question: I have a young jumper who normally has a lot of energy. He is on a consistent training program and competes frequently so he has significant energy needs which he must meet through his diet. How can I ensure his needs are met without overfeeding him and draining him further?
answer: That’s a great question. And you’re not alone. It’s a dilemma faced by horse owners from all walks of life: How do you give your horse enough dietary energy to perform the tasks he needs to perform at the required level, while keeping his mental energy and reactivity in check?
From a nutritionist’s perspective, the relationship between behavior and nutrition is not an exact science. Horses are very individual in their response to different diets. What works for one horse may not work for another, even if they compete at the same level and in the same competition. It can be frustrating that questions like “What is the best diet for a young jumper?” and there is no one answer, regardless of the type of competition. There are many reasons why there are so many different feeding programs, even among top competitors, and no one diet fits all. Riders may have certain preferences or biases regarding feed. There are regional differences in feed quality and availability. Riders may want a certain feel from their horses and may ride horses that respond differently to certain diets.
The component of diet most commonly associated with horse behavior is energy, or calories, which comes primarily from starch, sugars, fat, and fiber in the diet. Horses use the energy they get from their diet immediately for metabolism and in the form of circulating blood sugar. Alternatively, the body stores it for later use as glycogen in the liver and muscles, or as fat in adipose tissue throughout the body. When given excess calories in their diet, most horses simply gain weight, while others become more reactive. If their dietary energy comes from starches and sugars rather than fat and fiber, that behavior change may be more pronounced. That said, some horses will be reactive or laid-back, regardless of the calorie source. So, again, nutritional management of behavior is an inexact science and requires some trial and error.
Switching from a grain-based, high soluble carbohydrate feed to a low soluble carbohydrate feed with added fat and fiber formulated for competition horses is a good starting point. If you’re comfortable with your horse, a low-calorie feed balancer is also an option. One good tool to prevent a calorie surplus or deficiency is to monitor your horse’s body condition, aiming to keep your horse’s body condition score at 5 or 6, and adjusting diet as necessary to keep body fat stores at a consistent and desirable level.
Remember that there are many things other than diet that can affect a horse’s mental state. Discomfort, frustration and anxiety can all contribute to a horse’s “hot” behavior. Competition horses are particularly at risk for gastric ulcers, and the discomfort these lesions cause can lead to an overreaction. Have your horse examined by a veterinarian, especially if you notice any unexpected changes in his behavior, to see if there is a medical problem or cause for his pain or discomfort. For example, horses experiencing stomach discomfort will benefit from both medical intervention and the implementation of nutritional strategies such as feeding small, frequent meals that contain alfalfa hay and supplementing with products containing marine-derived calcium, which has been shown to support gastric health.
Take home message
When it comes to feeding to influence a horse’s behavior, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Before changing your horse’s diet, consult with your veterinarian to make sure there isn’t a physical reason for your horse to react when saddled. If you’re unsure about your horse’s diet, work with an equine nutritionist to consider ways to feed your horse a diet that meets his needs without giving him excess energy.
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