b'NUTRITION LUCILE VIGOUROUXTheHorse.com/NutritionFeeding for PerformanceGuidelines for fueling the equine athleteEssentially, horses derive the bulk of the energy they need for work from glucose (mostly found in carbohydrates) and ami-Performance horseno acids, the building blocks of protein. diets differ fromOnce digested, the body can turn both maintenance diets inglucose and amino acids into adenosine the amount of energy,triphosphate (ATP) to be used for energy. the quality of protein,This process of turning food into fuel and the balance of electrolytes required. happens in one of two ways: The first is through aerobic metabolism, a process that uses oxygen to break down carbo-hydrates, fats, and protein into glucose. The second type is anaerobic metabolism, which produces energy using glucose in the absence of oxygen, a comparatively faster process than aerobic metabolism that grants immediate power. The catch? The energy produced is short-lived and COURTESY FEI/LIZ GREGGdoesnt sustain the horse as long as that produced by aerobic metabolism. Plus, the anaerobic metabolism cycle produces lactic acid, which can accumulate in the muscles, causing fatigue and soreness.W hat does it take to win withCouncils (NRC) 2007 Nutrient Require- To put these in context, consider two your horse? A reputable coach,ments of Horses, the energy, protein, vita- different types of performance horse. En-world-class training facilities, andmin, and mineral requirements of horsesdurance horses rely almost exclusively on high-tech equipment will all give you anin heavy work can climb to one-and-a-halfaerobic energy synthesis to steadily cruise advantage, no doubt. But for your horseto two times their maintenance needs.50 miles or more, whereas racing Quarter to feel and perform at his best, youll needUltimately, the goal of performanceHorses count on anaerobic metabolism to to start at a more fundamental level andhorse nutrition is to replenish glycogendash the short quarter of a mile between consider what kind of fuel youre pump- (the storage form of glucose, importantstarting gate and finish line. Horses ing into him.for energy) levels and to prevent fatigue,participating in other disciplines use both Equine athletes have nutritional needssays Sarah Upton, PhD, equine nutritionaerobic and anaerobic metabolism in specific to their discipline, workload, andresearcher and senior lecturer of equinedifferent proportions, depending on the lifestyle; for optimal performance, youscience at Nottingham Trent University,intensity and duration of their work. must address them.in England. Fundamentally, the difference betweenLets take a closer look at the subtletiesForage as the Foundationthe diet of an equine athlete and that of aof performance horse diets. Horses have evolved over the past 55 horse at maintenance lies in the amountmillion years as herbivores, so forage is of energy, the quality of protein, and theEnergys Origin the foundation of their diet. They extract balance of electrolytes required, saysHorses have different means of obtain- energy from forage by fermenting in their Lynn Taylor, PhD, professor of equine sci- ing the energy they need to excel athleti- hindguts the structural carbohydrates ence at Centenary University, in Hackett- cally. The metabolic pathway used forthat make up this fibrous feed. Forage is stown, New Jersey, and owner of a privategenerating energy varies with exercisealso essential to keeping a horses diges-equine nutrition consulting business.intensity and duration, and not all feedtive tract healthy, as a high-fiber diet According to the National Researchcalories are created equal, says Taylor.(1.5-2% of the horses body weight daily) 28May 2020The Horse|TheHorse.com'