Optimizing equine performance with expert nutrition

Performance horses need a lot of energy, but more importantly they need balanced energy sources to meet their athletic endeavors. Knowing the roles of forage, fiber and feed is essential for their health and performance.

Each horse's energy requirements vary based on factors like workload, metabolism and body condition. Regular assessment and adjustment of the diet are necessary to maintain optimal performance and health.

Balancing Energy Sources: Forage, Fiber and Feed

Performance horses need a lot of energy, but more importantly they need balanced energy sources to meet their athletic endeavors. Knowing the roles of forage, fiber and feed is essential for their health and performance.

Each horse's energy requirements vary based on factors like workload, metabolism and body condition. Regular assessment and adjustment of the diet are necessary to maintain optimal performance and health.

Download our Body Condition Scorecard and make precise, informed nutritional recommendations tailored to your patients’ unique needs.

Foundational Forage

High-quality hay and pasture should constitute the majority of a performance horse's diet. It provides essential fiber necessary for proper digestive function.

Proper digestive function also plays a key role in hydration and electrolyte balance, helping to prevent dehydration and muscle fatigue during performance. Additionally, a well-functioning hindgut can reduce the risk of digestive upsets in the foregut, a common issue in high-stress, high-intensity equine athletes.

Insufficient forage intake or compromised gut health can lead to decreased energy levels, poor recovery and an increased risk of colic or laminitis, all of which can negatively impact a horse’s ability to compete. Ensuring a steady intake of quality forage helps sustain endurance, optimize digestion, and support overall health in competitive horses.

Fiber for Sustained Energy Release

Quality fiber sources like beet pulp and soy hulls help maintain gut function and support a healthy microbial population. Fiber also provides energy as it’s fermented by those microbes in the hindgut, producing volatile fatty acids like acetate, propionate and butyrate.

Unlike simple carbohydrates that provide quick bursts of energy, volatile fatty acids offer a slow, sustained energy release. This steady energy supply helps performance horses maintain endurance and stamina throughout training and competition, reducing the risk of fatigue and performance dips.

Without adequate fiber, horses that compete may experience energy crashes, increased susceptibility to dehydration and a greater risk of digestive concerns like colic, all of which can compromise their ability to perform.

Feed to Meet Elevated Energy Demands

Grains like oats, barley and corn are traditional energy-dense feeds, but their high starch and sugar content can cause rapid glucose spikes. While these quick bursts are beneficial for equine athletes such as racehorses that rely on anaerobic energy, it may not be ideal for horses that participate in longer events where increased stamina is required over an extended duration.

In contrast, fat-rich feeds that include rice bran, vegetable oils and flaxseed provide a concentrated, slow-burning energy source that helps sustain endurance and optimize muscle function without the risks associated with excessive starch intake. Fat metabolism produces a steady supply of energy, reducing reliance on glycogen stores and delaying the onset of fatigue during intense exercise or prolonged competition.

Additionally, fats contribute to a sleek, well-conditioned appearance and support anti-inflammatory processes, which are beneficial for muscle recovery and joint health, critical factors in keeping performance horses at their peak.

“There has been research that suggests a lower starch and sugar feed may sometimes benefit certain horses. Anxious or nervous horses may stay calmer because they’re not getting the spikes in blood sugar, and on the behavior side you also may notice more willingness to perform because the horse is feeling at its best.” – Kristyn Sturken, Sentinel^® Product Manager

Protein and Muscle Recovery

Protein is a vital part of a horse’s diet. This is particularly true of performance horses as protein aids in muscle development, repair and overall health. Understanding the importance of specific amino acids will give your clients’ horses the best chance of top performance and recovery.

Amino Acids: The Building Blocks of Muscle

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, but not all amino acids are equally present in an equine diet. Limiting amino acids, such as lysine, methionine and threonine, cannot be synthesized by the horse and must be provided through feed. When these essential amino acids are in short supply, the horse’s ability to utilize other amino acids is restricted, which can negatively impact muscle development, repair and overall performance.

Competitive horses with an amino acid deficiency may exhibit signs such as poor topline development, muscle loss despite adequate caloric intake, delayed recovery after exercise and lack of stamina. Behavioral indicators may include reluctance to engage in strenuous activity, difficulty building or maintaining muscle mass and a dull coat, as protein also plays a role in skin and hair health. Ensuring a balanced intake of essential amino acids is critical in supporting peak athletic performance, strength and recovery.

In equine nutrition the primary limiting amino acids are:

Lysine:

Often the first limiting amino acid in equine diets, lysine is essential for growth and muscle development. Ensuring adequate lysine intake supports optimal protein synthesis.

Methionine:

This sulfur-containing amino acid plays a role in the synthesis of other proteins and supports hoof and hair health.

Threonine:

This amino acid is important for immune function and gut health and contributes to muscle protein synthesis.

Protein Quality and Digestibility

Incorporating high-quality protein sources like soybean meal or alfalfa ensures the availability of essential amino acids necessary for muscle maintenance and repair. Performance horses experience significant muscle stress during training and competition, and intense exercise can cause microdamage to muscle fibers, requiring proper protein intake for recovery and adaptation.

Without adequate amino acids, muscle recovery slows, leading to fatigue, loss of topline and diminished performance. Ensuring a diet rich in essential amino acids supports strength, endurance and the ability to perform over time.

“Protein plays a vital role in muscle development, tissue repair and the horse’s overall health, but it works best as part of a well-rounded diet,” Sturken says. “It's important to balance protein with other energy sources to meet the horse's overall nutritional needs without overloading.”

High-Quality H2O

Performance horses must maintain adequate water intake and electrolyte balance because they lose significant amounts through sweat. Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge when dissolved in water and are vital for bodily functions like nerve transmission, muscle contraction and fluid balance. If not replenished, electrolyte depletion may lead to dehydration and muscle cramps. Electrolyte imbalances can also contribute to fatigue, reduced nerve function and decreased muscle efficiency.

Key Electrolytes and Functions

• Sodium (Na⁺):  Regulates fluid balance and is essential for nerve impulse transmission.
• Chloride (Cl⁻):  Works alongside sodium to maintain fluid balance and is a component of stomach acid, aiding digestion.
• Potassium (K⁺):  Crucial for muscle function and helps maintain the body's acid-base balance.
• Calcium (Ca²⁺):  Necessary for muscle contractions, nerve function and blood clotting.
• Magnesium (Mg²⁺):  Involved in muscle relaxation and energy production.

Maintain Electrolyte Balance

Electrolyte imbalances can cause fatigue, muscle weakness and decreased overall performance. In severe cases, it can lead to more serious health issues.

Here are some ways to help maintain hydration

• Encouraging water intake: Offering water can stimulate thirst and promote hydration.
• Monitoring sweat loss: High temperatures, humidity and intense exercise will increase sweat, so it’s important to adjust electrolyte supplementation accordingly.
  • A horse that’s sweating normally will have a lightly moist, shiny coat, especially under the saddle
    If it’s exercising a bit harder, sweat will spread onto the neck, chest and legs.
• Electrolyte supplementation: Providing a well-balanced electrolyte supplement can help replenish minerals lost during exercise.
• Hay and Forage: Forage provides a major source of potassium for horses and helps maintain water during increased activity levels.

Managing Travel Stress

Horses are a lot like humans in that travel may stress them out—even to the point where it may impact energy levels, performance and their overall health. These animals thrive on routine, so careful planning is often necessary.

“We have to worry about ulcers in performance horses because they’re under a lot of stress,” Sturken says. “They’re traveling a lot, and just putting the horse on a trailer adds a lot of stress. That’s when you have to be especially careful of health concerns like gastric ulcers.”

Pre-Travel Preparation

• Consistent diet: Tell your clients to maintain their horse’s regular feeding schedule leading up to the competition, as abrupt changes may cause digestive upsets.
• Hydration is everything: Ensure your clients keep their horse well-hydrated before they leave, as dehydration and electrolyte imbalances may lead to poor performance or health concerns.

Feeding on the Road

• Forage access: Provide access to quality forage, as intake stimulates saliva production, which buffers the stomach from acid and supports gut health
• Water availability: Offer water regularly during travel—if your patient is reluctant to drink, consider adding an electrolyte supplement.

Nutrition for the Competition

• Forage and water: Continue to offer forage and water regularly, including between classes, to help maintain optimal gut function and prevent dehydration.
• Grain meals: Avoid feeding large grain meals close to exercise or event times to prevent digestive discomfort.
• Digestive health support: Consider a gastric support supplement to maintain proper pH levels and support gut health during the stress of competition.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals, though required in smaller quantities compared to macronutrients, are indispensable for a competitive horse's health, energy metabolism and overall performance. A balanced intake ensures physiological processes function how they’re supposed to.

Essential Vitamins

• Vitamin E:  A potent antioxidant that protects muscle cells from damage during intense exercise.
• B Vitamins:  Play a crucial role in energy metabolism, helping convert carbohydrates, fats and proteins into useable energy.

Key Minerals

• Calcium and phosphorus: Maintaining the correct 2:1 ratio helps support bone strength and muscle function.
• Magnesium: Supports muscle relaxation and helps reduce the risk of cramps or spasms post exercise.
• Selenium: Works together with Vitamin E as an antioxidant, protecting muscle cells from oxidative stress.

Supplement Considerations for Performance Horses

Before adding anything to a horse’s diet, it’s important to note their body condition and take inventory of what they’re currently getting nutritionally. A complete review will help determine if you need a supplement, but in many cases, with good quality hay and adequate feed, a horse won’t need one. When evaluating different products, consider the horse’s workload, discipline and special nutritional requirements.

• Joint support: Ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid can promote joint health and reduce stiffness in performance horses.
• Digestive aids: Gastric support supplements with prebiotics and probiotics, marine-sourced calcium and zinc can help maintain gut health, especially during times of stress, travel or changes in routine.
• Hoof and coat health: Biotin, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids contribute to strong hooves and a healthy coat.

“Over-supplementation can be as detrimental as deficiencies,” Sturken says. “Regular forage and feed testing can help identify gaps in nutrition. Consulting with an equine nutritionist ensures that supplementation aligns with the horse's specific needs, workload and environmental factors.”

For personalized feeding recommendations and expert guidance, contact our team of equine nutrition specialists today.