FEED ADVICE – DISCIPLINES

Feeding Eventing Horses: The Ultimate Guide

Feeding eventing horses is an art that requires a deep understanding of their unique needs. Eventing is one of the most demanding equestrian disciplines, combining the precision of dressage, the endurance of cross-country, and the agility of show jumping. This multifaceted sport requires horses to be in peak physical and mental condition, supported by a well-balanced and carefully planned diet. In this guide, we will explore the best practices for feeding eventing horses, ensuring they have the energy, stamina, and recovery support needed to excel in competition.

What is Eventing?

Eventing is one of the most demanding disciplines combining the precision of dressage, the endurance of cross country and the agility of showjumping.

This discipline requires horses to be in peak physical and mental condition, supported by a well-balanced and carefully planned diet.

Horses need controlled, slow-release energy from fibre and oil to stay focused and fuel long days of training or competing.

A complete diet with the right blend of fibre, vitamins, minerals, and quality protein supports overall performance and wellbeing.

Understanding the Nutritional Needs of Event Horses

Event horses have distinct nutritional requirements due to the physical demands of the sport. Their diet must provide:

Sustained Energy:

Eventing horses need a diet that supports both aerobic and anaerobic exercise, offering quick-release energy for intense bursts and slow-release energy for endurance.

Muscle Development and Recovery:

High-quality protein is essential to support muscle development and recovery, particularly after the gruelling demands of cross-country.

Joint and Bone Health:

With the physical impact of jumping and cross-country, maintaining strong bones and healthy joints is critical.

Optimal Hydration and Electrolyte Balance:

Eventing often takes place over long days and in varying weather conditions, making hydration and electrolyte replenishment vital.

Metabolic Requirements of Event Horses

Eventing horses have elevated metabolic needs due to the diverse demands of the sport. Their energy needs are higher than those of horses involved in single-discipline activities. The primary sources of energy include:

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Carbohydrates: Provide both quick-release energy (from grains) for bursts of speed and slow-release energy (from fibre) for sustained performance.

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Fats: Offer a concentrated and slow-release source of energy, helping to maintain stamina during long cross-country courses without causing excitability.

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Proteins: Crucial for muscle maintenance, recovery, and repair, especially after intense physical exertion during training and competition.

Key Components of an Eventing Horse’s Diet

Forage:

High-Quality Hay: The foundation of any horse’s diet, forage should be high in fibre and low in dust. A mix of timothy, meadow hay, and alfalfa provides both energy and protein.

Grass: Access to fresh grass, when available, can help maintain natural fibre intake and provide essential nutrients. However, grass alone is often not sufficient for an eventing horse’s needs.

Hard feed

Performance Feeds: Designed specifically for horses in intense work, these feeds provide a balanced mix of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to support energy, stamina, and recovery – did you know that Pure Feed has a high performance feed which includes a mix of slow and fast release energy!

Balancers: To ensure that all vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are provided without adding excessive calories, a feed balancer is a smart choice – did you know that all of the complete feed range already contains a balancer which means you don’t need to add anything extra in!

Feeding Tips for Event Horses

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Energy Management: Ensure the diet provides both quick-release energy for the show jumping and dressage phases and slow-release energy for the endurance required in cross-country.

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Consistency is Key: Keep feeding times consistent to help maintain digestive health and reduce stress, particularly during competition season.

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Monitor Body Condition: Regularly assess your horse’s body condition score (BCS) and adjust the diet as needed to maintain an optimal balance of muscle, fat, and energy.

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Recovery Nutrition:After intense workouts or competitions, ensure your horse receives adequate protein and carbohydrates to aid in muscle recovery and replenish energy stores. Or keep it simple, and use Pure ReFuel – the recovery mash designed to help your horse’s recovery!

Tailoring the Diet to Different Stages of Eventing

Each phase of eventing places different demands on the horse, requiring a tailored approach to feeding:

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Dressage: Horses need controlled energy and strength for precise movements. A diet high in fibre, with moderate protein and fat, helps maintain stamina and muscle tone without causing excitability.

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Cross-Country: This phase demands sustained energy and endurance. High-fat feeds and fibre-rich sources are essential to keep energy levels consistent over the course.

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Show Jumping: Requires quick-release energy for power and precision. A balance of carbohydrates and fats supports the explosive energy needed for jumping.

Conclusion

Feeding an eventing horse is about balancing energy, endurance, and recovery. By providing a diet rich in high-quality forage, balanced concentrates, targeted supplements, and consistent hydration, you can ensure your horse excels in all phases of eventing. Tailoring the diet to the individual needs of your horse and the specific demands of each phase of competition will help them perform at their best.

Hear from the Sponsor rider – Millie Juleff

Millie is an accomplished rider who has competed at the highest levels, including 4* and advanced events. With 16 years of riding experience, she has honed her skills and developed a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in eventing. Millie’s riding career is marked by significant achievements. She was a gold medalist with the Young Rider European team in 2022, where she also secured a 6th place individually. In her first 4* event, she placed 5th, and she has multiple 3* wins to her name.

Recognising the importance of nutrition in performance, Millie focuses on a low-sugar, low-starch diet. She prioritises the use of oil in their diet, which provides sustained energy without the peaks and troughs associated with high-starch feeds.

To support her horses in the demanding environment of top-level competition, Millie uses Condition Mix and Pellets from Pure Feed, alongside micronized linseed. This combination highlights that top-end performance horses don’t need a high-sugar diet to succeed. Instead, sugar and starch can be disruptive to the digestive system, leading to issues that may impair performance.

Condition Mix and Pellets provide balanced nutrition, promoting muscle development and overall conditioning without relying on high sugar content.
Micronized Linseed offers a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and oil, delivering sustained energy and supporting skin, coat, and joint health.
By avoiding high sugar and starch, Millie ensures her horses maintain steady energy levels and optimal digestive health, crucial for peak performance.

Millie’s commitment to a balanced, low-sugar diet, supported by Pure Feed’s Condition Mix, Pellets, and micronized linseed, keeps her horses thriving at the top level of competition

Meet Millie’s Horses

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Viktor Krum – A 14-year-old Hanoverian who has recently stepped up to 4* level. Viktor is a winning machine at intermediate and 3* levels, now making strides in the advanced category.

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Pencos Crown Jewel – A 15-year-old with an impressive 5* record, having previously competed with Ros Canter. Jewel recently placed 2nd in the 3* at Kelsall, proving she’s still at the top of her game.

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CFH Dakar Hill – An 8-year-old jumper with exceptional talent, competing up to 3* level.

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Donateur – A 16-year-old who has competed up to 4* with Tim Cheffings. Donateur was selected for the YR Europeans last year but unfortunately sustained an injury just before the event.

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Kate Blue – A promising 9-year-old jumper currently competing at the 2* level, showing great potential for the future.