Ask the Nutritionist

Optimizing Equine Performance With Expert Nutrition.

By Kristyn Sturken

Feeding a performance horse is about more than just meeting basic nutritional needs—it’s also about optimizing stamina, strength and recovery. The right combination of forage, fiber and feed can make the difference between a horse that merely gets through a competition and one that performs at its peak. Understanding these unique nutritional demands is key to helping your clients develop a feeding program that supports long-term success.

FORAGE FOR A HEALTHY FOUNDATION.
High-quality hay and pasture should constitute the majority of a performance horse’s diet, providing essential fiber necessary for proper digestive function. A well-functioning hindgut is vital for nutrient absorption and may reduce the risk of digestive upsets which can occur especially in high-stress, high-intensity equine athletes. Ensuring a steady intake of quality forage helps sustain endurance, optimize digestion and support overall health in competitive horses.
Conversely, insufficient forage intake or compromised gut health can lead to decreased energy levels and poor recovery which may contribute to an increased risk of colic or laminitis, negatively impacting a horse’s ability to compete.

FIBER FOR SUSTAINED ENERGY RELEASE.
Quality fiber sources like beet pulp and soy hulls help maintain gut function and support a healthy microbial population. Fiber also provides energy as it’s fermented by those microbes in the hindgut, producing volatile fatty acids like acetate, propionate and butyrate.
Unlike simple carbohydrates that provide quick bursts of energy, volatile fatty acids offer a slow, sustained energy release. This steady energy supply helps performance horses maintain endurance and stamina throughout training and competition, reducing the risk of fatigue and performance dips.

FEED TO MEET EVEVATED ENERGY DEMANDS.
Grains like oats, barley and corn are traditional energy-dense feeds, but their high starch and sugar content can cause rapid glucose spikes. While these quick bursts are beneficial for equine athletes such as racehorses that rely on anaerobic energy, it may not be ideal for horses that participate in disciplines where increased stamina is required over an extended duration.
In contrast, fat-rich feeds that include rice bran, vegetable oils and flaxseed provide a concentrated, slow-burning energy source that helps sustain endurance and optimize muscle function without the risks associated with excessive starch intake. Fat metabolism produces a steady supply of energy, reducing reliance on glycogen stores and delaying the onset of fatigue during intense exercise or prolonged competition.

The Sentinel team can help you make the best nutritional decisions for your horse and the horses under your care.
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