil offers many of the benefits of more expensive competitor products.
Check out this article to learn everything you need to know about Mollichaff Alfalfa Oil.
BETA NOPS
If the horse is competing at a level where testing for prohibited substances is likely, it is essential to ensure all forage/bucket feeds/supplements carry the BETA NOPS logo:
Prohibited substances are defined broadly as any substance which can exert an effect on a horse. A Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substance (NOPS) is one that is either present naturally in certain ingredients or occurs as a result of cross-contamination during processing before arriving at the feed manufacturer facility.
The BETA NOPS code requires manufacturers to evaluate the risk of NOPS contamination during every step of the sourcing, storage, transport, and manufacturing processes for each product and to design their quality management systems in line with the risks identified.
For professional riders, a positive blood test can have devastating effects on their career, so this is an extremely important consideration.
All HorseHage and Mollichaff products are BETA NOPS accredited.
Top Tips for Feeding the Competition Horse:
- Choose clean, dust-free forage to maintain respiratory health. This is especially important when travelling.
- Provide a palatable forage which even a stressed or excited horse may be tempted to nibble on.
- Don’t underestimate the value of good quality forage to provide calories (energy) in the diet of very sharp horses.
- Don’t make sudden changes to the diet on the day of the competition.
- During the summer months or when the horse is sweating a lot, ensure salt or electrolytes are added to the diet.
- If the horse is a fussy drinker, make sure water is taken from home, try flavouring water, or offer small very slushy feeds.
- Ensure vitamin and mineral, as well as calorie requirements, are met to allow the horse to perform at its optimum.
Want advice catered to you?
Our friendly and knowledgeable team is available on weekdays from 9am to 5pm.
Give us a call at 01803 527274 or send an email to sales@horsehage.co.uk
