Equus Feeds Newsletter

WHEN TO FEED YOUR ATHLETE

What and When should I feed my Horse before Exercise or Competitions?

This question is frequently asked and generally sparks considerable debate. Although it is generally agreed that feeding practices before a competition
have an important bearing on performance, there is little consensus as to what
is most beneficial. Furthermore, surveys of horse trainers and owners have
indicated that horses' diets are usually altered on the day of competition.

Is there a correct answer? As you might expect, there is no easy answer to this
question and much more research is required to be able to answer this question
scientifically. An important key in finding the solution for your individual horse
might lie in the fact the answer should be similar for both exercise and for
competition.
Possibly, the best solution lies in finding exactly what works best for your horse
during training and implementing this on competition day.

Concentrated Feed (hard feed or grain)

The safest approach at present is to feed a full meal at least 4 hours before
the event. Blood glucose and insulin increase when the horse eats grain.
Horses that begin exercise with elevated insulin may fatigue quicker because
insulin prevents the muscle from making the best use of nutrients needed to
fuel muscle contraction. Allowing at least 4 hours between a grain meal and
exercise will allow blood glucose and insulin to come back to baseline, leaving
muscle to work optimally.

It must be noted that if blood glucose and insulin are elevated at the start of
exercise, there can be a rapid drop in blood glucose shortly after commencing
with hard work, reflecting a marked increase in the rate of glucose uptake by
muscle. Some researchers believe that this decrease in blood glucose can
be detrimental to performance. However, this drop in glucose levels can be
transient and might not necessarily have a negative effect on performance.

Contrary to this approach, some research indicates that eating a meal with a
high fibre content and moderate glycemic index (a typical coarse mix)
45 minutes before prolonged, moderately intense exercise significantly
enhances exercise capacity, and it might be worth experimenting with this,
especially if you feel your horse is lacking the staying power as the session
progresses. It is, however, important to do so long in advance of competition
day.

Feeding Hay

The safest approach for horses that will be exerting themselves heavily is to
remove all hay 4 hours before exercise. Ingestion of hay increases "gut fill,"
which increases the amount of weight the horse has to carry. This additional
weight (10 to 20kg) could be a handicap for horses competing in high-speed
events. Hay feeding also temporarily reduces the volume of blood circulating
to the tissues. This means that less blood is available to fuel muscle con-
traction and less blood is directed towards the skin to remove excess heat.
As a result, horses may get muscle cramps or overheat if they are exercised
after a large meal of hay. A digestive tract full of hay also demands a certain
amount of blood flow to aid digestion. Blood diverted away from a full digestive
tract and towards working muscles may put the horse at risk of colic.

Hay should not, however, affect gut fill and blood flow if the horse is fed smaller
meals (1 to 2kg) of hay in the 4-hour period before exercise as opposed to one
large meal (3 to 5kg).
Do note that exceptions to the above feeding management recommendations
involve horses participating in long distance events (endurance riding,
competitive trail riding, pack trips, etc). These horses should have access
to hay right up until the event, to promote water consumption and to enhance
the fluid reserve in the horse's hind gut. In addition, these horses should be
given small amounts of grain throughout the ride to maintain adequate energy
levels. Remember, adequately fed horses perform better!!

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What are anti-oxidants and how do they work?

Anti-oxidants are vitamins and minerals that scavenge dangerous by-products of body metabolism, neutralising
the toxic molecules before they have time to cause damage to cells. These toxic by-products are also called
free radicals.

                                                                                                  Antioxidants are intimately involved in the
                                                                                                  prevention of cellular damage which is the
                                                                                                  common pathway for cancer, aging, and a
                                                                                                  variety of diseases. Most athletes show a
                                                                                                  keen interest in anti-oxidants not only
                                                                                                  because of concern for their health, but also
                                                                                                  because of the prospect of enhanced
                                                                                                  performance and recovery after exercise.

Space-filling model of the antioxidant metabolite glutathione. The yellow sphere is the redox-active sulfur atom
that provides antioxidant activity, while the red, blue, white, and dark grey spheres represent oxygen, nitrogen,
hydrogen, and carbon atoms, respectively.

The primary role of the main anti-oxidant nutrients such as Vitamin E and Selenium is to minimise the formation
of these free radicals and to destroy or neutralise those that are produced.

In simple terms, the process that occurs within the body whereby nutrients from foods are 'burned' within the
cells to produce the energy needed to fuel body functions, is called oxidation. During this process of oxidation,
oxygen is consumed and carbon dioxide and water are produced. As a side effect of the oxidation process,
byproducts known as free radicals are produced. Free radicals are very unstable molecules that can randomly
damage cells if they are not rapidly 'mopped-up' and destroyed.

The major factors that can increase the rate of oxidation in horses include:

• Exercise and performance
• Pregnancy and growth
• Stress & nervousness
• Injury, inflammation & infection
• High fat diets

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