Posted: 15th January 2014 | Back to news feed
With the winter season finally beginning to draw to a close many horse owners are starting to look forward to the competition season and getting “out and about” on the circuit in a variety of disciplines. But how do we ensure our equines have the condition, and particularly the topline, to compete successfully without the risk of injury?
Prior to beginning a conditioning programme it is essential to ensure all basic welfare issues are taken care of, otherwise these factors can stand in the way of weight and condition gain alongside compromising wellbeing. Your equine should undergo a general health check and begin the season up-to-date with any vaccinations, dentistry checks, shoeing, and worming or saddlery issues.
Achieving optimum body condition and fitness means that your exercise and feeding programme must go hand in hand. If your horse has been on a reduced exercise regime over the wintertime start by riding or lungeing him regularly and wait 6-8 weeks before you do anything strenuous. Increase his feed in accordance to his workload so you can be sure you are providing exactly what the horse needs.
In order to achieve optimum condition for competing, horses require nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals to have a healthy balanced diet, and quality protein is particularly essential for building musculature. However it is important to remember feed cannot produce correct condition and sufficient topline alone so incorporating additional hill work will help to develop strong hindquarters whilst working the horse in the correct outline will help to develop the musculature that makes up the top line.
Good quality forage should form the basis of your competition horse’s diet to compliment their digestive needs. A diet rich in fibre helps keep the gut mobile and stimulates saliva production through chewing, buffering stomach acid and aiding in the prevention of gastric ulcers, which can hinder sufficient weight being maintained and limit the condition of the horse.
Chestnut Horse Feeds Alpha Plus is high in fibre, supplying long stemmed alfalfa, which slows down the eating process and ensures each and every mouthful of our equine’s feed is properly and efficiently digested. Alongside a comprehensive vitamin and mineral package, Alpha Plus is also rich in oil, which is a well known ingredient to help promote healthy skin and a glossy coat, and provides slow release calories to help maintain optimum condition without inducing “fizzy” behaviour, especially important to stop horses “stressing away” condition.
Chestnut Horse Feeds is only available to buy direct and can be delivered in the exclusive Bulk Bin Feeding System, which is provided on free loan for the life-span of the feed, or in 20kg bags. Alpha Plus complete feed starts from £15.75.
For more information visit www.chestnuthorsefeeds.co.uk or call 01455 558 808 to speak to a member of the team.
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