Feeding for competition

YOU’VE BEEN WORKING HARD AT THE TRAINING, COMPETITIONS ARE BACK ON, BUT IS YOUR FEEDING REGIME READY FOR PURPOSE? HELEN TRIGGS TALKS TO EXPERTS ABOUT FEEDING FOR COMPETITION AND KEEPING WITHIN CLEAN SPORT GUIDELINES.

The return to competition, coinciding with the ush of spring grass, makes it a good time to look at your horse’s condition and see if any amendment to his feed is needed.

“Step back and take stock before rushing to give a competition mi , for e ample,” says i ie rury MSC utr( nimal) nutritionist for Saracen eeds. “It is better to increase the training and work level first if your horse is carrying too much weight.”

“The horse needs a proper balanced diet or will get increased muscle soreness, not recover correctly and his ability to get stronger will be inhibited. chieving the correct body weight will make your horse able to cope with a longer competition season. There are no shortcuts you can’t add e tra energy until you have the right body score.” ou can determine your horse’s current body condition by weighing or measuring with a tape and using the body condition score inde es available on the website of the major manufacturers such as Saracen and aileys orse eeds. epending on the work level and fre uency of training and competing, some horses can manage happily on good uality forage, grass and a balancer. thers may need their feed supplementing with additional calories once they reach their optimum body condition. eeding will always be a balance between achieving more strength and stamina and not promoting fi iness and over-enthusiasm. ne of the most important

RIGHT TOP: SOME HORSES WILL DO WELL ON JUST GRASS, FIBRE AND A BALANCER. RIGHT BELOW: REMEMBER TO REPLACE LOST HYDRATION, PARTICULARLY THE ESSENTIAL ELECTROLYTES.

things you can do is to read the label on the bag, says Lizzie. “The information it contains will tell you what the feed is likely to do.”

You can also contact the manufacturers’ nutritionist helplines where you can find expert guidance.

If you are looking for more energy, lift and presence in the arena from a laid-back or lazy horse, choose feeds where cereals come high up in the list of ingredients. To manage an excitable temperament, choose feeds with lower starch levels and higher levels of digestible fibre and oils.

“In an ideal situation, you don’t want to change your feed drastically in the run up a competition,” says Lizzie. “You should just be tweaking and finetuning so you are supporting and ensuring optimum recovery after the competition. Make sure you top up his energy reserves.” “Our domestic horses are often stabled for lengthy periods of time with limited grazing and supplemented with hay or haylage, which varies in quality. We also put different demands on our horses particularly for those who are competing regularly or working at a reasonable level,” says Emma Short, senior nutritionist for Baileys Horse Feeds. “This means that our horses will be missing out on some essential nutrients, but also will have different requirements for energy (calories) depending on workload and discipline. Thus, additional supplementation with a mix, cube or balancer is often necessary.”

Kate Hore, RNutr(Animal) nutritionist, member of the BETA Feed Committee and senior nutritionist at NAF, says: “As we return to work it’s important to remember to replace lost hydration, particularly the essential electrolytes. Ensure daily salt is fed for all horses, and upgraded to full spectrum electrolytes

following hard work or travel. Feed electrolytes in water, or in a small amount of a well soaked feed, to ensure the water is replaced as well as those essential salts.

“More than ever this year, we need to bring horses back to full fitness gradually and carefully, as many return after a prolonged period of quiet work. Whatever your competition sphere, it’s advised to nourish joints with targeted nutrition to support the additional challenges of work. Joints are complex, so a single ingredient approach is never the full answer. Look for a synergistic blend of glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin, HA, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids to ensure all areas are supported.”

ABOVE: TO AVOID FALLING FOUL OF ANTI-DOPING REGULATIONS, RESIST GIVING YOUR HORSE HUMAN FOODS AS A TREAT.

At the start of the season be aware of the impact of spring grass which can contain higher quantities of soluble carbohydrates. Regulate concentrate feeds so that your horse does not get a starch overload, while increasing his activity to use up the additional energy.

Whatever feed regime you decide on, be aware that the ingredients must be acceptable within the guidelines of Clean Sport. This is the initiative run by the UK’s Anti-doping Agency and by participating in the sport you must adhere to its regulations. nce you a liate to compete, you need to be prepared to be tested and must be careful about the feeds you use and the procedures you follow. Testing for prohibited substances and controlled medications can take place at any level of British Dressage and is carried out in accordance with the British Equestrian Federation Anti-doping Rules (BEFAR). The onus is on the rider to ensure they are compliant.

The starting point is the BETA NOPS scheme which lists the feeds and supplements that are audited to meet the anti-doping regulations. “This scheme gives you the best assurance that you are feeding safely, although of course there is never a 100% guarantee,” says Kate Hore.

NAF Feeds has produced a Feed and Supplements Log Book in association with equestrian sporting bodies so you can keep track of the content of your feed and its provenance. Products and accompanying batch numbers are recorded, which demonstrates good practice and can provide supporting evidence in the event of a testing failure.

The same rules apply for herbs and supplements which must comply with Clean Sport regulations and any product should be checked on the BETA NOPS database. “It is common for people to believe that because an ingredient is natural that they are also safe to feed to our horses,” says Emma Short. “Some herbs are toxic when fed in larger amounts or can provide too much of a particular nutrient. As with any feed ingredient when not fed or processed correctly even an ingredient deemed safe with positive eff ects may also have the potential to cause negative side eff ects.”

Those competing at international level become used to ensuring that nothing is fed to or applied to their horses which could be deemed to be doping. But for those competing at any level, such vigilance is important. “A good guide is not to feed your horse human food as treats. After all you don’t know what goes into Polos!” says Kate Hore, who also recommends avoiding other human products. “It’s understandable why people use nappy rash cream or human shampoos but it’s not advisable.” These products may contain ingredients, even in miniscule quantities which are on the banned list and which today’s sophisticated testing can detect.

It’s very easy to check which substances are not allowed on the FEI database. Just doing a little homework could avoid elimination, fi ne or ban.

Elite Equine is a new BD sponsor and their organic rosehip powder is part of the BETA NOPS scheme. Rosehip is a source of vitamin C, and has been shown to reduce infl ammation, protect cartilage and improve general health. “It is important to assure all riders that a natural product, especially from halfway across the world, is safe to feed,” says Maxie Hepell, Head of Business Development. “We had to go through a lengthy process to achieve our BETA NOPS accreditation. The rosehips used in our supplement are handpicked from high in the mountains of Lesotho in Southern Africa, so getting an independent auditor out to this remote area of the world is not only hugely expensive but a logistical marathon! But the BETA NOPS and other international accreditations we (and other brands) display are there to help riders choose their supplement of choice safely.”

RIGHT: ELITE EQUINE’S ROSEHIP POWER HAS RECEIVED BETA NOPS ACCREDITATION AND IS SAFE TO FEED TO COMPETITION HORSES.

natural blend of forages and fi bres to help provide the horse with all the necessary nutrients required for health and vitality, whilst keeping energy levels low. Cereal-free and very low in starch and sugar it is ideal for feeding to horses prone to nervous and excitable behaviour, along with those with metabolic problems. High in fi bre it helps support gut health and contains a touch of soya oil for skin and coat condition.

RRP £11.86 FOR 20KG | rowenbarbary.co.uk

METASLIM is a carefully formulated balancer, designed to support good-doers and those prone to, being treated for, or recovering from laminitis. Created with a leading equine vet, MetaSlim optimises blood sugar levels and aids insulin effectiveness. Suitable for overweight equines and those with fat pads and crests.

RRP FROM £35 FOR 10KG | simplesystem.co.uk

Feeding NAF’s Five Star Optimum concentrated feed balancer will optimise every horse’s daily diet, and the concentrated formula is perfect for your horse, from family pony to performance athlete, making it the optimum choice for all. Each concentrated palatable pellet contains key ingredients to optimise gut function, combined with optimum nutritional supplement specifi cation which perfectly balances either a high fi bre, low concentrate or performance diet. When a daily feed is not necessary, Optimum can be simply given on its own.

naf-equine.eu/uk ELITE EQUINE contains only 100% organic rosehip powder, no additives or preservatives, and is known for its powerful anti-infl ammatory and antioxidative action. Horse owners have reported marked improvement in pain and discomfort from arthritic conditions, respiratory tract infections and coughing, swelling and heat in limbs, unhealthy gut and dull coats.

eliteequineuk.com

provide highquality nutrition delivered direct to your yard in a unique bulk bin system. At the heart of the business is the quality of their products and its environmental impact. Chestnut bulk bins deliver within a set area from their base in Leicestershire whether you have one horse or a yard full to manage, to help reduce plastic waste and provide balanced, high quality nutrition to meet your horses' needs.

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includes PharmaQuin Joint Complete HA, PharmaPlast Ultimate Topline, and PharmaTRAC Total Digestive Support, offering high specifi cation supplements for joint health and mobility, muscle and coat health, and digestive tract support. All supplements contain zero artifi cial fi llers or bulking agents and use only the fi nest active ingredients. The Bettalife® equine range is rated fi ve stars on Trustpilot and all products are available with a 100% money back guarantee. Bettalife® supports the Clean Sport initiative and a full list of ingredients are available to view on the website.

bettalife.co.uk

BAILEYS ALFALFA BLEND is a unique combination of alfalfa and green oat straw, with a dusting of mint and a light coating of oil and molasses. The green oat straw is softer, more palatable and more nutritious than mature oat straw and is grown in the UK especially for Baileys.

Alfalfa Blend can be added to the recommended amount of a mix, cube or balancer, encouraging chewing and adding fi bre to an existing balanced diet, and can also be fed in larger quantities as a partial forage replacer.

RRP £14.50 FOR 18KG | baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

No oats, no wheat, no barley. A cereal-free, alfalfa-free, low starch mix that utilises fi bre and oil sources to optimise power generation and recovery. The mix is suitable for horses prone to Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome and includes a live yeast and BMC™, a natural mineral source, which has been proven to support the gastrointestinal health of horses as it buffers excessive acid in the stomach and hindgut. In addition, the mix includes a natural Vitamin E to maintain normal muscle function and support immune health.

saracenhorsefeeds.com BSC-SEABUCKTHORN is a palatable, natural plant extract that provides complete support for gastro-intestinal health. It is rich in antioxidants and Omega oils -3 -6 -7 and -9, as well as being an effective prebiotic.

BSC-SeaBuckthorn nourishes the delicate tissues that line the stomach and intestines, supporting healing and natural mucosal defence against acid wear. In the hindgut, SeaBuckthorn favours the growth of healthy bacteria, helping to improve digestive health and effi ciency.

Nupafeed are proud to work with the British SeaBuckthorn Company (BSC) to ensure quality and traceability.

RRP £70 FOR 5 LITRES | nupafeed.co.uk

starch, high oil mix which has been carefully formulated with natural ingredients to promote condition and topline in horses prone to weight loss, while reducing the risk of excitability. Added oil enhances coat condition and show ring shine and provides a careful balance of energy sources to build condition safely.

RRP £15.49 | spillers-feeds.com

TOPCHOP GRASS is a soft and natural product made from a blend of specially selected, dried British grasses with a light dressing of linseed oil. TopChop Grass contains no added molasses or any other sugar coating.

It is ideal for horses and ponies needing a soft, very palatable chop, perfect for fussy feeders including fi t performance horses and elderly horses. TopChop Grass can be used as a partial hay replacer, especially for elderly horses struggling to maintain condition as a result of poor dentition reducing their ability to chew hay/haylage.

RRP £13.75 FOR 15KG | topspec.com