Best Feeding Strategies for Horses with Muscle Disorders

Nutrition is a cornerstone of managing horses prone to tying-up or diagnosed with muscle myopathies. The right diet supports energy balance, reduces risk of flare-ups, and enhances recovery.

Feeding Horses with No History of Tying-Up

If exercise is severely restricted or stopped, concentrate feed intake needs to be reduced without compromising vitamin and mineral intake. This is where Essential Balancer can help.

ESSENTIAL BALANCER will balance any diet, whether fed on its own, with straights or other compound feeds. Used within a normal feeding regime, it will result in lower levels of hard feed being needed. Essential Balancer concentrated ingredients, together with bio-available minerals, and yeast which helps to maintain microbial activity, resulting in maximum utilisation of hard feed and forage through optimal fibre digestion.

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Feeding Horses with a History of Tying Up

Horses that have had an episode of muscle stiffness, increased muscle soreness or an episode of Tying-Up should be gradually introduced to a concentrate feed that’s low in starch and sugar but high in digestible fibres and fat.
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Saracen RE-LEVE^®-MIX is specifically formulated to manage horses prone to compromised muscle function and is designed to form the sole concentrate feed. RE-LEVE®-Mix can be fed to all types of horse from those that are on box rest or in light work, up to those in full training. The level of RE-LEVE®-Mix fed should be gradually increased in conjunction with an increase in the level of exercise.

RE-LEVE®-MIX is a high-performance mix designed for horses that react to a cereal based diet that is suitable for horses at every level. Soya hulls, lucerne pellets and beet pulp supply oil and fibre as the energy sources, keeping starch to a bare minimum. It is fortified with a concentrated source of proteins, trace elements and yeast, as well as natural Vitamin E and selenium to assist normal muscle function.

Saracen RE-LEVE^®-MIX

A cereal-free, low-starch, high-fibre concentrate designed for horses prone to muscle disorders. Rich in oil, fibre, protein, yeast, and antioxidants, it supports muscle recovery and performance.

When workloads increase and energy demands are higher, or your horse requires a large amount of help to increase his condition, RE-LEVE®-Mix can be topped up with EQUI-JEWEL®.

EQUI-JEWEL^® is pelleted, high oil, stabilised rice bran supplement designed to increase the energy density of the whole diet, thereby decreasing the reliance on cereals in the diet. Research has proven its superiority in optimising performance. When substituted for vegetable oils in rations, horses had lower heart rates and subsequent shorter recovery periods

Saracen EQUI-JEWEL^®

A stabilised rice bran supplement that increases dietary energy density while lowering reliance on cereals. Proven to optimise performance, it supports condition and recovery.

Some horses that are prone to Tying-Up are good-doers and cannot be fed the usual recommended ration of RE-LEVE®-Mix as this would be likely to encourage weight gain. For these horses we recommend SHAPE-UP™, a low calorie, low intake feed.

SHAPE-UP^® was designed to provide all the benefits of RE-LEVE®-Mix; cereal-free, low starch and low sugar; but in a low-calorie form. SHAPE-UP™ is a low starch, high fibre mix designed to provide a balanced diet at low intake levels, and to help maintain a normal, healthy metabolism. It can be used as a calorie-controlled ration for those prone to tying-up, laminitis, Equine Metabolic Syndrome or Cushing's to meet micronutrient requirements without excess sugar, calories, and starch intake.
Saracen SHAPE-UP™

Ideal for good-doers prone to tying-up, laminitis, or metabolic issues. SHAPE-UP™ delivers a balanced, low-calorie, low-starch diet while meeting essential micronutrient needs.

Supplements and Hydration for Muscle Health

Vitamin E: Natural-source vitamin E supports muscle recovery and reduces oxidative stress.

Salt & Electrolytes: Adding salt helps replace minerals lost through sweat, while KER Restore provides sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium during heavy sweating.

Hydration Support: RE-COVERY MASH boosts water intake, delivers electrolytes, vitamin E, and fibre, and encourages hydration during travel, training, and hot weather.

Our advice: If your horse is fussy with water when traveling, start practicing at home by encouraging your horse to drink flavoured water, for example, flavoured with apple juice or mint. Alternatively, make sure that you have enough water containers on board to take enough ‘home’ water with you.

Want Help To Support Your Horse’s Muscle Health?

We can help you support your horse’s muscle health with a tailored feeding strategy. Contact our expert team today or dive into our article titled Understanding Muscle Myopathies In Horses for more information.