With the return of the competition season in sight, many of us are looking at getting our horses back to peak fitness again but some of you may be struggling with a sluggish or reluctant horse. Whilst some horses are naturally a bit more laid back than others, if your horse is more lethargic and unenthusiastic about being exercised than normal, it could be due to several reasons including their dietary energy requirements not being met.
Dietary energy is measured in calories, also shown as megajoules (MJ) in horse feed. Behavioural energy is expressed via the horse’s actions, for example a naturally fizzy/spooky or slow/dull horse. Behavioural energy can be easily mistaken for dietary energy however the two can also be linked, making it difficult for horse owners to know exactly what and how much to feed their horses.
A lack of energy can be due to a number of reasons, so before reaching for extra hard feed, a high energy mix or a magical supplement to give your horse turbo power, it is ideal to consider these factors if your horse is more whoa than go:
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Consult your vet to rule out any underlying issues with your horse’s health and ensure you carry out regular worm egg counts.
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Is this a normal level of behavioural or temperamental energy for your horse?
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Is your horse receiving enough forage for their body weight and workload?
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Don’t run before you can walk. If, like many, you are bringing your horse back into work after a period of rest or reduced exercise then increase the length and intensity of your workouts gradually to improve their fitness levels.
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Maintain a healthy bodyweight! If your horse is overweight this can cause them to be lethargic and can make them prone to other health issues.
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Avoid overfeeding. Feeding high energy feeds to horses that are already overweight and lazy will often just cause additional weight gain and will not improve the issue.
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On the other hand, if you are underfeeding, your horse will be losing weight and therefore will not be receiving enough dietary energy for their weight and workload.
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Is your horse bored? I think we can all agree that schooling can get a bit tedious at times, so why not jazz up your horse’s training with some fun pole exercises, jumping, groundwork and hacking to get their brain stimulated and boost their enthusiasm.
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Have you changed their forage or feed? It takes time for a horse’s digestive system to adjust to changes, so always introduce new feeds or supplements gradually.
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Is your horse receiving the essential vitamins and minerals that their bodies require each day? Certain deficiencies or imbalances can leave your horse feeling fatigued and underperforming. Our balancers may help here.
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Does your horse need electrolytes? We recommend that any horse in work requires daily electrolyte supplementation. It is a common dietary cause of lethargy, especially in the warm weather. Try adding Replenish to their diet for a few weeks to see if it adds some spring back in their step.
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Is your horse’s digestive function reduced or compromised? If so, your horse will be unable to properly utilise any high calorie/energy feed that you give. In this case you may notice weight loss in your horse. Using a pre and probiotic supplement will encourage a healthy population of good bacteria in the horse’s gut to improve digestive function.
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Feed your horse based on what they need, not what others are feeding. Just because a friend is feeding something that has worked miracles, does not mean it will be the same for your horse. In some cases, your horse might require more or less than what the feed label says.
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Monitor your horse’s weight and if you are in any doubt, speak to a Nutritionist. We are open seven days a week and would be happy to help with any questions you may have, just call freephone 0800 585525 or email [email protected].