In one way or another, exercise and competition makes the whole body work harder, so increasing the requirement for good nutrition. However there are particular areas which need to be taken into account when choosing the correct diet for a competition horse: 

• Changing energy requirements - Energy requirements will increase alongside workload- but every horse is different. Whilst some may need sparkle to perform at their best, some may simply become more excitable. It is important therefore to consider different sources of energy as well as the overall amount.
• Muscle building and repair - Competition horses need a good supply of quality protein to maintain and build muscle and repair tissue damaged during work.
• Increased demand for vitamins and minerals - Increased work levels increase the demand for essential vitamins and minerals to support all round health and energy production.
• Antioxidants - Exercise increases the production of damaging free radical molecules which in turn increases the need for certain vitamins and minerals with antioxidant properties.

So How Do We Meet These Requirements?

• Choose the correct sources of energy - Horses predominately use fibre, starch, sugar and oil for energy; each can provide energy in a different way.
• Fibre does not encourage excitable behaviour, making it a suitable energy source for fizzy or “hot headed” horses. Large amounts of lower energy fibre such as hay may not provide enough energy for a competition horse. In these cases competition feeds such as the RESPONSE™ range from SPILLERS®, which use modern feed ingredients to provide energy from fibre are ideal.
• Oil - Despite being a concentrated source of energy it is a fuel the horse uses slowly and efficiently. This makes it ideal for horses performing endurance type work and does not encourage fizzy behaviour.
• Starch & Sugar - starch and sugar can encourage sparkle and presence but may contribute to over-exuberant behaviour in excitable types.
• Choose a feed specifically designed for the competition horse which provides optimum levels of:
• Essential vitamins and minerals
• Antioxidants
• Quality protein

What Does SPILLERS® Have To Offer?

• The RESPONSE™ Competition range is unique in offering four feeds that enable you to choose the optimum sources of energy to suit your horse’s individual requirements and temperament.
• All the feeds have identical levels of high quality protein and similar levels of energy perfectly suited to the demands placed on a competition horse.
• All the feeds contain the same high specification micronutrient pack including chelated minerals and antioxidant vitamins to support athletic performance.

Example Diets