Nutrition For Horsewomen: Excerpt from Riding For Life

As an equestrian, you know the importance of your horse getting good nutrition. You realize the quality of the feed and forage is key in determining how he looks, feels, and performs. You probably invest in high-quality grain, hay, and nutritional supplements to maximize your horse’s health.
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As an equestrian, you know the importance of your horse getting good nutrition. You realize the quality of the feed and forage is key in determining how he looks, feels, and performs. You probably invest in high-quality grain, hay, and nutritional supplements to maximize your horse’s health. If your non-equestrian friends ever caught a glimpse of your feed bill, they might shake their heads in disbelief. Not only do you pay close attention to what your horse eats, you’re also careful about when he eats. You feed him on a schedule, and you wouldn’t dream of asking him to skip a meal. You’d never intentionally underfeed or overfeed your horse, nor would you give him anything detrimental.

While you’re working hard to ensure that your horse eats a perfectly balanced, nutritionally complete, and irresistibly tasty ration, is it possible you’re fueling your own body with foods full of fat, sugar, and empty calories? This isn’t an uncommon occurrence. Many perfectly sensible, highly intelligent women who obsess about every single micro-nutrient that passes their horses’ lips think nothing of filling their own bodies with burgers, fries, and soft drinks. If you fall into this category, it’s time to rethink your nutritional strategy.

The female body is a miracle in motion. As the owner of such a miraculous machine, you have an opportunity to improve its performance and increase its longevity by supplying it with wholesome, nutritious foods. Nutrition dramatically impacts not only your health but also your ability to function, both intellectually and physically. To a large extent, your diet dictates the way you look and feel. The foods you eat determine your weight, your moods, and your energy levels. A substandard diet can leave you irritable, zap your energy, and rob you of strength and stamina. Even if you’re not competing in equestrian events, the fact that you’re riding, handling, or caring for horses qualifies you as an athlete, with specific nutritional needs. Your diet can either enhance or impede your motivation to ride and, ultimately, your ability to ride effectively

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Rallie McAllister, MD, grew up on a horse farm in Tennessee, and has raised and trained horses all of her life. She now lives in Lexington, Ky., on a horse farm with her husband and three sons. In addition to her practice of emergency and corporate medicine, she is a syndicated columnist (Your Health by Dr. Rallie McAllister), and the author of four health-realted books, including Riding For Life, published by Eclipse Press and available at www.ExclusivelyEquine.com or by calling 800/582-5604.””allie McAllister

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