Feeding the Ex-Racehorse

Typical Racehorse Diet

A racehorse in training will typically be used to a diet which is: 

• High Energy - high cereal/starch content; often oat based; 7kgs+ concentrates per day.
• Low Fibre - minimal hay/haylage; little or no turnout; unlikely to have had chaffs/beet added to their feeds.

This diet can lead to associated clinical problems such as ulcers and colic.

New Diet Decisions

The ex-racehorse requires a balanced diet which provides the correct balance of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals needed for health and performance.

You will need to feed according to:

• Body Condition
• Workload
• Temperament
• Clinical issues

Body Condition

Body Condition Scoring is a visual hands-on method to evaluate body fat. It evaluates the amount of fat covering areas of the neck, withers, down the back, over the ribs and behind the shoulders. Regular evaluation allows for feeding and exercise regimes to be adjusted appropriately.

Poor condition score 1-3

A horse with a poor condition score will: 

• Have an underdeveloped top line with an angular appearance.
• Be hollow through the quarters and have an angular appearance.
• Have a slight covering of flesh over the hips and ribs.

Thoroughbreds do not have to be skinny.

Moderate condition score 4-6

A horse with a moderate condition score will have:

• A well muscled top line.
• Shoulders and a neck that blends smoothly into the body.
• Ribs which are not easily distinguishable but can be felt.

Body condition '5' is desirable.

Workload

Be realistic about the amount of work your horse is doing.

• Light - quiet hacking 1-3 times a week, light schooling and occasional competition.
• Moderate - daily hacking 1-2 hours, 30-60 minutes schooling, Riding Club competition.
• Hard - intense training sessions, regular competitions.

Energy Sources

There are three main categories:

• Fibre (Insoluble Carbohydrates)
• Cereals - starches and sugars (Soluble Carbohdrates)
• Fats & Oils

A combination of all three will meet your horse’s energy requirements more easily than feeding fibre and cereals alone. Protein is not an efficient energy source and therefore not a primary energy source.

Fibre (slow release energy = non-heating)

Digestion occurs by microbial fermentation in the hind gut. Fibre is essential for gut health as it maintains regular bowl movement, helps to push out excess gas and counteracts acidity throughout the digestive tract. A large percentage of racehorses suffer from gastric ulcers due to lack of fibre.

Typically an ex-racehorse should have:

• Minimum 1% of bodyweight of hay per day e.g. 500 kg horse requires an absolute minimum of 5kg of hay per day. However it is preferable to feed to appetite i.e. provide a constant supply of hay/haylage - particularly for those horses who are underweight and struggle to maintain a healthy body condition. A constant supply of fibre helps satisfy the psychological need to chew (trickle feeders) and acts as; a reservoir for fluid and electrolytes; a central heating system and; contains valuable nutrients. Better quality forage (high value – soft, leafy, harvested early rather than coarse and stalky hay which is most likely to have been harvested late) will result in less reliance on concentrates for calories/energy.
• Additional fibre sources include chaffs, sugar beet and super fibres eg. soya hulls. Alfalfa which is rich in quality protein and can be useful to compensate for low nutritional value hay.

Cereals (quick release energy = heating)

Higher levels of starch are predominantly found in cereals. Starch is broken down by enzymes in the small intestine resulting in a fast release of energy. Energy is absorbed into the bloodstream as glucose and stored in muscles and the liver as glycogen.

If your horse is doing fast work, muscles utilise energy without O2 (anaerobically). As fat cannot be broken down anaerobically the primary energy source during fast work is glycogen i.e. a racehorse requires a higher proportion in the diet in order to be able to gallop successfully.

If your horses is doing slower work (walk, trot, slow canter) the muscles use fat and glycogen in the presence of O2 (aerobically). Fibre digestion provides a further source of slow release energy thus the combination of all three energy sources works well.

Fats & Oils (slow release energy = non-heating)

Fats and oils are digested in the small intestine producing a slow release of energy. They contain 2-3 times more energy per kg than cereals.

Straight oil can lead to palatability problems and anti-oxidant supplementation is required to avoid the risk of muscle related problems such as tying-up. Hence, pelleted oil supplements are far more practical and appealing.

Digestive Enhancers

Digestive enhancers such as Baileys ‘Digest Plus’ aid digestion and encourage weight gain. There are three types, all of which have slightly different functions.

• Probiotics – contain live bacteria; flood the gut with beneficial ‘friendly’ bacteria and; stops harmful species of bacteria becoming established (competitive exclusion).
• Yeast – increases the number of beneficial bacteria and stimulates fibre-digesting bacteria making fibre digestion more efficient. It needs to supplied in the diet continuously as it requires oxygen to live and the horse’s hind gut is largely anaerobic.
• Prebiotics – do not contain live organisms and provide a food source for beneficial bacteria. They mop up pathogenic species of bacteria and promote healthy gut function.

General Tips

As with any adjustment in feeding, changes should be made gradually so as to keep the risk of digestive upsets to a minimum. As a guide a period of 7 – 10 days should be taken to gradually remove the old diet and replace with the new. Feed concentrates little and often, ideally 3 feeds per day or 2 minimum. Feed at regular intervals. Feed hay/haylage to appetite i.e. provide a constant supply to encourage trickle feeding and optimise gut health. Feed no more than 1.8kg (4lbs) of concentrates per meal – the horse cannot physically digest more than this amount in one go. 1 round ‘Stubbs’ scoop holds approximately 1.8kg cubes, 1.3kg mix and 500g chaff. Remember calories and energy are the same. Source calories from the least heating sources if your horse is prone to excitable behaviour. Feed high fibre diets and if more calories required provide high oil diets. Avoid traditional cereals eg. oats, barley, wheat and maize. Use cubes as generally lower in starch. Add fats and oils to existing ration by adding straight oil or use a pelleted high oil supplement such as the Baileys Outshine containing a blend of oils with the correct balance of Omega 3 & 6. Add a digestive enhancer With attention to detail and a little care in the early stages, there is no reason why your ex-racehorse shouldn’t thrive on a diet where the ratio of forage to concentrates is kept in a healthy balance. If you are unsure of the right approach for your ex-racehorse, feed company helplines can offer practical advice and help you explore your options. Once settled into their new life, most thoroughbreds simply need treating as any other individual horse and some even become laid back good doers!

Case Studies

1.  Tib - Working horse/low energy diet

No.2 Working Horse & Pony Cubes + Lo-Cal balancer

During the winter, Tib looks and works well on the recommended amount of 2 scoops of Working Horse & Pony Cubes (8lb/3.6kg per day) but when the spring grass comes through, he doesn’t need as many calories so his owner cuts it back to 1 or 1½ scoops (4 – 6lb/1.8 – 2.7kg) but adds 1 – 2 mugs ( ½ - 1 lb/225 – 450 grams) of Lo-Cal balancer. The Lo-Cal provides the additional nutrients which are lost by cutting back the hard feed but without adding extra calories.

2.  Monty - Leisure Horse/Good-doer

Lo-Cal balancer

Monty has access to excellent grazing in the summer and good haylage in the winter and, as his workload is relatively low, maintains his body condition well on the calories these provide. To help build and maintain muscle tone and support health and well being, Monty gets just 3 mugs (1 ½lb/675g) of Lo-Cal balancer per day. This supplies the quality protein he needs to build muscle tissue plus a balance of vitamins and minerals to support his work along with healthy hooves and a shiny coat.

3.  Bob - Pre Novice Eventer/Fit, Rounded and Ride-able

No.4 Top Line Conditioning Cubes

Bob gets ad lib haylage plus 2 to 2½ Stubbs scoops (8 – 10lb/3.6 – 4.5kg) of No.4 Top Line Conditioning Cubes divided into two or three feeds, depending on how long he spends in the field. In light to moderate work all winter, this has helped him build body and muscle whilst easily fuelling and supporting his work.

4.  Samantha - Polo Pony/Low Starch Diet

No.6 All-Round Endurance Mix + Outshine high oil supplement

Samantha’s owners were advised to keep her starch intake down and maintain a fully balanced diet to support muscle function and integrity. She gets ad lib hay plus 3 scoops (8 – 8½lb/4kg) of No.6 All-Round Endurance Mix which provides a blend of energy sources but is particularly high in oil (10%) and fibre (12%). This also supplies all the other nutrients she needs to support performance but if she needs extra calories to boost condition, Samantha gets 2 to 4 mugs (1 – 2lbs/0.45 – 1kg) of Baileys Outshine high oil supplement in addition to her mix.

http://www.ror.org.uk/care_feeding.htm#typical

Initial Considerations of getting an Ex Race Horse

No-one will question your wonderful intention of providing an ex-racehorse with a loving, caring home, but you may find yourself in situations that you have not met with before. We have outlined below some key points to help you with your ex-racehorse. Be realistic about your ability and experience and don't be afraid to seek help and advice rather than become anxious and upset if something occurs you are not sure about. Take the time to read the section about the life of a horse in training so you can gain a better understanding of why you may encounter certain difficulties at some point. Generally an ex-racehorse is good to load, stands for the farrier and has good stable manners. Usually they are also very good to clip but some may be a bit fidgety, mainly due to the thoroughbred being thin skinned and more sensitive.  Although the horse is used to being ridden it will not really have any idea about conventional riding techniques. It probably won't stand still for you to mount; some will rear up a little if you try and stop them from walking away. This is because lads/lasses and jockeys are more often than not legged up whilst the horse is walking. Some will stand provided someone holds them.  The horse may not be used to anyone riding with long stirrups so legs draped around its sides is something it will have to become accustomed to.   The horse may not have experienced a conventional (general purpose) saddle on its back before so such a saddle will feel very different particularly in terms of weight. Your braking system could well be limited or even non-existent especially in open spaces; and when you shorten up the reins and undoubtedly, although probably unintentionally, incline yourself forward, you are actually giving cues to go faster! The horse will not know anything about contact so when you pick up the reins, the head/neck will invariably go up and out rather than low and rounded. You may also experience head tossing and snatching at the bit. Many horses may well teeth grind too. Physically the horse will be "rigid" – not supple - but this is only because of the type of work a racehorse receives.   The horse will be used to riding out in company which means that when venturing out alone, you could encounter problems in relation to insecurity and nervousness. Riding in company can also present its own issues as being in a group will be associated with work i.e. a training gallop.  It is unlikely the horse will have travelled in a trailer before. The horse will not be accustomed to being tied up outside his stable so is likely to fidget, become anxious and even try to break free. The horse is unlikely to understand aids be it hands, leg, seat, weight. Whilst horses do naturally respond to the shift in weight of a rider, bear in mind that when in training most of the time the rider has taken their weight out of the saddle completely.  The horse shown in the photograph is typical of ex-racehorses who do not understand the aids to lower their heads coupled with the fact that tight underside of neck muscles make it harder for the horse to comply so the horse doesn't think he can lower his head in an attempt to comply with the rider's request. However before progressing in cases like this one where the horse is clearly being that bit more obstinate, it is important to rule out any reasons which may be the cause or contributing to such head carriage (i.e hollowing) such as an ill-fitting saddle, inappropriate bit or a physical problem with the horse such as a sore back.  This horse had a pelvic rotation, painful sacroiliac joint coupled with a generally weak frame. He needs more ground work to develop his strength before ridden work is progressed.

Management Considerations

Whilst an increasing number of racehorses do now get turned out, it won't be for hours at a time so all day turnout will be a new experience. 24/7 turnout will become achievable if you so wish, though not in the early stages so access to stabling is essential. That also means that kitting out your new charge with a cosy, warm, waterproof turnout rug complete with snuggy neck cover could actually alarm him as he adjusts to the restrictions such rugs impose. Remember that thoroughbreds are thin skinned so whereas previously you may not have rugged-up a horse in the stable, this may now be likely so here starts the accumulation of a new equine wardrobe!  Life for the horse in training is based on strict routine and regime. And whilst used to a very active lifestyle with plenty going on in the yard that doesn't necessarily equate to a noisy environment.  Many yards still have a couple of hours complete peace and quiet in the afternoons to enable horses to rest.  Remember that life in a racing yard is invariably busy and time is short especially in the larger ones, so your new horse may not be used to receiving the huge amounts of affection you now wish to shower it with and may well actually shun you to start with. Don't take this personally - just give him time to adjust. The vast majority of people report how wonderfully affectionate and loving their horses are and in fact it is often that side of their nature which spurs owners on to resolving riding issues which, in other circumstances, would result in the horse being passed/sold on. The thoroughbred is very sensitive and quick minded so is often more prone to exhibiting signs of stress than other breeds of horse particularly if boredom sets in. These horses can also more easily become flustered when they do not understand what is being asked of them. Remember the day the horse leaves the training yard its life is tipped upside down so that is when any behavioural or stress-related symptoms will kick in. So do give your new horse time to adjust to its new lifestyle.

Saddlery

Saddle

Although the horse newly out of training will be fit and muscled up, the musculature will be very different to that of a riding horse. Due to the life-style change and as re-schooling progresses the horse's body shape is going to alter - by just how much will depend entirely on the manner of schooling work done. This means that in the first few months you will need the services of a reputable saddle fitter on more than one occasion as muscle development takes place.

Thoroughbreds backs are very sensitive so however well fitted your saddle is, you will need to use a numnah underneath, not a thick one but one that provides good concussion absorption. Be mindful that thoroughbreds can become niggled if they get sweaty particularly in the saddle region, so using sheepskin numnahs is not always an option for every horse. These horses are also usually used to girths with elastic in.

Bit

One of the most common difficulties is finding a suitable bit and this can be quite challenging as the racehorse doesn't often have a "mouth". So don't be alarmed if you struggle to find a bit that your horse is comfortable with and responds to as it may well take several bit changes, over a period of time, until you find the right one. Most racehorses have been ridden in just a loose ring snaffle whilst in training (pictured).

Remember your horse probably doesn't have a concept of contact and coming on to the bit - you have to teach him all that! Going bitless is not always an option either especially in the early days when the horse doesn't have a comprehension of the other aids which of course is very important when riding without a bit.

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So you have decided that an ex-racehorse is for your - remember:

Patience is the key. You must remain calm but confident at all times whatever behaviour is thrown at you. The sharp-minded thoroughbred will soon pick up on any deficiencies you exhibit in that department. Not every horse is a challenge and some adapt readily and easily whilst others just need a little more time. Unfortunately it must be acknowledged that a few horses never really make the adjustment from racehorse to riding horse in that they always retain a degree of unpredictability – but then no horse's behaviour can ever be 100% guaranteed can it? As with any horse and any situation there is no hard and fast rules and there are always exceptions. We advise anyone who would like to take on an ex-racehorse to talk to others that have done so and listen to their experiences so that you are fully versed in what to expect. Once your new horse has settled into his new surroundings, the work really starts. It is a wonderful journey, sometimes challenging, demanding and possibly with stressful moments - but no worse than with any other new horse particularly a youngster. It is all well worth it in the end. Have fun!! http://www.ror.org.uk/care_exracehorse.htm