JULY / AUGUST 2020 | Page 37

PG.35
THE GOOD OIL©
ARTICLE BY: DR JENNIFER STEWART - BVSC BSC PHD EQUINE VETERINARIAN AND CONSULTANT NUTRITIONIST
With much information around on new ‘magic’ products to improve
performance, it’s important to keep up with the research on feeding
competition horses - before turning to supplements.
If horses are properly conditioned and have
the fuel and nutrients they need, there is good
evidence they will willingly and voluntarily run
faster, jump higher, stop harder, move more
consistently and perform at a higher level.
Recent research in performance Quarterhorses
indicates that muscle fuel supply can be altered and
performance improved by specific feeds. A finely
tuned supply of nutrients, when combined with
specific feeding management practices, can improve
performance. This is particularly applicable to
energy.
The primary nutrient of concern in performance horses
is energy – and needs differ according to workload
and type of work. Workloads for western pleasure and
equitation horses are generally ‘light’ – in that they are
not exhaustive, energy needs can be met by oxygen
from breathing (aerobic work) and heart rate does not
usually reach 150 beats per minute (the rate at which
oxygen cannot meet energy demands = anaerobic
work). Timed-events and most cattle-working events
are broadly classified as ‘moderate’ work and cutting
horses, some cow horses, reining and polo ponies
perform ‘heavy’ work.
With aerobic work, energy is supplied by oxygen and
the fat and fibre in the diet. Horses that perform shortduration,
high-velocity exercise must have enough
carbohydrates (sugar, starch = grains) in the diet and
stored in the muscles to meet the sudden demands of
anaerobic work. Hay and roughage do not provide
enough energy for horses that perform at intense levels
of activity and grains are often needed. However, heavy
reliance on grains for energy can increase risks of
acidosis, sub-clinical laminitis and colic. Grains should
be processed so the starches in them can be digested
more easily in the small intestine, more glucose can be
absorbed and the risk of hind-gut acidosis is minimised.
High-performance horses, such as cutting horses,
reining horses and other athletes, routinely perform
both aerobic and anaerobic work while competing.
Recent research indicates that the performance of such
horses can be improved by adding oil to the diet. With
proper time for adaptation, oil supplementation can
influence the amount of stored muscle energy (= muscle
glycogen), the fuel supply for anaerobic work. Adding
oil to their diets can reduce reliance on high grain diets
– and oil also supports lower intensity, aerobic practice/
training work.
Horses doing high heart-rate, anaerobic work rely on
blood glucose and then muscle and liver glycogen
for fuel. When cutting, working a cow or running
a barrel race, horses rely significantly on anaerobic
energy production. Once blood glucose levels begin
to fall and muscle glycogen stores become depleted,
fatigue ensues. Proper training combined with correct
dietary support builds muscle and liver glycogen
stores and delays the fall in blood glucose that heralds
www.jenquine.com
AQHA ~ JULY/AUGUST ISSUE 2020