Editor’s note: This article is part of TheHorse.com’s ongoing coverage of topics presented at the 2012 Alltech Symposium, held May 21-23 in Lexington, Ky.

When a performance horse is injured, his show schedule or exercise regimen shouldn’t be the only facets of his life that change. As one equine nutritionist explained at a recent symposium, an injured horse’s diet can either help or hinder the healing process, and might need to be adjusted from his performance diet.

During a presentation at the 2012 Alltech Symposium, Tania Cubitt, PhD, of Performance Horse Nutrition, explained that even though injured horses necessitate stall rest or minimal exercise, they could be in greater need of some dietary components than during training.

"The horses are used to a very structured routine," Cubitt relayed, referencing strict feeding schedules, regular exercise, and/or set turnout time. "(Upon injury) it’s totally different

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.