Feeding Show Horses: A Matter of Balance

Show horses should present an image of polished athleticism—complete with shiny coats, dapples, and appropriate muscling for the job at hand. But the temptation to pour calories to these horses must be balanced with their individual nutritional and performance requirements to present a pleasant picture and demeanor in the ring.

A horse that is willing to work and unfazed by the competition atmosphere at the show is created through careful preparation at home. Nutrition plays a vital part in getting the ideal performance from your equine athlete.

Many show horses are fed higher-energy feeds in order to keep them on the fleshy side—3 to 3.5 on the Australian scale, or 6 to 6.5 on the American scale. However, these may provide more than the horse’s needs actually dictate.

Good doers often have their needs met by high-quality forage alone, fed at a minimum of 1.5% of the horse’s bodyweight (7.5 kg/day for a 500-kg horse or 16.5 lb/day for an 1100-lb animal). If the animal is not receiving concentrate at recommended levels, a well-formulated balancer pellet should be fed to provide required nutrients.

Show horses that do require a high-energy feed to maintain condition might become excitable. Use a combination of energy sources, looking specifically at fermentable fibre and fat, for these animals. Adding fat to a horse’s diet brings the additional benefit of providing a shiny coat. A hoof and coat supplement is another option to add sparkle in the showring.

Lower starch or low-glycaemic feeds are also good options for adding condition, without the resulting behavioural “fizz.”

Conditioning show horses requires a combination of balanced nutrition, fitness, and dedication to ensure excellence in the show ring. In addition to a carefully balanced diet, preparation of the coat, hooves, and topline is vital if the horse is to stand out in the ring.