In partnership with Allen & Page…
When you’re making ready your horse for a contest, there’s quite a bit to consider and put together. Aside from the apparent concerns, similar to your horse’s degree of health and whether or not you’ve remembered to pack all of your tack, it’s essential to consider their food regimen and verify that they’re getting the fitting diet to gas their work.
You is perhaps tempted to extend laborious feed the night time earlier than as a way to enhance your horse’s power on the massive day, however can this actually assist their efficiency? The reply might be not and, warns Allen & Page nutritionist Jo Palmer, it may possibly have severe implications on your horse’s well being when you don’t make modifications to feed progressively.
Increasing power ranges
Suddenly rising your horse’s feed isn’t more likely to have any vital impact on power ranges the following day, and will trigger issues similar to tying up or colic from overfeeding and making abrupt modifications to their food regimen, continues Jo.
Gradually rising the power content material of your horse’s food regimen over a number of weeks as their health and power necessities improve is one of the simplest ways to make sure they’ve ample power for each coaching and competing.
Always feed in response to your horse’s particular person necessities and select a feed that matches their power wants, whereas additionally considering their temperament and pure power ranges.
Any additional power within the horse’s food regimen that isn’t used up by way of train will result in weight achieve, which is a crucial consideration if they’re a good-doer.
Feeding a fizzy sort
If your horse is of course ahead going and may develop into fizzy and excitable, keep away from feeds containing entire cereal grains and added sugars as these are sources of fast-release power.
Instead, select a feed that’s low in starch and sugar and makes use of high-quality fibre and oil substances to supply loads of slow-release power to gas work and keep physique situation.
If your horse is a extra laid-back character, they might profit from a feed that comprises a small quantity of fast-release power. This immediate power could be helpful to offer the additional ‘oomph’ and ring presence wanted for a profitable efficiency.
Meet the professional: Jo Palmer has a BSc (Hons) in agriculture with animal science and is a member of the Allen & Page diet staff. Her expertise as a nutritionist helps information horse homeowners on feeds and feeding.
Find out what’s inside the most recent subject of Your Horse
Get the most recent subject
Check out our newest subscription provide
