This Is What Happens When Performance Horses Are Better Fueled For Stamina

The Reasons Why Energy Sources Matter To Your Horse's Health

Every horse owner dreams of their equine partner performing at their best. Your horse’s energy sources are as important as excelling in competition, tackling a trail ride, or simply enjoying consistent work. 

Achieving peak performance and maintaining a calm, focused demeanour isn't just about training; its fundamentally linked to their diet. The source of energy in your performance horse's feed bucket significantly impacts their stamina, recovery, and their temperament.

Let's explore how different fuel sources can affect your horse's athletic potential. The key to your performance horse’s health is making informed dietary choices to unlock their full capabilities without unwanted excitability.

The Energy Needs of the Performance Horse That You Need to Know

Horses require energy for every bodily function, from breathing and digestion to powering explosive movements or sustained endurance. The amount of energy needed to engage in regular exercise is dependent on the intensity and duration of the horse’s task. This energy is measured in calories (or megacalories - Mcal) and sourced from carbohydrates, fats, and, to a lesser extent, protein.

Horses will produce the appropriate energy required for the type of exercise they are engaged in. High-intensity, short-duration efforts (like sprinting or jumping) rely more on anaerobic pathways, utilizing readily available glucose. Longer, lower-intensity work (like endurance riding or prolonged training sessions) depends heavily on aerobic metabolism, which can efficiently use both glucose and fatty acids for fuel. 

Better Fuel: The Best Carbohydrates for Performance Horses

Carbohydrates are the most abundant energy source in a horse's natural diet. Primarily found in forages (hay and pasture), this “quick fuel” can sometimes be costly. Due to this cost factor, it is important to note that not all carbohydrates are created equal and can be processed differently.

What are Structural Carbohydrates and The Targeted Benefits for Energy?

Fibre is essential for a performance horse’s gut health and hydration. Structural carbohydrates are found in the cell walls of plants (hay, grass, beet pulp, soy hulls). These are fermented by microbes in the horse's hindgut into volatile fatty acids (VFAs), primarily acetate, propionate, and butyrate. VFAs are absorbed and provide a steady, slow-release energy source, contributing significantly to a horse's daily energy needs without causing metabolic spikes.

Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NCS) And Their Affect Energy:

Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) include starches and sugars found in grains (oats, corn, barley) and lush pasture. NSC is digested in the small intestine, absorbed as glucose, and causes a rapid rise in blood sugar, prompting an insulin response. This glucose can be used immediately for energy or stored as glycogen in muscles and the liver for later use in high-intensity work.

What Are the Important Downsides of Excessive NSC?: 

While necessary for certain types of work, diets high in NSC can have negative consequences for performance horses. Rapid glucose and insulin spikes can lead to increased excitability and a "hot" or spooky temperament. Excessive starch reaching the hindgut can disrupt the microbial balance, potentially leading to digestive issues like acidosis, colic, and increasing the risk of gastric ulcers and laminitis.

Fats and Your Performance Horse: The Sustained, "Cool" Energy Source

Fats (oils) are the most energy-dense nutrient, providing approximately 2.25 times more energy per unit weight than carbohydrates or protein. When gradually introduced and adapted, horses can efficiently utilize fat as a significant energy source.

How is Fat Metabolized for Energy in Performance Horses?

Unlike NSC, fat is digested and absorbed as fatty acids and glycerol, which are primarily used for aerobic energy production. This process is slower and doesn't result in the rapid blood sugar and insulin spikes associated with starch digestion.

Ways That Fat Benefits a Horse’s Diet for Remarkable Stamina:

Fat metabolism relies on oxygen (aerobic) and serves as an optimal fuel source for endurance activities and extended periods of exercise. For this reason it is an ideal fuel source for endurance activities and prolonged exercise. 

Feeding fat can help spare muscle glycogen stores. This allows the horse to maintain their levels of carbohydrate reserves to sustain energy before feeling fatigued.

Fat also produces less metabolic heat during digestion and metabolism compared to carbs or protein, which is advantageous for horses working in hot or humid conditions.

The Benefits of Fat for Better Performance Horse Behaviour:

One of the most significant advantages of feeding fat is its reputation as a "cool" energy source. Since fat metabolism doesn't cause blood sugar spikes, it typically results in less excitability and a calmer temperament compared to diets high in starch. This can be particularly beneficial for horses prone to "hotness" or anxiety.

Carbs vs. Fat: A Direct Comparison for Stamina and Temperament

Let's break down the key differences:

 

For performance horses requiring sustained energy and a calm, focused attitude, a dietary change may need to occur. Shifting the dietary focus from high-starch grains to diets higher in digestible fibre and added fat is often a beneficial strategy for better performance and demeanour.

The Ultimate Role of Fibre for Better Energy

Regardless of exercise level, high-quality forage (hay and pasture) should always be the foundation of a horse's diet. Fibre provides vital slow-release energy through VFA production, supports a healthy digestive system, and helps maintain hydration. 

Combining ample forage with supplemental fat and controlled NSC intake allows performance horses access to both rapid and sustained energy sources while minimizing the risks associated with high-grain feeding.

Beyond Energy: Supporting Nutrients for the Best Performance

While energy is crucial, other nutrients play vital roles in the athletic performance of horses:

#1. Protein

Protein is necessary for muscle development, repair, and maintenance. Ensuring adequate intake of quality protein with a good amino acid profile is essential. However, excessive protein does not significantly boost the performance benefits and can increase the horse’s water requirements.

#2. Vitamins & Minerals: 

Vitamins and minerals are cofactors in energy metabolism and muscle function. Antioxidant vitamins like Vitamin E are particularly important for muscle recovery and protecting cells from exercise-induced damage, while B vitamins play roles in converting food into energy. Minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are crucial for muscle contraction and bone health.

#3. Electrolytes & Hydration: 

Adequate water intake is crucial to a performance horse’s health. Supplementing with electrolytes is often necessary, especially during and after strenuous work or in hot conditions. Sweat can cause horses to become hypertonic, meaning they lose more electrolytes (especially sodium, chloride, and potassium) than water. Heavy sweating can lead to significant electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, fatigue, and even metabolic issues.

Putting Better Feeding Strategies Into Practice

Optimizing your performance horse's diet involves balancing the following components:

#1. Maximize Forage: 

Provide access to high-quality hay or pasture as the primary feed source.

#2. Utilize Fibre-Based Feeds: 

Incorporate digestible fibre sources like beet pulp or soy hulls for sustained energy and gut health.

#3. Strategic Fat Supplementation:

Add fat sources like vegetable oils (e.g., soybean oil) or commercially fortified feeds high in fat. Introduce fat gradually over 7-10 days to allow the digestive system to adapt. 

#4. Manage NSC Intake: 

Choose feed that is low in starch and sugar if your horse is prone to "hotness" or digestive issues. In energy dense activities, feed horses grains frequently as part of smaller meals.

#5. Ensure Adequate Protein: 

Select feeds with a good amino acid profile, especially for horses in heavy work.

#6. Supplement Vitamins, Minerals, and Electrolytes as Needed: 

Ensure balanced vitamin/mineral intake, and provide electrolytes to replace sweat losses, particularly during heavy work or hot weather. Ensure constant access to fresh water. For those who are looking to really improve the overall health of their horse, we suggest asking your vet about Structure equine liquid supplements by EC Nutraceuticals. You can read more here.

EC Nutraceuticals

Fueled Stamina and Your Horses’s Energy Sources:

The choice of energy source is a foundational element in feeding the performance horse. While carbohydrates provide quick bursts, relying heavily on high-starch feeds can lead to unwanted excitability and digestive upset. 

Shifting the focus towards diets rich in quality forage, digestible fibre, and supplemented fats offers a powerful strategy. Providing horses with sustained, "cool" energy that supports endurance, delays fatigue, helps to promote a calmer, more focused temperament. By understanding how different nutrients fuel their bodies, you can make dietary choices that truly help your equine athlete perform their best, safely and consistently. 

Consulting with an equine nutritionist can provide personalized guidance for your horse's specific needs and discipline. 

Contact EC Nutraceuticals

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References: 

•Getty Equine Nutrition. (n.d.). Added Fat Improves Behavior. Retrieved from https://gettyequinenutrition.com/pages/added-fat-improves-behavior

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•Kentucky Equine Research (KER). (n.d.). Feeding Endurance Horses Day by Day. Retrieved from https://ker.com/equinews/feeding-endurance-horses-day-day/

•EquiMed (EQUIMED). (n.d.). Equine Energy, Thermo Regulation, and Electrolyte Balance. Retrieved from https://equimed.com/health-centers/fitness-and-conditioning/articles/equine-energy-thermo-regulation-and-electrolyte-balance

•Iowa State University (EXTENSION EDU). (n.d.). Feeding Fat (Oil) to Horses. Retrieved from https://www.extension.iastate.edu/equine/feeding-fat-oil-horses

•National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). (n.d.). Aerobic and anaerobic energy production in the horse. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10514361/

•National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). (n.d.). Metabolism of fat and effects of dietary fat on performance. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2202499/

•SUCCEED Equine. (n.d.). MONDAY MYTH #42: Certain types of feeds make horses hot. Retrieved from https://www.succeed-equine.com/expertise/blog/equine-nutrition/monday-myth-42-certain-types-of-feeds-make-horses-hot/

•The Equine Clinic at Oaken Croft. (n.d.). Understanding Energy Support for the Performance Horse. Retrieved from https://equineclinic.com/understanding-energy-support-for-the-performance-horse/

•University of Georgia Extension. (n.d.). Feeding Strategies for Peak Performance in Horses. Retrieved from https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1365&title=feeding-strategies-for-peak-performance-in-horses