When Your Horse Reaches Critical Mass To Succeed, Should You Keep Him There?

by Nikki Alvin-Smith

Training horses for competition is a lifestyle that requires significant fortitude for those of us keen enough to follow through working with performance equines from birth to finish.  During bad times, it can feel as if endless strife is required to achieve even small step by step goals. When good days happen, it feels as though everything has clicked into place and you and your equine partner are on the way to reach the pinnacle of the equestrian sport. 

Regardless of what discipline you favor or what competition ladder you choose to climb, there are moments when you know that your horse has reached critical mass. That he is peaking in his training, his overall health, and his confidence to get the job done. This is a significant achievement and a good pat on his neck and on your back is deserved. Obviously you make the most of the opportunity and push on, but the question then becomes, how do you keep him there. And even if you can, should you?

The short answer is no. It is not sustainable to keep a horse running at maximum day after day, competition after competition. But there are ways to minimize the physical and mental injuries that prolonged periods of excessive energy use and advanced level work demands. There are also good ways to monitor the animal for stressors and to mitigate the risk with diligent attention to dietary needs.

The best way to rebalance and then refresh the horse is to wind him down and let him enjoy a short break before setting back off again. This may mean getting off the show circuit and home. Consider offering turnout (with equine companionship if it can be safely done). A detox program can be instigated. Generally this is recommended to be done twice a year, and a good rule of thumb is to do it when the horse sheds its coat.

Check your horse to ensure that its digestive microbiome health is optimized and that it is not compromised by lack of forage availability when away at competition, that ulcers and other stress-induced gastric conditions are not present. Vaccinations, medications, dewormers and a myriad of other factors can all combine to cause true upset to the equine gastric system. 

No matter what the quality or amount of feed and forage you administer to your horse, the benefits of the ingredients cannot be utilized efficiently by a horse that has poor digestive health. Postbiotic feed supplements have been shown to significantly aid in correction and maintenance of good gut health. If you are not already using one then it is a good idea to incorporate it into your horse’s diet. In fact, the use of the Postbiotic has been documented by many advanced riders to negate the need for use of many other feed supplements altogether. So it is well worth a look.

A slight loss in condition of the horse during down times is expected. When the horse is at home it is simple to discover any slight muscle soreness or joint pain as he is at his most relaxed (hopefully!). Use your powers of observation on the ground/in the saddle as well as calling to hand your veterinary team to scientifically assess the horse using the bevy of technology available to discern issues. Remember not all red flags are actually active issues for the horse, so don’t get bogged down in over-analysis. Just be aware of potential areas of medical concern and take remedial or pro-active action as needed.

It is perhaps not surprising to learn that the use of a top quality Postbiotic product can help your horse restore his health across a wide range of aspects both during and between competition and even help protect him from becoming too stressed in the first place and to mitigate the risk of damage due to inflammation in joints.

Research has shown that use of postbiotics can cause sharp drop in cortisol levels which indicates that there is a whole-body reduction in stress. They have been statistically proven to significantly reduce inflammatory prostaglandin markers in synovial markers. That’s a win for any performance animal. 

As far as optimizing performance, the administration of a Postbiotic feed supplement also increases free fatty acids, blood glucose, Hemoglobin and packed cell volume. More wins for the performance horse.

Taking the time to take a horse out of competition is not an easy decision for any professional. Mired in logistical matters of transport and show circuit paperwork and qualification schedules for major events, driven by the need to stay ahead of equestrian colleagues and bring home the financial as well as prestige awards and accolades, is hard to navigate. Doing the right thing by your horse is not so hard. A horse that is in good health will go further and will likely have longevity in the sport. It is better to get ahead of it than to try and fix problems later.

Successful Olympians like Hester and DuJardin in the dressage world or eventers like Bruce Davidson are just a few examples of advanced riders that have always allowed their equine charges downtime to just be horses and provided an ‘off circuit’ lifestyle for them where possible. The results of which speaks volumes.

And as you consider taking the peaks up and down for your horse, it is also wise to consider yourself and your team of support such as family, grooms etc. We all benefit from downtime, good nutritional support and a break from arduous routines.

About the Author

Nikki Alvin-Smith is a seasoned freelance writer who loves to share her lifelong experience with everything horse, rural lifestyle, and travel. Her works have been printed in more than two hundred fifty equestrian magazines worldwide and her published articles number in the thousands.

A Brit who has called New York home for more than 40 years, Nikki brings a unique perspective to her writing. Her experience as an international level Grand Prix dressage competitor, coach, and worldwide clinician, with a youth spent showjumping and foxhunting, provides lots of educational truths and fun moments to share with the reader. Additionally, she has been a horse breeder and importer of Hanoverian, Dutch and Iberian horses for more than 25 years. Together with her husband Paul Alvin-Smith, who is also a Grand Prix rider, operates Willowview Hill Farm, an organic hay farm and private dressage yard in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of New York.

Visit nikkialvinsmithstudio.com or horseinakiltmedia.com to learn more.