A survey on the feeding of eventing horses during competition.
Authors: Brunner J, Wichert B, Burger D, von Peinen K, Liesegang A
Journal: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Summary
# Editorial Summary Brunner and colleagues surveyed feeding practices at one-star eventing competitions, collecting blood samples from 25 competing horses to assess metabolic responses and comparing actual management against published nutritional guidelines. Concentrate intakes averaged 4.3 kg daily (range 1.54–8 kg), yet pre-exercise concentrate quantity showed no statistically significant relationship with blood glucose, insulin, lactate, free fatty acids or triglyceride concentrations—findings that challenge the emphasis placed on timing of grain feeding in many competition protocols. Notable gaps emerged in electrolyte provision: 45% of horses had no access to salt on competition days and only 30% received supplementary oil, whilst roughage availability paradoxically increased during competitions (55% fed ad libitum) compared with training (37%), with most handlers reducing hay before cross-country phases. Beyond electrolyte management, feeding practices largely aligned with published recommendations, though the authors suggest that current literature may overestimate sodium and chloride requirements for sport horses, warranting re-evaluation. For practitioners, these findings indicate that pre-competition concentrate timing is unlikely to materially affect metabolic status, but systematic attention to electrolyte supplementation—particularly salt access on competition days—deserves greater priority than current protocols typically reflect.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Current concentrate feeding practices (averaging 4.3 kg/day) appear adequate for one-star eventing horses and do not require adjustment based on pre-exercise blood metabolic markers
- •Review salt supplementation protocols—nearly half of competition horses receive no salt on competition days; evaluate whether current literature recommendations are excessive for your eventing population
- •Increase roughage availability during competition (aim for ad libitum when possible) rather than restricting it before cross-country phases, as current practice may be unnecessarily conservative
Key Findings
- •Horses received average 4.3 kg concentrate daily (range 1.54–8 kg) during training and competition with no significant effect on blood metabolic parameters
- •45% of horses had no access to salt supplements on tournament days despite literature recommendations
- •84% of horses had daily pasture access during training, increasing to 55% receiving ad libitum roughage during competition versus 37% during training
- •Most feeding practices aligned with literature recommendations except sodium and chloride requirements, suggesting current literature recommendations may overestimate salt needs for sport horses