What Is A Two-Part Feeding System?

Getting the balance between condition, power and performance can be tricky, especially for good doers or those with excitable temperaments.

One option for these types of horses or ponies would be a two-part feeding plan, pairing our balancers with performance feeds to create the optimum balance. Providing flexibility in feeding ensures that you can maintain a controllable temperament whilst using readily available energy to give you the extra oomph or sparkle needed to finish your season with fuel in the tank.

What is a two-Part feeding plan?

Two-part feeding plans are ideal for competition horses and ponies that need their waistline monitoring whilst ensuring that they have energy reserves to be able to train, compete and recover. Think of the balancers as the base layer of your horse’s diet proving the essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals and quality proteins in a condensed low-calorie base. Whilst the performance mix provides the energy as and when required in the run up to a competition.

Balance perfected

Essential balancer is a low sugar and starch pelleted balancer which can be paired with Re-leve®, Enduro-Performance or Competition-Fit Mix. Re-Leve® provides slow release energy through fibre and oils in a low starch, low sugar mix. Enduro-Performance provides stamina with a small inclusion of cereals to give a little bit of sparkle, whilst the Competition Fit Mix provides instant energy with a high cereal inclusion ensuring that glycogen stores maintain topped up.

When feeding a two-part feeding system, you can half the recommended feeding rate of both the balancer and the performance feed.

For a 500kg sports horse that is holding its weight well and is slightly behind the leg requiring instant energy 250g of Essential Balancer can be paired with 1-1.5kg of Competition Fit Mix to top up the energy requirement without the additional calories. The two-part feeding plan allows additional flexibility as if training is reduced the Essential Balancer can be increased to the full recommended rate of 500g daily, with the competition Fit Mix being removed. If the energy demands are heightened the Essential Balancer can be removed and the full intake of 2-2.5kg of Competition Fit Mix can be fed.

RE-LEVE MIX - No Oats, No Wheat, No Barley, No Alfalfa - A cereal free, low starch mix specifically formulated to replace all cereal based hard feed for horses in work that react adversely to high starch feeds or are prone to Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome. The use of alternative energy sources optimises power generation and recovery, providing controlled energy from highly digestible “Super-Fibres” and oils. In addition, RE-LEVE®MIX is fully fortified with an extensive range of vitamins and minerals along with elevated levels of antioxidants such a Vitamin E to support normal muscle function and recovery.

ENDURO-PERFORMANCE - An energy efficient mix that combines high oil and fibre levels together with a small inclusion of cereals to ensure performance horses have the power to perform. The slow release energy sources help to support multiple competitive rounds, whilst the inclusion of cereals provides up front sparkle and supports natural recovery patterns. The mix contains a full inclusion of yeast and is fully fortified with a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and a powerful antioxidant package.

COMPETITION-FIT MIX - A high energy, fast response mix that utilises a variety of cereals to provide instant energy and optimises power generation. The cereal inclusion supports natural recovery patterns with the replacement of glycogen post exercise. The live yeast inclusion helps support a healthy digestive environment, while the high-quality protein sources support cell, tissue and muscle repair to ensure mobility and athletic performance are maintained.

NEED SOME GUIDANCE?

If you would like some additional information about a two-part feeding plan please contact our nutritional team on 01622 718487 or email nutrition@saracenhorsefeeds.co.uk