b'NUTRITIONhelps prevent colic (abdominal pain) andwar horses diets to make them run fasterglucose into the bloodstream, it can use gastric ulcers. Ulcers are a pain in the gutfor longerand it worked. While todaysit to either create ATP and consume it as for any horse, but especially for athletes,sport horses no longer need to chargeenergy immediately or store it intra-as researchers (Nieto et al., 2009) haveinto battle, they still need energy beyondmuscularly as glycogen. When the horse shown them to have a negative impact onwhat forage can provide.needs that stored energy later, his body oxygen consumption, which we know isIt is often not possible to meet someturns it back into glucose, a process essential for athletic ability.athletic horses calorie demands byknown as glycogenolysis. Starch and Taylor believes owners can pay morefeeding only forage, says Taylor. In thissugar are great energy sources, and it can attention to providing the best qualityscenario she recommends incorporat- be tempting to offer them liberally to our forage possible to horses in heavy work.ing grains slightly higher in fiber, suchequine athletes. However, we must feed Better quality translates to greater energyas oats, which are easily digestible andNSCs in moderation. While most horses extraction, and not all hays are createdcontribute to both energy production andcan handle them well (Pagan/KER, 2011), equal. Plant species matter, with grassdigestive health.if they consume too much starch or sugar hays such as orchardgrass and timothyConcentrates (cereal grainsoats, corn,at a time, a complex physiological process generally providing fewer nutrients.barley, etc.and commercially mixedthat results in hindgut acidosis can cause Legume hays, on the other hand, are richfeeds) are integral to the sport horses diet,one of two potentially career- and life-in energy and protein; thats why tossing aso its important to understand the roleending conditions: colic and laminitis (a few flakes of alfalfa into your athletes stallthey play. They provide a compact sourcedebilitating hoof condition). Additionally, every day can be a smart addition.of energy, intake of which dictates energythe sugar rush associated with glucose Forage also includes fresh grass. Tayloravailable for performance. In other words,intake causes a spike in the hormone says eating fiber straight from the sourceyou get out what you put in. Energy isinsulin, which, if repeated over time can remains the best way to not only cash innot a nutrient in itself but a measure of acause metabolic disorders.on calories but also supply horses valu- feeds potential to chemically convert intoFat Good news: Fat cant cause colic or able fresh air, water, and sunshine.substances that can fuel the bodys physi- laminitis. Fat is a rather safe and effec-Pasture grazing allows movement andological processes. Again, the three maintive way to provide energy to horses in provides health benefits such as gastroin- nutrients that can be used for digestibleheavy work. It is extremely calorie-dense, testinal motility, musculoskeletal strength,energy are carbohydrates, fat, and pro- containing 2.25 times more energy-per-and mental stimulation, she says. tein. Lets take a closer look at each.weight than carbohydrates. Fat molecules Carbohydrates Starch and sugar areare converted into fatty acids that the Concentrates: Fuel forPerformance the two most common nonstructuralhorses body can use as energy or store Historical texts suggest that humanscarbohydrates (NSCs) fed to adult horses.in adipose (fat) tissue. Upton encourages were feeding horses concentrates as farThey make up the bulk of corn, oats,horse owners to embrace this valuable back as the fourth century, when Greekbarley, and other cereal grains. Oncenutrient, because fat-based feeds make philosopher Xenophon added grain to histhe body absorbs carbohydrate-derivedhorses less hot and excitable than At ADM Animal Nutriion, we believe in the Forage First philosophy, supported by over 100 years of feed manufacturing excellence. Every day, we source the cleanest, most nutriious ingredients for our premium Forage First horse feeds so you can feed the very best to the one you love the most. ADMequine.comEquine Help Line: 800-650-8254 [email protected] 2020The Horse|TheHorse.com'