b'NUTRITIONstarch- or sugar-based feeds do. On avitamins and minerals. Theyre convenientNutritional supplements are designed practical level, fat is also cost-effective toto feed and ensure all dietary needs areto compensate for nutrient deficiencies feed: Vegetable oil, rice bran, soy hulls,met without adding unnecessary calories.in the diet. But how do you know what, linseed/flaxseed oil, and sunflower seedsif anything, is missing? Add the nutri-are all affordable sources. Horses canA Note About Supplementstional content of the forage portion (that digest up to 20% fat in their total diet, butMore than half of American horse own- includes estimating what the horse gets be sure to add it progressively becauseers feed at least one oral supplement tofrom pasture) to that of the concentrate too much can decrease palatability andtheir horse, according to market studies,portion of your horses diet, and compare might result in loose or oily stool. and hundreds are available. Manufactur- the total numbers with what the NRC Finally, when supplementing a horsesers claim these products solve all sorts ofrecommends as his nutrient needs. You diet with fat, Upton recommends increas- must have your hay tested, while nutri-ing vitamin E intake, as well. When fatsent information is readily available on are broken down, they oxidize, she ex- the labels of commercial feeds. When plains. Oxidation leads to the productionEnergy is not a nutrientfeeding performance horses, you might and release of free radicals, which canin itself but a measure of aneed to supplement with electrolytes at cause cell damage. Vitamin E preventstimes. While good-quality hay and a salt this from occurring by protecting the cellsfeeds potential to chemicallyblock provide plenty in most cases, horses from oxidative stress.convert into substancesexercising in extremely hot and humid Bottom line: Fat is an excellent energyconditions can lose enough electrolytes source for hard-working horses; just takethat can fuel the bodysthrough sweat that they need potassium a few precautions when using it. physiological processes.and sodium chloride supplementation. Protein Joe Pagan, PhD, published a study in 2012 showing that mature work- Final Words of Adviceing horses need relatively little protein.In managing your performance horses A traditional performance diet of hayproblems but, before potentially tippingdiet, Upton and Taylor emphasize the and grain typically supplies the requiredthe balance of your horses ration withimportance of monitoring signs of prog-amount, especially if alfalfa is part ofa supplement, Upton and Taylor recom- ress. Your best resources are your vet and the package. As mentioned, protein ismend consulting an equine nutritionistnutritionist, and either can show you how made up of amino acids, and their qual- for advice. Many manufacturers claimto estimate your horses weight and body ity matters. Those known as essentialtheir products have performance-condition score. Log these values monthly amino acids are particularly important.enhancing effects, but few have producedto evaluate changes over time. And when A few considerations to keep in mindsupporting scientific evidence, and somedesigning your athletes ration, consider with protein: Any excess is excreted viaproducts even contain substances prohib- how to effectively and safely give him the the urine as ammonia, a highly irritat- ited in racing and sport horse disciplines.energy he needs to perform at his best.hing gas to respiratory tracts and hooves. A high-protein diet also increases water requirements, which can be particularlyproblematic for athletes that travel and exercise frequently, putting them at risk of getting dehydrated. Finally, protein break-down produces internal body heat, adding insult to injury when exercising and com-peting in hot and humidconditions. Ration Balancers for Easy KeepersNot all performance horses and ponies need the extra calories concentrates providesome work hard and still get faton air. These easy keepers can maintain adequate body condition and energy levels on forage alone. However, energy isnt the only ingredient that helps a hard-working horse thrive, and hay alone does not pro-vide all the necessary nutrients required for healthy bodily function. The solution? Ration balancers. These low-calorie pel-leted feeds provide a concentrated source of nutrients, including often-overlooked TheHorse.com|The HorseMay 202031'