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Feeding and supplementing the sport horse

Feeding a sport horse in training requires more than simply meeting caloric needs, it’s about building a program that supports long-term soundness, optimal muscle function, and mental balance. Whether you’re starting a young horse, maintaining a seasoned competitor, or simply building toward fitness, the right nutritional foundation is essential for health, performance, and recovery.

This guide explores how to feed and supplement working horses with precision, starting with free-choice forage and extending to targeted micronutrients like selenium, magnesium, and vitamin E.

🌾 1. Forage first: unlimited hay for digestive and mental health

Forage should form the foundation of every equine diet, especially for horses in regular work. Horses evolved to graze for 18+ hours a day; denying them this natural behavior can lead to ulcers, metabolic dysfunction, and behavioral stress.

At our facility, horses have constant access to high-quality hay, which supports:

  • Stable digestive function and healthy gut flora

  • Regulation of gastric acid (reducing ulcer risk)

  • Improved hydration and electrolyte balance

  • Calm behavior and steady energy levels

hay in Los Angeles

We rotate and blend different hay types to match each horse’s energy needs and digestive tolerance:

  • Timothy hay – a consistent, high-fiber option with low sugar and starch

  • Teff hay – ideal for easy keepers and horses prone to metabolic concerns

  • Alfalfa – rich in protein and calcium, excellent for horses in intense work or prone to ulcers

 

This hay-based approach allows us to meet most of the horse’s caloric and fiber needs without relying heavily on commercial grains.

🥕 2. Energy and nutrients beyond forage

While hay covers the majority of a horse’s needs, horses in moderate to intense work often require additional calories and nutrients for:

  • Muscle maintenance and development

  • Joint and tendon support

  • Recovery after training or competition

  • Electrolyte replenishment

Instead of reaching first for high-starch feeds, we prioritize:

  • High-fat energy sources like flaxseed or stabilized oils

  • Low-NSC concentrates when extra calories are needed

  • Custom vitamin/mineral balancers adapted to forage profile and workload

  • Salt and electrolyte supplements, especially in hot climates or for horses that sweat heavily

flaxeed

The goal is to provide energy that doesn’t overstimulate or unbalance the horse, maintaining steady focus and physical comfort.

🧬 3. Selenium & Vitamin E: muscle protection and recovery

These two micronutrients are essential for athletic horses, especially those in regions where forage is deficient (such as California).

Selenium

Selenium plays a key role in protecting muscle cells from oxidative stress. It is required for the production of glutathione peroxidase, a critical enzyme that prevents the accumulation of free radicals after exercise. Horses with selenium deficiency may show signs such as:

  • Muscle soreness and stiffness

  • Poor recovery after training

  • Fatigue and reduced performance

  • Increased risk of tying-up or muscle degeneration 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that protects nerve and muscle cell membranes. Horses with limited or no access to fresh pasture—especially during dry seasons—are at higher risk of deficiency, which can result in:

  • General muscle weakness

  • Lack of coordination

  • Neuromuscular problems

  • Chronic fatigue or vague behavioral changes

These nutrients work synergistically and should be evaluated together. 

⚠️ Selenium can become toxic in excess, so dosage must be tailored and monitored.

🧘 4. Magnesium: nervous system and muscles

Magnesium is another key nutrient, particularly for horses that show signs of nervousness, reactivity, or muscular tension. It plays a major role in:

  • Nerve transmission

  • Muscle contraction and relaxation

  • Hormonal regulation of stress responses

Horses with insufficient magnesium may display:

  • Excessive tension or stiffness

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Overreactive behavior under saddle

  • Muscle tremors or cramps

We often use magnesium oxide or organic magnesium sources in horses that are being started, traveling frequently, or undergoing intense schooling phases. It is also useful in young horses adjusting to new routines and stimuli.

🧾 5. Individual needs  

At French Ecurie Sport Horses, we treat every horse as an individual athlete. Nutritional strategies are built based on:

  • Workload and training discipline

  • Age and development (young horses need more antioxidants and trace minerals)

  • Metabolic profile (easy keeper vs hard keeper)

  • Past medical history or behavioral patterns

  • Forage and water quality

We monitor progress, body condition, coat quality, muscle tone, and mental focus. Adjustments are made gradually, with an emphasis on long-term health rather than quick fixes.

Final thoughts: feeding for longevity and performance

Proper nutrition is a cornerstone of performance, but it’s also a matter of ethics and welfare. By feeding horses in a way that respects their digestive physiology, supports their work level, and prevents deficiency-related stress, we build healthy, resilient athletes.

Whether you’re training for competition or developing a young horse with a long future ahead, your feeding plan can either support, or sabotage, your goals.

👉 Need Help with a Feeding Strategy?

📞 Contact us to schedule a consultation or training session on site in Malibu or at your barn in Los Angeles County. We’ll assess your horse’s full profile and design a plan that supports their physical development, mental focus, and long-term soundness.