Do you adjust feed/supplements for overnight shows?

[QueenT]

Just realised that a lot of riders adjust feed and supplements for overnight shows -which we don’t. They get extra mash otherwise everything is the same, and I don’t think they exactly need anything else. I was just wondering if we could support more, f.ex muscle soreness, restititution, maybe energy last day etc. What do you guys do?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My friends just feed saracen recovery mash at shows as well as the normal feed.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Regular feed with some electrolytes

 

[ycbm]

I would always give aloe vera to a horse travelling away from home, as an ulcer preventative.
.

 

[humblepie]

No, I keep it the same so as nto to make any changes when he will be changing from less grass to more hay anyway. I try to graze in hand as much as possible providing it is suitable grass. He has salt in his meals at home so continue that.

 

[nikkimariet]

I feed smaller but more frequent quantities and electrolytes.

 

[Alibear]

Ah the old feed according to work done/change feed gradually/routines changed conundrum. I tend to use recovery mash to keep up salts and water intake as camps are usually in summer and she's usually stabled at them rather than living out as she does at home.

 

[rara007]

Mine get extra electrolytes if it's hot or they're working hard, usually just on marathon day. They get a meadow or lucy brix a day if they'll eat them as boredom busters and because they're out 24/7 or a lot at home. They get recovery mash as a soup travelling if it's over about 4 hours on the lorry and they won’t drink. Literally a handful in a bucket of water. I’ve used the other one I can’t remember the name of too… green powder?!

 

[LEC]

I just don’t get the whole Saracen recovery mash thing as horses like slow change and yet people chuck that at them irregularly. I just don’t see pros using it.
It adds nothing which sugarbeet and salt doesn’t do.

 

[Fieldlife]

I just don’t get the whole Saracen recovery mash thing as horses like slow change and yet people chuck that at them irregularly. I just don’t see pros using it.
It adds nothing which sugarbeet and salt doesn’t do.

My horse LOVES it though, and will eat / drink water with it / sink nose to bottom of bucket of water etc.

So if I want him to hydrate / drink more it’s perfect. It is like horse crack concaine for all the horses I’ve tried it with. Sugarbeet and salt doesn’t come close. And it’s not that high in sugar / salt compared to how much my horses love it.

Last summer I did add a small amount to his daily feed too (for palatability mainly) when grass was good and struggling to get him to eat feed with vitamins and minerals.

Sometimes I think hydration is more vital than consistency too.

In summer my horse (who isn’t a big eater) comes back to the lorry expecting mash. He’s never been a big water drinker away from home

I do know professionals using recovery mashes especially for horses that don’t drink well away from home.

In terms of stay away shows, my horse lives out.

If stabled away, I take same Haylage offered in field, same feed, recovery mash, dried chopped grass, and try to hand walk and hand graze as much as possible. (And keep moving as much as possible).

I feed prebiotics, probiotics, gut support, sprouted oats and kefir typically anyway.

 

[humblepie]

I just don’t get the whole Saracen recovery mash thing as horses like slow change and yet people chuck that at them irregularly. I just don’t see pros using it.
It adds nothing which sugarbeet and salt doesn’t do.

I’ve always tended to offer a wetter feed than normal at a show even at a day show before coming home though it isn’t always that tempting. I don’t use the recovery mash for the same reason that it’s throwing a new feed at them.

 

[Fieldlife]

I’ve always tended to offer a wetter feed than normal at a show even at a day show before coming home though it isn’t always that tempting. I don’t use the recovery mash for the same reason that it’s throwing a new feed at them.

You do have to pick your evils / health risks though. Having known a box rest horse not drink enough in warm weather and end up with fatal colic (not my horse, not aware until afterwards), keeping horses hydrated in warm weather when competing, is a greater priority for me that absolute diet consistency. And some horses will drink with apples bobbing in the water bucket out and some dont IME. There is always the option of mixing a tiny bit of recovery mash into the horse's daily feed in summer to accustomise the gut. It is not an issue if your horse will drink plain water away from home, before risking getting mildly dehydrated.

 

[humblepie]

You do have to pick your evils / health risks though. Having known a box rest horse not drink enough in warm weather and end up with fatal colic (not my horse, not aware until afterwards), keeping horses hydrated in warm weather when competing, is a greater priority for me that absolute diet consistency. And some horses will drink with apples bobbing in the water bucket out and some dont IME. There is always the option of mixing a tiny bit of recovery mash into the horse's daily feed in summer to accustomise the gut. It is not an issue if your horse will drink plain water away from home, before risking getting mildly dehydrated.

Yes I agree and as you say down to the horse and whether drinks or not. Mine is on wet hay including if at an away show and I soak a haynet whilst at a day show so he has wet hay, so that is some added moisture.

 

[nikkimariet]

I just don’t get the whole Saracen recovery mash thing as horses like slow change and yet people chuck that at them irregularly. I just don’t see pros using it.
It adds nothing which sugarbeet and salt doesn’t do.

The point is that it provides electrolytes + water. Ideal at a competition after working hard and sometimes it’s tricky getting the horse to drink too.

You need to feed such a small amount of it you’d have to be really unlucky to cause an issue. Plus what if you don’t feed sugar beet in the first place…

You could well feed sugar beet and salt but this is easier as it’s premixed and every horse I’ve come across will slurp it up so it’s guaranteed to do what it’s meant to.

Side note - the molasses ingredient isn’t ideal for every day but this isn’t an every day feed and most every day feeds have far more rubbish in them that’s overlooked anyway.

 

[LEC]

The point is that it provides electrolytes + water. Ideal at a competition after working hard and sometimes it’s tricky getting the horse to drink too.

You need to feed such a small amount of it you’d have to be really unlucky to cause an issue. Plus what if you don’t feed sugar beet in the first place…

You could well feed sugar beet and salt but this is easier as it’s premixed and every horse I’ve come across will slurp it up so it’s guaranteed to do what it’s meant to.

Side note - the molasses ingredient isn’t ideal for every day but this isn’t an every day feed and most every day feeds have far more rubbish in them that’s overlooked anyway.

The thing is for electrolytes to work they need to be fed in advance. So to me it’s pointless as horses don’t function on refueling like that. It’s the same with energy, an instant shot isn’t going to work you need to feed the energy 4-5 days in advance to fuel them. I appreciate getting water into them but there are many ways to skin a cat and for me it’s a bit of fad as loads of mash type products that you probably already feed which will do the same job without the extra £££

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I just don’t get the whole Saracen recovery mash thing as horses like slow change and yet people chuck that at them irregularly. I just don’t see pros using it.
It adds nothing which sugarbeet and salt doesn’t do.

Most people I know feed it regularly anyway as part of their diet, it's just very good for getting extra water into them and most horses love it so why not.

You don't need to feed loads of it and if a horse has worked hard it's just a nice thing to give them afterwards.

Especially away as alot of horses won't drink so much and get fussy with what they will eat you can buy the little pouches of it rather than a whole bag.