Encouraging a controlled performance
A winning performance
Attitude and temperament are crucial aspect of a winning performance. A well behaved horse has a calm approach to their work and is willing to do what is asked of them; lessons and schooling are constructive and performance during competition is not affected by a difficult attitude.
Contributing to fizzy behaviour
Cereals, the traditional source of energy for competition horses, may well contribute to “fizzy” behaviour; the effect on horses of a high cereal intake is often described as “heating” and reducing the amount of cereal-based feeds, such as coarse mix, in the diet may help limit excitable behaviour. Starch may also contribute to factious or bad tempered behaviour if it is fed in excessive quantities; if the amount of starch in a feed overwhelms the horse’s digestive system, it will end up causing acidity in the hindgut and general discomfort for the horse.
Why fibre and oil may be more suitable
Research with young sport horses has shown that behaviour and stress clearly differ depending on whether they are fed cereal based or fibre diets. Those fed a compound based on fibre and oil coped better with novel situations, were more inquisitive and less stressed than those fed a traditional starch based feed (Nicol et al 2005).
Other work has shown how oil may have a beneficial effect on behaviour; oil is also a rich source of calories and therefore allows the formulation of high energy feeds with a limited cereal content.
How you can help
The WINERGY Equilibrium range offers fibre based, “non-heating” feeds with restricted starch levels. Oil and highly digestible fibre sources are used to provide additional calories where appropriate