Fibre is essential for maintaining digestive health, and of course a horse needs to be healthy to perform – but is a fibre diet really enough to fuel a horse in work? Research has shown that even high-level competition horses can be fed on rations based on hay and alfalfa with only a very small proportion of cereals, without any detriment to performance or muscle tone (Martin et al., 2023). But the quality of fibre used matters!
The amount of energy (or calories) supplied by fibre depends on its digestibility, and this is influenced by plant type, environmental conditions and the plant’s maturity at the time of harvest. Alfalfa is a highly digestible source of quality fibre which can make a significant contribution to energy requirements, especially when combined with oil. Dengie Alfa-A Oil provides comparable energy levels to a traditional competition mix or cube, but with around 10 times less starch.
The healthy option doesn’t have to be boring!
When it comes to choosing a suitable fibre feed to go in the bucket, the type of fibre is an important consideration. High quality fibres such as precision dried grass and alfalfa, which are found in Dengie Performance Fibre, can be extremely beneficial for performance horses. As well as supplying slow-release energy, these fibres are highly digestible and so do not sit in the digestive tract for as long, compared to more indigestible forages such as straw. The spearmint oil in Dengie Performance Fibre creates a minty, fresh aroma that horses love and it tempts the fussiest feeders.
Super-fit performance horses can sometimes have reduced appetites, and, in these situations, pelleted fibre feeds offer a useful way to maintain a high-fibre ration in a more concentrated form. While the inclusion of chopped fibre remains important for encouraging chew time, it can be mixed with feeds like Dengie Alfalfa Pellets or Pure Grass Pellets to reduce the overall feed volume. These can be supplied either soaked in the bucket or via treat balls, which also helps to keep horses occupied if stabled for longer periods.
Plant power – added benefits of a fibre-based diet
Horses are herbivores and this fundamental fact should guide every decision about their diet – even for those competing at the highest levels. Moving away from the highly fibrous material the horse has evolved to consume will naturally have repercussions for digestive health. There is no doubt that training and competition place stress on the horse’s body, so the aim of those feeding and managing working horses should therefore be to find a balance between health and performance.
Unlike other animals, the horse’s stomach accounts for only around 10% of the total volume of the digestive tract. As a result, many basic feeding principles have evolved to ensure we do not inadvertently cause stomach problems through over-feeding. Food remains in the stomach for around 20 minutes before passing into the small intestine, although, when trickle feeding, the horse’s stomach would never be completely empty. Feeding a double handful of chopped fibre before exercise helps to reduce “acid-splash”. For this reason, exercising on an empty stomach should be a thing of the past for all horses.
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Unlike grass forages, alfalfa is naturally low in sugar and starch. Dengie’s Alfa-A Original, Alfa-A Molasses Free and Alfa-A Oil are all excellent options for supplying quality protein and lysine to support muscle development and topline, alongside slow-release energy for stamina and condition. As a guide, just two Stubbs scoops of chopped Alfa-A can provide around 20% of the lysine requirement for a horse in moderate work, reducing the reliance on forage and additional feeds or supplements to meet daily requirements.
The population of microorganisms living in the horse’s hindgut are vital for fermenting fibre to produce slow-release energy for the horse to use immediately or store as fat for later use. As part of this process, these microbes produce B-vitamins, such as biotin, and generate heat, acting as the horse’s own central heating system to keep them warm. They are also involved in immune function and help maintain health by suppressing pathogenic bugs the horse might pick up when travelling and competing. None of this would be possible without adequate fibre in the diet.
A calmer ride
As well as being a healthier option, fibre-based diets are also less likely to result in over-excitable behaviour. A study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that horses fed diets high in fibre and oil were less reactive to novel stimuli and had lower resting heart rates than horses fed cereal-based diets with the same energy value (Bulmer et al., 2015). They were also more consistent in their behaviour. This adds to a growing body of evidence to show that the key for a more focused performance is to use “slow-release” energy sources such as fibre and oil, as opposed to cereal-based feeds.
Fibre feeds can be fed in varying quantities depending on the horse’s calorie or energy needs, and can be easily combined with a performance or competition balancer to provide a nutritionally balanced ration that is suitable for horses working up to the highest levels.
Case study: Ballyneety Silver Service (aka Butler) and five-star eventer Holly Richardson
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Butler has always struggled to maintain his weight and topline through the eventing season. However, since his owner Holly switched him onto Dengie Alfa-A Oil, he has held his condition perfectly, and his physio has even commented on the significant improvement in muscle condition and strength over his back. This has helped contribute to Butler’s best season yet, culminating in finishing 14th at Defender Burghley five-star, as well as posting a personal best dressage score.
(Image credit: First Class Images)
Butler likes being turned out 24/7, so when away at a competition, Holly gives him a bucket of Alfa-A Oil to munch on during the day. As well as keeping him occupied, it gives Holly confidence that he is receiving a more natural, fibre-based diet that is kinder on his stomach.
For more information, or if you would like the Dengie nutrition team to review your horse’s diet and help you select the most appropriate feed, get in touch by calling 01621 841 188 or by completing an online feed advice form.
