INCREASE ENERGY
Create an
energy supply that lasts!
To increase your horse's energy level -
you could simply feed more whole grain - or you could be providing your
horse a more highly digestible energy-packed feed such as our 14%
Hi-Energy Race Mix. The steady energy supply in this feed comes from
natural soy oil, combined with steam cooked grains and high quality whole
grains. 14% Hi-Energy Race Mix ensures your horse a steady supply
of energy to last all day!
Feeding high levels of raw grain has long
been associated with veterinary and performance problems, such as colic
and hyper behavior. But, combining whole grains with highly digestible
steam cooked grains and natural soy oil, creates an energy-packed feed
that not only improves the safety of the diet, but also the performance of
the horse.
The primary reason for hyper behavior and
poor performance are high levels of blood glucose that are released early
during exercise. This glucose is what is released when horses are
fed primarily raw grains. Red Mills® horse feeds
provides sustainable energy by combining whole grains, with natural soy
oil, and high fiber - now the equine muscles have 3 sources of energy -
glucose (from the grains), oil and fiber.
Reduce heat build-up
Excessive
heat production increases heart rate, reduces gut function and increases
fluid and electrolyte losses. The amount of heat generated during
digestion is much less when the feed is digested in the small intestine
rather than being fermented in the caecum. Steam cooked ingredients means
more energy is available to the horse, because the digestion occurs in the
small intestine and glucose is safely released for immediate use.
Equally important though, is the effect
of heat build-up on muscle blood flow. Sweating requires that the blood be
diverted to the skin for cooling. This reduces circulation to the muscles
and hence performance. Highly digestible, oil-enriched feeds that reduce
heat production, will benefit muscle blood supply as well as reduce fluid
and electrolyte losses.
Muscle Power
It is
important that performance horses maintain a lean athletic condition. To
build muscle and reduce body fat, protein intake must be fine-tuned.
Without adequate protein, horses will have trouble maintaining muscle
mass. More often than not this is not due to a protein deficiency, but to
inadequate intake of specific amino acids. The feed tag might say 14%
crude protein, but to the horse it might only be 8 or 9% usable protein.
The more unusable protein the horse consumes the more he has to excrete.
The over feeding of unusable protein stresses the horse's system. Excess
protein can contribute to higher heart and respiratory rates, higher rates
of sweating and dehydration.
Amino acids are also part of the
structure of hormones, enzymes, nutrient carriers, antibodies and many
other functions that are essential to performance. Along with minerals,
vitamins, fat and carbohydrates, diets for the endurance horse must
contain protein that is correctly profiled for essential amino acids. Pure
Performance contains soy oil and protein meals, along with
additional lysine and methionine to provide the amino acids necessary for
building lean muscle mass.
Fiber
For every pound of fiber
digested by the horse, 1/3 lbs of water and electrolytes in introduces to
the gut. This amount of fluid can be used during and event, reducing the
risk of dehydration. Recent research has shown that oil-enriched feeds
have a profound an effect on increasing gut water retention, as does
fiber.
Minerals
Minerals are important for for muscle coordination,
hormone production and bone and joint health. Pure Performance
contains chelated mineral and vitamins to meet the special demands of
competitive riding.
