New Concepts in Feeding Performance Horses
Dr. Katie Young
Equine Nutritionist, Purina Mills, LLC
Feeding performance horses to provide essential nutrients to maintain their condition as well as supply the necessary energy and other nutrients to satisfy the requirements of intense exercise has received quite a bit of research attention in the past several years. Several new concepts have arisen from this research, especially from research conducted by the equine research team at Purina Mills.All horses require energy to maintain body processes, and then performance horses require additional energy for work. The energy requirements of a performance horse may be extremely large, up to 36,000 kcal per day for an intensely exercising horse. Further, the type of work dictates the type of energy, or fuel, which will best fit the animal’s needs. Some horses need quick bursts of energy, while others require steady, sustained energy. Some horses need a combination of both, and all horses need energy that allows them to remain calm and focused and to maintain a “competitive condition” over the course of the athletic season. One factor to consider in meeting these requirements is the source of energy supplied in the horse’s diet.Energy can be supplied by carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Protein is not an efficient source of energy for a horse. Protein is only used as energy when more is fed than is needed to meet the horse's amino acid requirements, and the process of converting excess amino acids to an energy source actually requires more energy expenditure. Therefore, adding protein to an already adequate diet is of little or no benefit when more energy is required.
Carbohydrates include sugars and starches (soluble carbohydrates), and fibers. Starches are compounds formed of several simple sugars linked together, and are found in grains and in the immature leafy portions of plants. During digestion, starches are broken down into their simple sugar building blocks, which are then absorbed primarily in the small intestine. These simple sugars may then be used as fuel immediately, or stored as glycogen by the horse, which is usually the major fuel source for aerobic and anaerobic activity, or stored as fat, which is also a fuel source for aerobic activity.
Fermentable fibers are also formed by the linkages of simple sugars, but the links are different from those in starches, so fibers are digested differently. Digestible fibers are fermented by the microbes in the horse's hindgut into volatile fatty acids, which are then absorbed. These VFA's are also a source of energy for aerobic activity.
Fats are excellent sources of energy. Fats contain more than twice the calories per pound than either carbohydrates or proteins, so adding fat to the diet allows the horse to ingest more calories in a smaller quantity of feed, which helps prevent some digestive disturbances. Further, research has shown that adding fat to the diets of performance horses may improve performance, such as increased stamina and delayed onset of fatigue.
Research conducted by Purina equine nutritionists indicates that feeds containing a blend of energy sources (soluble carbohydrates, fermentable fiber and fats) provide a “steady” level of “cool” energy for the competition horse. The digestion of fermentable fiber (such as beet pulp) and fats that takes place in the horse’s hindgut does not increase the horse’s blood sugar level, therefore blunting the glucose and insulin responses to meals high in starch and sugar. Therefore, diets that are higher in fat and fiber than conventional grain-based diets help “smooth” the horse’s energy level, which may also provide a “calming effect.” Horses on such diets appear to be more controllable and manageable, have more mental focus, have the mindset to perform, and therefore the best chance of winning.
Another new concept regarding the fat content of a performance feed relates to the fatty acid profile of the fat sources. Purina researchers have determined that a blend of fats rather than one fat source (e.g. corn oil or soy oil) will provide more beneficial levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, as well as improved palatability.
Possibly the most exciting results of the new research relate to the protein or amino acid balance in performance horse feeds. Essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) rebuild and repair tissue damage that is naturally caused by vigorous exercise. Purina equine nutritionists have determined that when these essential amino acids are added to the competition horse’s diet, in the appropriate balances, it helps the horse exhibit faster recovery and replenishment, and the horse is then able to maintain peak “competition condition” for a longer period of time. This new information is of great benefit to horse owners, as a horse can easily become “run down” over the course of a competitive season.
Purina researches have taken all these new concepts in performance horse nutrition, and have incorporated them into Utium™ Competition Horse Formula, the new standard in equine sports nutrition. Due to the new patented, proprietary technology, Ultium™ contains a Sustained Energy System® that features a unique blend of three fuel sources: fat, fermentable fiber and soluble carbohydrates. Therefore, an Ultium™ horse has the required energy to excel at competition without having nervous energy. An Ultium™ horse has the mental focus, is controllable and manageable, has the mindset to perform, and has the best chance of winning.
The fat source in Ultium™ is a blend of soy oil, flaxseed and rice bran that provides a unique fatty acid profile that is beneficial to the equine athlete. Added beet pulp provides a highly digestible, palatable, fermentable fiber source, which supplies slow-released energy. The reduced starch and higher fat and fermentable fiber may reduce the risk of colic and other digestive disturbances, as well as leveling blood sugar to allow the horse to remain calm and focused.
The Targeted Nutrition Delivery System™ with a unique amino acid profile including added lysine, threonine, tryptophan and methionine along with top-quality fuel sources replenish glycogen and protein stores in muscles, aids in muscle repair with less muscle fatigue for faster “bounce back” and readiness to perform when called upon, competition after competition.
Ultium™ Competition Horse Formula also contains the antioxidants vitamin E, vitamin C and selenium, as well as an optimal balance of vitamins and minerals to meet the demands of the high performance horse.
Overall, Ultium™ delivers:
-Mental focus and manageability
-Quick recovery and muscle repair
-Prolonged stamina
-A strong top line
-Less digestive upset
Look for New Ultium™ Competition Horse Formula available from your Purina Mills feed dealers in January 2005. The rules of competition have just changed.
