Q: How should I modify feeding schedules on competition days to optimize performance without causing digestive upset?

A: Your horse’s feeding schedule on competition day depends on the show day schedule and the intensity, duration, and frequency of the performance. The amount of feed and hay the horse eats, the type of feed, and rate of intake are also considerations. Wrap all that up with the individuality in the metabolism and personality of each competition horse, and you find there is not a one-size-fits-all recommendation for modifying feeding schedules on competition days to optimize performance.

Feeding schedule on competition days can affect energy availability during competition, hydration status, digestive health, and behavior. Basic horse feeding principles we might have been taught, such as feeding at the same time every day and not riding soon after eating, might not align with efforts at optimizing performance and digestive health on competition days. While consistency is absolutely a good thing in feeding and caring for horses, rigid feeding schedules sometimes inevitably set horses up for anxiety and frustration on competition days when ride times overlap mealtime. Providing a smaller meal within an hour of normal feeding times is often a good solution when this conflict occurs. 

Many of us were also taught not to exercise a horse directly after feeding. However, researchers have found exercising horses on an empty stomach increases the risk of developing ulcers. Feeding smaller, more frequent meals and targeted use of effective gastric buffering supplements prior to competitions can be helpful in managing mealtime issues and gastric health.

Feeding Horses Prior to Competition

Published research does not provide enough information to give precise advice on when and what to feed before maximal-effort performance, such as racing. Current suggestions are to keep pre-exercise meals small (less than 2 pounds) and not fed within the three hours before a race or intense performance effort. This is based on the research finding that a large cereal grain meal within the two to three hours prior to intense exercise can result in a significant dip in blood glucose levels during the exercise, when that fuel is needed most.

This isn’t as well mapped out for horses eating smaller meals or feeds lower in starch and sugar, and especially not for a wide variety of levels and types of work. Any metabolic or physiologic disturbances associated with large meals (greater than 5–6 pounds of cereal grains) can be minimized by feeding smaller meals, slowing rate of consumption, and allowing for ample warmup time prior to the performance. Warming up readjusts circulation, metabolism, and endocrine status in favor of exercise and can partially erase any negative effects of a meal.

Forage for Horses Before Performance

Providing 2 pounds of forage two to three hours prior to a race or competition ride and implementing some method to slow rate of intake of both feed and hay (slow-feed hay nets or feeders) meals will promote chewing and salivation without ending up with excessive gut fill. Keep in mind that free-choice hay prior to performance increases water intake and body weight, which could negatively affect certain short-duration, high-intensity performances.

Take-Home Message

Differences in metabolism, temperament, and competition demands call for individualized feeding strategies. Thoughtful planning of feed, forage, and supplements before, during, and after an event ensures the horse’s needs are met.

Do you have an equine nutrition question?