Summer Feeding for Competition

By Kate Jones BSc(Hons) Senior Nutritionist

Concentration

Does your horse start to spin or worry when he sees the ramp go down or hear the bell ring for the start of your test? It’s not unusual for nerves and tension to affect our horses, but there’s no reason why that should ruin their competition career. Low magnesium is often associated with tension and anxiety, and can be particularly seen in competing horses as it’s often associated with frequent traveling. However magnesium rarely works on it’s own, and it’s recommended to give a magnesium and herbal blend (NAF Magic) to support a calm, confident outlook.

Remember external support can also be useful in ensuring a calm, focused horse. Nothing is more distracting at a summer show, for both horse and rider, than being plagued by flies! Use a good quality fly repellent, and ensure it carries a HSE number which shows that it is registered for use on horses, and is legal and safe to use. I recommend looking for a product containing Deet (NAF Deet), the best known and widely researched repellent. It’s no coincidence that Deet is the only repellent recommended where insects cause a serious equine health threat, such as in countries affected by West Nile Virus (Africa, Europe and US).

Electrolytes

Salt is vital over summer, particularly for competing horses. Salt is one of the four essential body salts which are lost in sweat. Sodium chloride, that is, normal salt, is the most important and should be supplemented daily year round. Research has shown that salt is the one nutrient that horses will actively seek out and self-supplement. Therefore a salt lick (NAF Himalayan Salt Lick) available at all times in the stable and field will allow your horse to take what he needs, but beware that flavoured licks can sometimes be eaten like sweets! Once you increase the level of exercise the horse is doing and also as the weather warms up, you should upgrade basic salt to electrosalts which provide all four body salts, ie. sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium. Failure to replace these body salts can affect the thirst mechanism by failure to replace lost water, thus leaving the horse prone to dehydration. There may also be a loss of appetite, and, ultimately, cartilage and bone damage. Of course clean, fresh water should also always be available, as studies have recorded losses of up to 60 litres (110 pints) of sweat per day in competition.

It’s worth noting that electrolytes must be fed in a way that works with the body, or more damage can be done. For example using a very concentrated form of electrolytes (i.e. a paste) can actually draw water out of the gut as it passes through, hence leaving the horse more dehydrated than he was before! Ensure electrolytes are fed in a sufficient amount of water, or in a small well wetted feed with clean water available.

Don’t forget your own electrolyte requirements! If you’re at a show all day and want to stay on top of your game, taking an isotonic sports drink to replace your own lost body salts, rather than just grabbing a fizzy drink, will ensure your reactions and body strength remain at their peak throughout the day.

Joints

With more riding, competing and harder ground often seen in summer then protecting your horse’s joints is more important than ever. Good management is vital, care should be taken to build fitness gradually and avoid jumping on hard ground. If you are concerned about the going at a show then leave him for another day – better to miss one show than the rest of the season! The right nutritional support is an integral part of good management. Ensure your joint supplement contains good levels of the key joint support nutrients, Glucosamine HCl and MSM. Ideally these should be fed in combination with the support nutrients of l-glutamine, chondroitin sulphate and HA which all have their individual roles to play in maintaining flexibility for life. Including natural antioxidants in the blend will help to flush damaging free radical toxins away from the area, ensuring the vital support nutrients have easy access to where they are needed. Only NAF Superflex contains the optimum blend of the key joint support ingredients, in combination with naturally sourced antioxidants for complete joint health.

In conclusion, choosing the right key products to support the requirements of the competing horse will ensure that both you and your horse(s) enjoy the summer and keep happy and healthy throughout the season. Good luck!

Suitable NAF products:
Magic Powder or Liquid
NAF OFF Deet Spray / Gel
Himalayan Rock Salt
Electrosalts
Electrolyfe
Five Star Superflex