Your Premier Equine Resource - Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino & Sonoma Counties

Cutting horse

FEEDING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE

1. REQUIREMENTS FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE

A. Good Individual

B. Good Management

C. Good Training

1. Good Nutrition

1. HORSES NEED 4 BASIC NUTRIENTS IN BALANCED AMOUNTS
2. Protein
3. Minerals
4. Vitamins
5. Energy (Carbohydrates and Fat)

1. HORSES USE FUELS IN THIS ORDER
2. 1^st – Fat
3. 2^nd – Glycogen
4. 3^rd – Protein

1. AEROBIC EXERCISE
2. Uses fat
3. Low intensity work
4. Requires oxygen
5. Exercise can last a long time
6. Spares glycogen

1. ANAEROBIC EXERCISE
2. Uses glycogen
3. High intensity work
4. No oxygen required
5. Limited time
6. Build up of lactic acid
7. Lack of glycogen

1. CALORIC EQUIVALENCE OF FEED INGREDIENTS
2. 1 lb. Fat (or oil) = 3 lbs. of Oats

-or-

2.5 lbs. of Corn

1. DAILY PROTEIN INTAKE
2. 5 lbs. of Sweet Feed x 12% Crude Protein = 0.6 lbs. Protein
3. 15 lbs. of Timothy Hay x 8 % Crude Protein = 1.2 lbs. of Protein

1. HORSES NEED POUNDS OF PROTEIN, NOT PERCENTAGES
2. 10 pounds of oats x 11.5% protein = 1.15 pounds of protein

7.5 pounds of Omolene 200 x 14% protein = 1.05 pounds of protein

1. DAILY CALORIC INTAKE
2. 5 lbs. Sweet Feed x 1,450 Calories/lb. = 7,250 Calories
3. 15 lbs. Timothy Hay x 800 Calories/lb. = 12,000 Calories

1. SUMMARY
2. A Horse has three fuel tanks – body fat, muscle glycogen, and tissue protein
3. Aerobic work is low intensity and long duration – uses primarily fat for fuel
4. Anaerobic work is high intensity and short duration – uses primarily glycogen for fuel
5. Starch from grain is important to refill the glycogen fuel tank
6. Fat provides dense calories and “extra-caloric” benefits
7. The balance of nutrients is important, not the amount of any single nutrient

As written by Purina Horse Foods