Endurance riding is one of the most demanding equestrian disciplines. For that reason it places significant nutritional demands on the horse. Good nutrition and feeding practices will help you to complete the ride in great shape and can significantly boost your chances of success. The major components to consider when feeding your endurance horse are fibre, energy, vitamins and minerals, water and electrolytes.
Energy
Energy from feed is derived from three main components: fibre, starch and fat. Fibre is sourced from pasture and roughage and is a very important energy source for the horse. Research has shown that there are two advantages in having a high fibre diet. Firstly the high water holding capacity of fibre results in an increase in water intake. The water and electrolytes held in the hindgut can then be drawn upon by the horse to help prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances which are the key cause of metabolic problems in endurance horses. Secondly the presence of fibre in the gut will ensure that some blood flow to the gut remains during exercise.
Starch from cereal grains such as oats, barley and corn is commonly fed to endurance horses to increase the energy level in the diet. Endurance horses can rarely maintain condition on energy from fibre alone.
Fat is another source of energy for the endurance horse. Oil contains 2.25 as much energy per weight as cereal grain. Fat is extremely well digested in the small intestine and without the risk of the problems that can occur with cereal grains if they are fed improperly. Fat is digested in the small intestine, is extremely energy dense and reduces the amount of total feed required to maintain condition in horses that exhibit depressed appetite. There are different dietary fat sources available to the horse, and the most common are vegetable oils. Vegetable oils can be fed safely up to 15% of the total diet. Another source of fat is stabilised rice bran such as Equi-Jewel. Heat-stabilised rice bran can reliably contain 17.5% fat.
The protein requirement for endurance horses is in the order of 10 to 12%. Under most circumstances these requirements are easily met by common feedstuffs. Protein in excess of requirements may be used for energy, however this situation should be avoided as it is can cause potential problems such as increased water requirements, excess heat waste and high ammonia excretion.
Minerals
In addition to energy and protein the diet must supply an adequate amount of both major and trace minerals. If prepared feeds or vitamin/mineral supplements are used then they should be selected on the levels of nutrients supplied in relation to the horse’s requirements.
Minerals which are of major importance to the endurance horse are selenium for muscle function and calcium for bone strength. However, avoid excess calcium in the diet
during training which discourages the horse from conserving calcium and then during the ride feed an electrolyte which contains an available source of calcium. Chromium is another trace mineral which is attracting a lot of attention. Chromium is involved in the insulin control of carbohydrate metabolism and promotes muscle development. Supplementation with minerals to meet the horse’s needs will help to ensure that the animal is performing at its peak and remains sound over a competitive season.
Natural feeds do not supply the needs of Endurance horses for many trace minerals and vitamins eg. copper, iodine, selenium. For many endurance horses of Arabian descent, the recommended feeding rate of commercial grain mixes provides too many calories, resulting in excess weight gain. A horse that eats less than the recommended amount may be short on the supplementary vitamins, and minerals that are added to complement the deficiencies in forages. A specialized feed designed for endurance horses such as Stablemaster Endurance is preferable or a specially designed concentrate containing essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals can be used to top off a feed that is provided at a lower rate than recommended. Horses with poor quality hooves will also benefit from a biotin, zinc and methionine supplement to assist in keeping them sound.
Vitamins
There are several vitamins which are of potential value to the endurance horse. These are Vitamin A which has a role in tendon strength and Vitamin E which is an antioxidant that protects muscle cells and is important in aerobic metabolism. Long distance horses will benefit from 1000 to 2000 IU per day of Vitamin E. Biotin may help improve hoof quality when used at 15 to 25 mg per day.
Water
Exercise results in heat generated by muscle contraction. This excess heat must be lost and in the horse this occurs primarily through sweating. Sweat consists of water and electrolytes which are removed from the circulation through the sweat gland onto the skin where the sweat evaporates and cools the horse through evaporative cooling. The water that is lost through sweat must be replaced. Sweat losses are in the order of 5 litres for each 30 minutes of exercise under moderate conditions. Increased work intensity and hot and humid conditions can increase this up to four fold. Total losses during an endurance ride may be as high as 60 litres.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes are critical to the function of an endurance horse. The electrolytes that are lost in sweat are sodium, potassium, chloride and small amounts of calcium and magnesium. Loss of these electrolytes causes fatigue, muscle weakness and reluctance to drink and it is vital that they be replaced. An electrolyte supplement specifically formulated for endurance work should be used as recommended.
By Kentucky Equine Research (KER)
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