Power without the pounds: tips for improving energy without weight gain
By Sarah Nelson, nutritionist for the SPILLERS brand
How many times have you heard a customer describe their horse as lazy, lacking sparkle or needing more ‘oomph’?
The hope of finding a feed that will provide more energy under saddle without causing weight gain is one of the most common reasons owners seek nutrition advice, especially during the summer months.
Why is the horse lacking energy?
Before lethargy can be addressed it’s important to identify the cause or at least rule a few potential causes out, starting with underlying clinical conditions and/ or pain. Encourage owners to seek advice from their vet if they have any concerns; this is especially important if their horse’s lack of energy is sudden, severe or out of character.
The vet will usually ask lots of questions, carry out a physical examination and in some cases take some bloods. If an underlying clinical issue, pain or poorly tack can be ruled out, it’s time to consider other potential causes. While a lack of energy in the diet may seem like the most obvious culprit, diet is just one of many factors that may come into play. A diet that supplies too much energy could also be the problem!
Fact: Energy = calories
Although ‘energy’ is often associated with performance and ‘calories’ with condition, they are essentially two different terms used to describe the same thing. Unfortunately, this means the idea of finding a feed that is high energy but low in calories really is too good to be true.
Energy in vs energy out
Good nutrition is all about balance, and this applies to energy intake, as well as nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids (the ‘building blocks’ which make up proteins). The best practical way of assessing whether any horse is consuming sufficient energy for their workload is to assess their body condition. Put simply, overweight horses are consuming too much energy (unless they are losing weight), underweight horses aren’t consuming enough and if the horse is maintaining a healthy body condition, you’ve hit the sweet spot - regardless of their ‘ridden energy levels’!
In addition to carrying a host of health and welfare risks, excess weight gain can have a negative effect on energy levels and performance. If your horse has piled on the pounds, slimming them down to a healthy body condition may improve their energy under saddle - exercising while overweight is hard work!
Sources of energy
The main sources of energy in the horse’s diet are fibre, oil, starch and sugar. The complex process of metabolism converts these nutrients into energy that can be used by the body (did you know energy is not a nutrient?). Starch and sugar are sometimes described as sources of ‘instant’ or ‘quick release’ energy due to the relative speed at which they are digested and absorbed. However, under most circumstances, horses don’t directly utilise the energy derived from their last meal during exercise. Instead, they rely primarily on the conversion of nutrients stored in muscle and liver tissue and the conversion of fat to energy.
Feeds high in cereal starch do promote a more energetic response in some horses (although the reasons for this are not fully understood), which is why some owners choose competition mixes or oats for those that are ‘lazy’ or in need of extra ‘sparkle’. However, this strategy isn’t effective or suitable for all horses. Equally, introducing feeds high in fibre and oil, which are often described as sources of ‘slow-release energy’, won’t compensate for a lack of stamina caused by poor fitness or a lack of training.
Cereal safety
CPD feature.
Many healthy, exercised horses in ideal body condition handle controlled amounts of cereal starch in their diet very well and for those in moderate to hard work, a balance of energy sources can help to support performance. However, diets high in starch and sugar are not suitable for all horses, including those prone to laminitis, gastric ulcers, tying up and colic.
It’s also sensible to restrict starch and sugar intake for good doers and natives, even if they haven’t previously suffered from laminitis because diets high in starch and/ or sugar increase the risk of laminitis and insulin dysregulation. In fact, research has shown that simply becoming obese does not always result in becoming insulin dysregulated – the source of excess energy (calories) in the diet may have more of an effect.
Cutting calories without compromising on nutrition
Vitamins and minerals are needed for optimum health, and many are involved in energy metabolism which means a shortfall in the diet could result in lethargy. Good doers often don’t require the additional energy provided by compound feeds, especially if they are in light work, but forage only diets may fall short of essential nutrients including copper, zinc, selenium, vitamin E and lysine (as essential amino acid).
Balancers are ideal for good doers because they provide the vitamins, minerals and amino acids needed to balance forage, while adding minimal calories, starch and sugar to the diet.
Temperament
Every horse is an individual and, in some cases, lethargy is simply a part of the horse’s temperament. Some horses are naturally laidback and prefer to take life at a slower pace and while this can help to provide a much-needed confidence boost to novice or nervous riders, those ready to step up a gear may be better suited to a horse that is naturally more forward going.
The fitness factor & boredom busting
Fitness is one of the factors that has the greatest influence on energy levels, particularly stamina so it’s important owners be honest about whether their horse is fit enough for the work being asked of them.
We all feel more enthusiastic about exercising if it’s an activity we enjoy and like people, horses can get bored. Adding some variety to the horse’s workload may help to improve their natural energy levels.
Weather
Could a recent change in season or increase in temperature the responsible for horse’s lack lustre performance?
Energy supplements
Once the diet is balanced, a carefully formulated supplement may help to encourage a more energetic and focussed performance, without adding unnecessary calories or starch to the diet – a definite plus point for those prone to piling on the pounds! Ingredients that may be of benefit include:
- B-vitamins – these play an essential role in energy metabolism and while dietary deficiency is unlikely, a supplement may help to support performance.
- Ginseng – traditionally known as a ‘feel good herb’ and used to support mental capacity.
- Branched chain amino acids – three specific amino acids involved in skeletal muscle cell metabolism.
Remember: energy supplements should be used to complement (not replace) a suitable fitness plan and training.
Hold the iron!
Supplementing the diet with additional iron will not boost energy levels, improve performance, support recovery or act as a ‘tonic’. Anaemia in horses is extremely rare and is seldom caused by a deficiency of iron in the diet – in fact forage typically exceeds requirements, even in horses fed restricted rations.
As iron is also one of the few minerals that can be harmful at relatively low levels, it’s sensible to avoid any unnecessary excess intake. In horses drinking tap water (as opposed to bore hole water), iron-based supplements pose the largest risk for toxicity.
