Feeding the equine athlete: nutritional considerations for optimal performance

Feeding the equine athlete is a complex endeavor that requires a deep understanding of the unique nutritional needs and physiological demands placed on performance horses. The key factors that must be considered when formulating diets for equine athletes include energy requirements, protein needs, electrolyte balance, and timing of feedings. By addressing these aspects, horse owners and trainers can enhance the performance and well-being of their animals.

Equine athletes, whether competing in racing, show jumping, dressage, or other disciplines, require attention to their nutritional needs to ensure peak performance and recovery. The energy expended during training and competition places substantial demands on their bodies, necessitating a diet that provides the necessary fuel and nutrients. Energy is the cornerstone of any equine athlete’s diet. The energy needs of these animals depend on factors such as exercise intensity, duration, and the individual horse’s metabolism. While some equine athletes can perform well on a diet that is composed primarily of forage, many performance horses require grains or concentrates to meet increased energy demands. Carbohydrates are a primary source of energy, and such concentrate feeds can provide readily available carbohydrates that can aid in meeting the increased energy requirements needed for exercise. Whether energy demands are being met or exceeded can be determined by evaluating the body condition scores of horses. Depending upon discipline and type of exercise being performed, the appropriate body condition score will vary. An endurance horse competing for hours would be expected to have lower body fat stores than would a sprinting horse competing for less than a minute. While the endurance horse would have much greater energy demands than would the sprinting horse, carrying the extra weight that accompanies the fat stores is a much greater disadvantage when traveling long distances compared to when only carrying it a short distance. Thus, any decrease in glycogen stores (the storage form of carbohydrates which provides rapidly available energy) that accompanies a body condition score below a 5 in the endurance horse would be offset by the lower energy requirements that accompany carrying less weight.

Proteins are essential for muscle development, repair, and overall tissue health. Equine athletes require higher protein levels than their sedentary counterparts due to the breakdown of muscle tissues during exercise. However, excess dietary protein, beyond their requirements, may not be justified. Also, sometimes the increase in protein requirements is simply met by increasing the amount of feed being provided to meet energy requirements. Hence it is important to evaluate protein requirements on a weight basis (such as grams of protein) rather than the percentage of diet. Further, ensuring the proper supply of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, may be even more crucial than evaluating just the amount of protein. Providing an excess amount of a poor-quality protein may still not meet the requirements for crucial amino acids such as lysine and methionine.

Equine athletes may lose significant amounts of electrolytes, including sodium, chloride, and potassium through sweat during exertion. Electrolyte imbalances can lead to muscle cramps, dehydration, and decreased performance. Supplementing electrolytes before, during, and after exercise is commonly done to help maintain proper balance and supports the horse’s ability to recover efficiently. However, this tends to be important only if a horse is exercising for sustained periods in warm temperatures when sweat losses would be great. Providing free access to salt can decrease the need for electrolyte supplementation. Further, if providing a commercial concentrate, most feeds would have salt incorporated into the grain mix. Thus, providing extra salt may not be needed for most horses. Also, the forage consumed by most horses would typically provide potassium far in excess of requirements. If supplementation is to be provided, it can be done inexpensively through the provision of regular salt and/or “lite salt” (NaCl and KCl). Water is often referred to as the “forgotten nutrient,” yet it plays a vital role in the equine athlete’s performance. While there may be some benefits to mild dehydration during short, high-intensity work such as racing, long-term dehydration can impair thermoregulation, muscle function, and digestion. Ensuring access to clean, fresh water, and encouraging adequate consumption after exercise, is essential for maintaining optimal hydration. Likewise, the timing of feedings is a critical consideration in the equine athlete’s nutritional plan. Care should be taken to avoid feeding immediately before exercise to prevent digestive discomfort.

Feeding the equine athlete is a dynamic process that involves careful consideration of energy requirements, protein needs, electrolyte balance, hydration, and feeding timing. Consultation with an equine nutritionist or veterinarian trained in equine nutrition is crucial for tailoring diets to individual needs. Proper nutrition is a cornerstone of optimal performance, and a well-balanced diet supports muscle development, energy production, and overall well-being. By assessing the horse’s condition and performance over time, adjustments can be made to ensure continued optimal nutrition. Horse owners and trainers who prioritize these factors can contribute to the success and longevity of their competitive equine partners.

Biographical Sketch for Dr. Brian D. Nielsen
Dr. Nielsen completed his undergraduate degree in Animal Science at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls and received both his M.S. and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He currently is a professor of Equine Exercise Physiology in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University where he has a teaching and research appointment. Nielsen has authored 83 peer-reviewed papers and 241 book chapters, conference papers, and abstracts, as well as 67 popular press articles. He has given 65 invited international talks in countries such as Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Norway, Spain, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates and has given 145 invited talks at national meetings and within the state of Michigan. He has secured $2.8 million in research funding. He is an active member of the American Society of Animal Science, the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, and served as the President of the Equine Science Society – an organization that presented him with the “American Feed Industry Association Award in Equine Nutrition Research” in 2017 and the “Outstanding Young Equine Professional Award” in 2001. Additionally, he was awarded the “Outstanding Teacher Award” at the Midwest Section of the American Society of Animal Science and the American Dairy Science Association in 2005 and the “Equine Science Award” by the American Society of Animal Science and Equine Science Society in 2010. Besides having served on the editorial board for the Journal of Animal Science, the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, The Professional Animal Scientist, and the international journals Comparative Exercise Physiology and the Journal of Istanbul Veterinary Sciences, he is a Diplomat in the American College of Animal Nutritionists and served on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Nutrient Requirements of Horses. Throughout his academic career, he has maintained involvement in the industry by breaking and galloping racing Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds for nearly 35 years and became a licensed racehorse trainer in 1997