Fast Food: Tips for Keeping Your Horse Eating and Hydrated on the Road

Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

The 2019 competition season is now well underway, with the European Championships and the Pan Am Games fast approaching. Producing and managing elite equine athletes capable of performing on the world stage is a complex and many faceted operation, and nutrition/hydration play a major role. Keeping up with both can be challenging, especially when horses are on the road.

For some tips on how to optimally manage performance horses while in transit, we talked to Kirsty McCann. Kirsty is Head of Equine Technical Support at Foran Equine, a market leader in the field of specialized equine nutrition and health care. Kirsty is a vital piece of the puzzle for many leading riders, including show jumpers Bertram Allen and Scott Brash, and Irish event rider Sam Watson. In this article, we are focusing on transportation.

A large part of the life of any performance horse is spent traveling to and from competitions, and paying close attention to detail during transit can optimize the chance of a successful result at a show or event. Horses can lose 2-3kg in bodyweight per hour when being transported, as a result of increased physiological uptake of fluids and salts. Therefore, hydration is key-Kirsty has these top tips to offer.

A large part of the life of any performance horse is spent traveling to and from competitions, and paying close attention to detail during transit can optimize the chance of a successful result at a show or event. Horses can lose 2-3kg in bodyweight per hour when being transported, as a result of increased physiological uptake of fluids and salts. Therefore, hydration is key — Kirsty has these top tips to offer.

  • If possible, allow the horse access to water at all times. Otherwise, offer water very regularly. Not all water is equal, so it can be very useful to teach horses to drink water with organic apple juice or organic apple cider vinegar in it. Take care to purchase either addition from a reputable brand.
  • Horses should travel with forage to maximize digestive function during transit. This helps to keep the stomach and gut working, and aids in preventing a build up of acid within the stomach itself-the forage acts as a sort of ‘carpet’ across the top of the stomach acid, and the saliva produced creates a natural buffer that assists in protecting the stomach.
  • To aid hydration, Kirsty recommends using a high fibre bran mash. There are many pre soak mashes available on the market-it is generally best to use one that is also a complete feed, and that is part of the feed brand already in use. This minimizes the change to the gut of the horse. Horses will generally willingly drink a mash that has been made into a soup, and this is invaluable when it comes to managing hydration on the move.
  • Try not to get too far out of routine in terms of normal feed times. However, for horses traveling long distances, Kirsty recommends lowering the overall feed intake and also feeding smaller amounts more frequently.
  • Try to use the same bedding in the lorry as is used in the stable at home. This can help to encourage the horse to urinate during transit.
  • Use tape to mark the water levels on buckets to observe intake, and be quick to respond if a horse is not taking in sufficient fluids. Some horses require intervention despite best efforts, and intravenous fluids may need to be administered.
  • Electrolytes must only be given to a horse that has access to water and is readily taking in fluids. Replenishing electrolyte levels is vitally important for optimal physiological function-however, if given to a horse that cannot achieve sufficient hydration, electrolyte use may increase the risk of  dehydration.

Traveling horses over land can be challenging in its own right, but flying horses presents even greater challenges. Loading horses into crates and then transferring those crates to an airplane can be hugely stressful for both horses and handlers alike. The horses are generally well protected with boots or bandages, and some will also wear hoods or earplugs to reduce both visual and aural stressors. The use of calmers in stressful situations such as travelling can also be very helpful, and Kirsty recommends using an L-Tryptophan based product. L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that the body uses during the production of serotonin. Serotonin in turn helps to regulate mood and promote a more neutral emotional state.

Next time, we look at optimal management practices for warming horses up ahead of competition, as well as cooling horses down post exertion. We also chat in depth about how to maximize overall recovery of horses following intense training and performance.

With sincere thanks to Kirsty McCann and Foran Equine for their contribution.