Feeding for compatition performance (and pure fibre feed .v. 'normal' feed)

[Saxon_Jasmine]

I'm trying to work out which is the most effective way of feeding a compatition horse. Having studied an equine nutrition and performance module at University, and researched fibre feeds such as Simple Systems and the Pure Feed Co, it seems that it is best (and more natural) for the horse to be fed on a fibre diet with no sugar, protein, etc.

However, having researched what most comp riders seem feed their horses, and going by the amount of energy horses need to perform effectivly, it seems that they need to be fed a diet that contains ingredients that they can't digest as well but that will give them more energy and stamina.

What is your opinion? (I do appriciate that every horse needs a specific feeding plan to suit them).

I'll give you a quick background of my horse: she is a 9yr old TB mare, 15.1hh. She is very quiet and laid back, even at comps. She has stamina but lacks the will to move forwards quickly. I've had her checked by 2 vets incase she was aneimic or something but the conclusion was that she is just a very calm horse.

I am currently feeding her Pure Working and Pure Condition (from the Pure Feeds Co) and Red Bag Grass Pellets and Total Eclipse suppliment from Simple Systems. She is turned out during the day and has ad lib hay and haylage during the night in her stable.

She is in medium work focussed towards getting her ready to event next year (currently re schooling her from racing) and goes to PC comps every month.

Sorry it's so long and a glass of Pimms if you got to the end! Thank you.

 

[happihorse]

Hello - I have recently been pondering a similar thing. My horse is a Dutch warmblood and seems to tire very quickly. Here is my post: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=391035.

Although things like alfalfa (which I didn't realised but is the same as lucerene (I think!)) and grass based products, oil is good for providing slow release energy and stamina.

This thread is quite useful too: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=392033.

I am looking into the Pure Feeds and Simple System diets for my horse but think I might just go with Alfa-A, speedibeet and linseed oil. (I was thinking about using linseed meal but I think it is just like the oil but with bulk.)

I'm also looking at Outshine but not read up on it yet.

I am by no means a nutritionist and it really does seem so difficult to know what is the 'best' thing to feed.

Before I actually buy anything, I think I am going to ring a couple of the feed companies and see what they recommend (although I'm sure they will only be pushing their own products)!

I hope this helps and good luck!

 

[teddyt]

I posted some of this on another thread-
Fibre and oil provide slow release energy. Cereals provide quick release energy.
Oil provides approx 2 and a half times more energy than cereals for the same weight so is very energy dense. If feeding for energy (rather than coat/skin) then you need to feed a reasonable amount- approx 100ml per 100kg of bodyweight. This can be unpalatable to some horses and you also need to balance the diet with vit E and selenium as the requirements will be greater on a high oil diet. feeds like dodson and horrell staypower are high in oil and balanced with vit e, etc for you, so may work out better than adding oil yourself.

Worth noting, It also takes approx 8 weeks for a horse to adapt to using oil as an energy source.

So it depends on hat competing you are doing but it is possible to compete to a reasonable level on just fibre and oil and no or minimal cereals, it just depends on the horse. I have evented many horses on a fibre only diet and none get cereals because it is so much better for them to be fed a diet that they have been evolved to digest.

The 2 feeds you use though (pure feed co and ss) are quite expensive. you can find cheaper fibre feeds than theirs. Such as dengie alfalfa pellets