SUCCULENTS AND TREATS
Training racehorses could be described as being the epitome of art and science coming together. While the latest research and recommendations are important, there has always been a strong belief in tradition and folklore in the racing community where feeding is concerned. WORDS: CatheRine Dunnett BSC, PhD, R.nutR PhOtOS: ShutteRStOCK
H
ORSES in full training can experience reduced appetite or can become increasingly finicky feeders the fitter and the nearer to a race they get. In addition, immune function may be suppressed and psychological stress can become significant. Trainers over the years have often expressed their individualism through nutrition offering those special intangible additions to the normal daily ration. In this article, I will explore some of the most commonly used and also the more peculiar additions I have experienced in racing diets, and discuss their potential benefits or disadvantages.
Succulents: are they simply a daily treat? The addition of succulents to the diet are often simply viewed as a daily treat, a way of adding some variety to the ration but are not relied upon for any specific nutritional benefit. Carrots and apples are perhaps the best illustration of a widely used succulent in a racing context. Horses generally love them and they can certainly help to maintain interest in feed. As long as they are cut up appropriately and don’t present a choking hazard, they are a great addition to the diet. Both carrots and apples tend to be very high in sugars when examined on a dry matter basis, but they also offer digestible fiber including pectin, as well as natural antioxidants and vitamins. Their nutritional contribution is fairly limited, however, given the amount fed and their very high water content. In short, carrots or apples are a benign addition to the racing ration, with the main benefit largely being to improve feed intake, as well as psychological wellbeing. Other succulents of note include fresh forages such as alfalfa, or indeed the revered ‘pick of grass.’ Alfalfa cut freshly in the morning was a time-honored tradition for many years in Newmarket in England. Many
horses were offered an armful of this fresh forage each morning. Generally it was well received, although I remember hearing a few reports of hives or ‘protein bumps,’ which were attributed rightly or wrongly to this fresh material. Alfalfa is a true king of forages, having a superior digestibility compared to hay or haylage. It is also a good source of bioavailable calcium, but does not have a high sugar content. When fresh alfalfa is offered, it is essential that it is fed soon after cutting, because it will eventually start to deteriorate and could contribute to digestive problems. Fresh grass and alfalfa both have a very high water content and so the level of nutrition provided per day when fed as a succulent is likely to be quite low. However, the intangible psychological benefit of ‘Dr. Green’ is huge. Some succulents such as hydroponic grass offer a more significant nutritional addition to the diet and are way beyond simply being a treat. Hydroponic grass has not taken off significantly in the U.S. or Europe but is popular for many equestrian disciplines in Australia. Those trainers that have tried it really value it as part of their racing ration, as it offers an alternative and significant source of ‘Dr. Green.’ Hydroponic grass is delivered via a mat of sprouted grains (usually barley) and the horses eat both the green shoots and the mat of roots. A single mat per day makes a significant nutritional contribution to the diet and can replace about 4-6 lbs of concentrate feed, therefore reducing the starch load of a traditional racing diet. These mats of ‘grass’ are very good for horses psychologically, as they prolong eating time and so encourage a more natural grazing behavior. In addition, the sprouting process itself mobilizes natural starch digesting enzymes from the grain, which may also help improve the digestion of starch from the remainder of the racing diet. Hydroponic grass offers a real tangible benefit for horses in training, but the units required to produce it are relatively expensive and have to be kept scrupulously clean to
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