The role nutrition plays during and after a horse’s recovery

When horses sustain an injury, their entire body adjusts to get them back on their feet as soon as possible. Therefore, the way horses utilise different energy stores changes in order to survive.

Normal, healthy horses will utilise approximately 90% of their energy from the fats produced during fibre fermentation (VFAs). Meanwhile, the injured horse will draw 50% of their daily energy from VFAs. The remainder of their energy being taken from stored carbohydrate (glycogen) and the breakdown of body tissue.

This shift in energy sources utilised by the injured horse calls for different requirements. Therefore, a recovering horse needs an increase in calorie and protein intake from what it consumes during rest. Increased vitamin and mineral intake should help support the healing rate and quality of injured tissue.

Protein and energy requirements are recommended to be increased to the level at which you feed when your horse is in light work. Meanwhile, horses may also benefit from ensuring daily requirements are met of copper, zinc, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids.

Once the injury has healed, nutrition for ‘maintenance’ should be implemented.

Returning to work

After a period off work, horse will suffer from reduced muscle mass and strength. Therefore, providing appropriate nutrition, in conjunction with rehabilitating exercises, is essential. Nutrition is vital to support muscle mass increase and the health of supporting structures.

When returning to work, any injury is expected to have almost healed. Exercise then acts to strengthen the damaged area and prevent the occurrence of futher damage. Therefore, on the return to work, horse owners should review energy and protein requirements for their horse.

Whether lungeing or working in hand, protein and energy may need to be increased depending on exertion levels. Exertion is individual to every horse and their situation. Whilst one horse may find an exercise relatively easy, another may struggle with the same exercise.

Keeping a diary of progress is recommended. Record physical activity and your horse’s behaviour when exercising. Activity in the field and stable should also be noted. This allows owners to review nutrition and make appropriate nutritional adjustments. If you are unsure, seek advice from your vet or nutritionist, discussing keynotes from your horse’s progression diary.

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