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Energy and the performance horse
Energy and the Racehorse: Feeding for Performance
For Australian thoroughbred trainers, understanding how energy works in your horse’s body is key to maximising performance. Energy fuels every aspect of your horse’s work, from long, steady gallops to the high-intensity bursts of speed needed in racing. Let’s break down how energy is produced, stored, and used, and how to feed your racehorse to support these processes.
How Energy Powers Exercise
Energy from nutrients in the feed is converted into a chemical called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which muscles use for contraction. ATP is created in two ways:
Aerobic Pathway
: This process uses oxygen to break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, providing a steady energy supply for slower, sustained exercise like trotting or light galloping.
Anaerobic Pathway
: This process doesn’t use oxygen and is used during intense, short bursts of speed. It relies on glycogen and glucose, producing lactic acid as a by-product, which leads to fatigue.
Your horse’s ability to perform depends on the balance between these pathways and the availability of stored energy sources like glycogen (in muscles and the liver) and fat.
Muscle Fibres and Energy
Horses have three main types of muscle fibres:
Type I (Slow-Twitch Fibres): Used during low-speed, aerobic activities. They burn fat as the main energy source.
Type IIA (Fast-Twitch, Aerobic Fibres): Activated during moderate speeds, using a mix of fat and glycogen.
Type IIB (Fast-Twitch, Anaerobic Fibres): These come into play during high-intensity exercise, relying on glycogen and glucose for quick energy.
As speed increases, the horse shifts from burning fat to relying on glycogen. At racing speeds, the anaerobic pathway dominates, but it’s less efficient and leads to fatigue from lactic acid buildup.
Feeding for Performance
Racehorses need diets that support both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. Here’s how to tailor their nutrition:
High-Energy Feeds: Choose feeds that provide digestible energy from starch, fat, and fibre. Starch fuels glycogen stores for quick energy, while fat and fibre offers slow-release energy to support endurance and recovery.
Balanced Nutrition: Ensure the feed is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals to support overall health and recovery.
Protein for Muscle Repair: Include quality protein sources to support muscle repair and development.
Fibre for Gut Health: Include forage and super fibres to maintain digestive health and provide steady energy.
Managing Workloads and Fatigue
During high-speed work, fatigue is often caused by lactic acid buildup. Feeding strategies to minimise this include:
Small, Frequent Meals: Reduce large grain meals to avoid hindgut acidosis.
Fat Supplementation: Fats like stabilised rice bran or vegetable oil provide energy without the risk of lactic acid buildup.
Hydration and Electrolytes: Ensure your horse stays hydrated, and receives electrolytes daily - dehydration can accelerate fatigue and reduce recovery.
Recommended Barastoc Feed for Racehorses
For Australian thoroughbred racehorses, Barastoc Race N Win is an excellent choice. It provides a mix of energy sources including starch required for glycogen storage and added fat for slow-release energy. It’s balanced with the vitamins, minerals, and protein needed for peak performance and recovery.
By understanding how energy fuels your racehorse and feeding them appropriately, you’ll give them the best chance to perform at their peak—whether it’s on the training track or race day.