Horse Transport: Assessing Diet and Performance

Researchers conduct studies to provide horse owners and trainers with evidence-based data to facilitate dietary selection for maximal health and athleticism. As pointed out in a recent publication*, an important piece of the puzzle often left out of these studies is the impact of transport prior to competition.

“Incredible advances in equine nutrition have occurred over the past century, helping optimize diets and performance. That said, the study by Connysson and colleagues clearly demonstrates that to truly assess the impact of diet on exercise response in competition horses, transport must be considered,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a Kentucky Equine Research nutritionist.

As explained by Connysson and coauthors, “Sport horses are generally subjected to road transport before competitions, but little is known about the effect of transportation on the subsequent metabolic response to exercise.”

Transporting horses can be fraught with challenges. Studies show that transportation increases the heart rate and increases lactate, glucose (an immediate source of energy), and cortisol levels in the bloodstream.

“These facts suggest that dietary resources such as calories may be used during transport before ever arriving at the competition, thereby negatively affecting performance,” Crandell said.

According to the researchers, “both transport and diet affect metabolic response during exercise in horses.” The researchers suggested that a transport component should be included in future studies when feasible.

“Always consider best management practices during transportation, including biosecurity safety to minimize the risk of spreading infectious diseases, adequate water and feed intake, and avoidance of abrupt changes in feed while on the road,” advised Crandell.

She added, “Offering a KER electrolyte supplement, whether it is Restore SR powder or Restore paste, with access to water a few hours before transport can help a horse maintain hydration during transportation.” Australian owners should look for Restore.

*Connysson, M., S. Muhonen, and A. Jansson. 2017. Road transport and diet affect metabolic response to exercise in horses. Journal of Animal Science 95(11):4869-4879.