Feeding Oats - Bruised or crushed?

However the blood glucose level is realy irrelevant. There is only one organ in the body which actualy uses glucose,the brain . Muscles run on glycogen which is how the glucose is stored for use. A well muscled fit mature horse should be able to have sufficient reserves of energy for a lesson. (of course here often lies the problem). I would think steady slow release would be far more important to a hunter doin maybe five or six hours of work.It is also worth remembering that regardless of how well fed and fit a young horse is,it will not have the endurance of a mature horse.
 
I wouldnt say blood glucose level is irrelevant. In response to a cereal meal, the body releases insulin. Insulin affects many energy pathways- including inhibiting oxidation of fats and increasing carbohydrate oxidation. Fatigue can therefore happen early in longer duration exercise because carbohydrate stores can be prematurely depleted. Fibre feeds on the other hand do not affect energy (muscle fuel) availability. Again, it all depends on the horse and the type and duration of exercise. I agree that most horses should be able to cope with a lesson! And yes, fitness is often the issue.
 
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