Life Stages

Working Horses

Even though Gro 'n Win® is a fixed formula feed, there is no fixed feeding program that works on all horses, especially when they are in work. Your horse's nutrient requirements change once your horse starts working. Energy requirements can increase depending on the nature of the work, but also the nature of the work may require extra nutritional support for temperament, muscles, the immune system
and joints.

A good feeding and nutrition program is only one part of what makes a successful horse and rider team. Appropriate fitness level, athleticism and obedience are necessary to ensure little risk of injury during competition. The rider and support crew all have a role
in ensuring these are achieved.

A typical 1100-lb horse eats between 22 and 26.5 lbs of total ration a day (concentrate and forage combined). As the horse's workload changes, the proportion of forage and concentrate needed may also change in order to meet his daily nutrient requirements. Listed below are a few nutritional tips for working horses:

• Forage often comprises the major part of the diet supporting both nutrition and gastrointestinal health.
• Forage and Gro 'n Win® can meet the requirements of horses in light to moderate work.
• For horses who need more energy for work, try one of the following options:
• • For horses that are prone to excitability or tying-up, add energy to the ration by adding Ultimate Finish™ high fat supplement.
  • For horses undertaking speed or power workouts, add Buckeye® Nutrition branded oats.
  • If you want to provide a single feed, transition to one of our specifically designed competition or racing feeds, which are formulated with Gro 'n Win® technology to ensure your athlete receives the proper balance of amino acids, vitamins and minerals required to perform at its best.
• Exercise increases the need for key supporting nutrients. A balanced supply of essential amino acids support muscle repair after exercise; high levels of antioxidants are necessary to provide extra support to muscle integrity and immune function. These are all found in the Gro 'n Win® line of products.

Most competition horses can be classified in the following categories light, moderate, heavy and very heavy work with the majority of the population in the first three. The NRC defines these levels of work as follows:

• Light - average heart rate is 80 beats per minute; horses work 1-3 hours per week; workouts typically are 40% walk, 50% trot, 10% canter; types of events are recreational riding, beginning of training programs and show horses (occasional).
• Moderate - average heart rate is 90 beats per minute; horses work 3-5 hours per week; workouts typically are 30% walk, 55% trot, 10% canter, 5% low jumping, cutting or other skill work; types of events are school horses, recreational riding, beginning of breaking and training, show horses (frequent), polo and ranch work.
• Heavy - average heart rate is 110 beats per minute; horses work 4-5 hours per week; workouts typically are 20% walk, 50% trot, 15% canter, 15% gallop, jumping or other skill work; types of events are ranch work, polo, show horses (frequent, strenuous events), low to medium level eventing, race training (middle stages).
• Very Heavy - average heart rate is 110-150 beats per minute; work will vary, ranging from 1 hour per week speed work to 6-12 hours per week of slow work; type of events are racing (Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Endurance) and Elite 3-day Eventing.

Training programs will vary for your horse throughout the year depending on its individual workload. In general horses hold their fitness better than people do. When we increase training, energy requirements can rise by an additional 10-15% about maintenance. Competition horses also travel more than the average horse; this can be tiring and dehydrating, posing a major blip in a horse's routine. Both competition and travel can be stressful, keeping your horse's schedule as normal as possible is recommended. Hay is also suggested on trips to keep your horse occupied, decrease the incidence of gastric ulcers and it binds with water to help lessen dehydration.

There is no such thing as a typical diet for a competition horse as these will vary depending on temperament, the way a horse maintains weight, age and level of competition. Some suggestions for your moderate working horse include:

• Forage should comprise at least 50% of the diet. If horses consume less than this, they are predisposed to digestive disturbances and abnormal behaviors. Ensuring that they consume a minimum of 1% of their body weight (11 lbs for an 1100-lb horse) will maintain normal GI motility and health while reducing boredom.
• Concentrates utilized for moderate working horses are typically low to medium energy dense, Gro 'n Win® or Competition products, and will vary depending on the individual horse.
• While ensuring that a good base level of electrolytes and antioxidants are provided, as are in Gro 'n Win®, we want to use supporting or additional supplements tactically. For instance, increased levels of electrolytes during (e.g. endurance competition) and after exertion, use additional antioxidants (Vitamin E and Selenium) up to and during the competition season for muscle integrity and immune support

Gro 'n Win® is a perfect feeding option for working horses. Health concerns for working horses are laminitis, tying-up, EPSM, insulin resistance, obesity, Equine Cushing's disease (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction) and colic.

Gro 'n Win® for Working Horses

Exercise increases the need for key supporting nutrients. Forage and Gro 'n Win® can meet the requirements of horses in light to moderate work. A balanced supply of essential amino acids supports muscle repair after exercise, high levels of antioxidants are necessary to provide extra support to muscle integrity and immune function. These are all found in Gro 'n Win®.