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There is no single secret formula for show ring success, as several factors are involved in getting you and your horse to look right on the important day. Feeding is a crucial part of having your horse look its best. This article summarises a number of ways for you to increase your chance of winning a blue ribbon.

The equine nervousness problems reported by many show riders relate to overfeeding and underworking the horse. So, don’t be afraid to feed grain or sweet feeds containing grain, provided you get the right balance between work and feed. Horses need work and high-quality feed to develop muscles, and show horses need to be well muscled and have some (fat) cover. Some horses do benefit from specialized low-starch or grain-free show feeds designed for the high-strung horse.

Thiamine-type supplements may help to calm some nervous horses. These can be given in the feed each day or by paste before the competition. You need to check that these calming supplements don’t contain any prohibited substances as you might then run the risk of a positive swab. Horses suffering from hindgut acidosis appear to be more apprehensive or nervous and if you suspect this, or your horse is on a high-grain diet or lush pasture, then the use of a hindgut buffer is warranted.

In the past, many show horses were fed large quantities of bran and pollard (wheat midds), but these practices have some drawbacks, and there are safer and better ways of conditioning a horse today. A high-fat diet is a safe way of rapidly conditioning your horse and you can use oil, sunflower seeds (25-40% oil), or stabilised rice bran (20% oil). You need to feed a minimum of a cup per day of oil or oil equivalent, and can feed up to three cups per day. If you are feeding a lot of oil, some horses may refuse feed or develop loose manure, so the other products may be more useful.

Adding fat has another benefit, as it plays an important role in producing healthy skin and a shiny coat, especially in late winter when it’s cold and the horse would naturally have a long shaggy coat to keep warm. For coat conditioning you need at least half a cup of oil, and it will take three to four weeks to see maximum results. Another shortcut that really helps coat shine is a double dose of a hoof supplement that contains biotin, chelated zinc, and methionine. Kentucky Equine Research recommends the use of Bio-Bloom PS (Bio-Bloom HF in Australia), a dual-action supplement designed to promote and maintain healthy hooves and skin from the inside out.

It is vital to remember dental care and parasite control so your horse gets the most out of its feed. It’s no use spending a lot on fancy feed if the horse can’t chew effectively or carries a heavy parasite infestation. It goes without saying that a balanced diet is vital, and this can be achieved using a well-formulated feed or supplement program and good-quality roughage. And don’t forget the work–your horse needs muscle as well as fat cover.

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