Nutrition and Feeding Management of Sport Horses – Part I
Ing. Lucie Humeni
The sport horse is exposed to high physical demands that require not only a properly formulated ration but also well-adjusted feeding management.
Feeding does not merely represent a source of energy for work; it significantly influences health status, recovery ability, and the maintenance of appropriate body condition. When formulating a ration, it is essential to consider the individual needs of each specific horse. These needs depend on the type and intensity of workload, length of training, breed, age, sex, body weight, and current nutritional and muscular condition. The environment and housing system also play an important role. Therefore, a completely universal “scheme” cannot be applied to all horses.
Energy Nutrients
First, it is important to clarify what energy nutrients are and what their respective energy values are. Energy nutrients include fats, carbohydrates (monosaccharides – sugars, disaccharides, polysaccharides – starch, glycogen, cellulose), fiber (a structural carbohydrate), and proteins.
Fats represent a long-term source of energy and, in terms of energy value, provide more than twice as much energy as carbohydrates and proteins. Their energy value reaches up to 37.7 kJ/g. This allows the energy density of the ration to be increased without excessive strain on the digestive tract, which is particularly beneficial for horses undergoing prolonged or repeated exercise. It is also worth mentioning that fats are highly digestible for horses, and feeds with a high fat content can, after gradual adaptation, be fed in relatively high amounts.
Carbohydrates and proteins have the same energy value; however, their metabolic utilization differs significantly. Their energy value is 16.7 kJ/g. Carbohydrates serve as the primary source of rapidly available energy, whereas proteins primarily fulfill structural and functional roles in the body. Energy from proteins is utilized only after glycogen and fat reserves are depleted, when amino acids are converted into glucose.
Fiber has the lowest energy value, approximately 6–8 kJ/g. It contributes to energy supply in a specific manner. Soluble fiber ferments with the help of intestinal microorganisms, leading to the production of volatile fatty acids. These fatty acids provide a certain amount of energy for the horse. Insoluble fiber (including components such as lignin) passes through the digestive tract largely unchanged but is essential for proper digestive function.
Energy Requirements According to Type of Workload
The energy demands of sport horses vary significantly depending on the nature of the work performed. Not only the overall intensity of exercise is decisive, but also its duration, structure, and repetition of individual work intervals. For these reasons, it is necessary to adjust not only the amount of supplied energy but also the choice of its sources. The daily requirement for digestible energy in sport horses ranges approximately from 110 to 150 MJ per 500 kg of body weight, depending on the type and intensity of work.
Graph 1 – Utilization of energy nutrients during 60 minutes of a horse’s workload.
Dressage horses perform predominantly moderate-intensity work with an emphasis on muscular endurance and the ability to maintain stable performance over a longer period. Therefore, energy supply is based on a higher proportion of fiber and fats, ensuring steady energy release. Starch is included in the ration in moderate amounts and primarily serves to cover increased demands during technically demanding exercises. The proportion of sugars remains low.
Show jumping horses are subjected to repeated short bursts of high intensity, placing increased demands on rapid energy mobilization. For this reason, starch is the main energy source, capable of meeting immediate performance requirements. Fats act as a supplementary energy source and contribute to energy stability during longer training sessions or competitions. Fiber forms an essential basis of the ration to ensure proper digestive function. Sugars are included only in limited amounts and do not represent a targeted energy source.
Racehorses competing over short distances deliver very intense performance for a relatively short duration. Their energy supply is therefore based primarily on a high proportion of starch and sugars, which provide rapidly available energy. The proportion of fats and fiber is lower in these cases; however, they remain important components of the ration for overall balance and healthy digestion.
In longer-distance racing, the structure of energy sources shifts. In addition to starch, the importance of fats increases, allowing for more efficient energy utilization during prolonged exertion. Fiber plays an important role as a stable component of the ration, while the proportion of sugars is reduced compared to short-distance races.
Endurance horses perform long-term work of low to moderate intensity, where the ability to manage energy over extended periods is crucial. Energy supply is therefore based primarily on a high proportion of fiber and fats, which enable smooth and stable energy release. Starch is included to a lesser extent.
Scheme 1 – Energys feeds arranged according to the highest content of selected nutrients. Does not include all Energys feeds. The scheme may help in selecting the appropriate feed for your horse.
In the next article, we will focus on body condition as an indicator of correct feeding, as well as feeding and watering management.
