It doesn't matter which equine discipline you are involved in, building andmaintaining a strong topline on your horse is important. Strong toplines attract judges orbuyers and also help ensure the horse's back remains strong and healthy.

While work and correct muscle conditioning play a huge role in developing and maintainingtopline, nutrition plays an equally important role. To build topline you need to provide theright nutrients. Here are some tips on feeding for topline.

Feeding For Topline

Tip 1—Feed enough energy (calories) for the work your horse is doing
Underfeeding means your horse will need to dip into its stored energy reserves to fuel themuscles for work. Horses will quite quickly break down their topline to use it for fuel ifthey are underfed.

Tip 2—Feed high quality protein
To build topline you must provide the building blocks your horse needs to make muscle. Usingfeeds with protein provided by soybeans, lupins, faba bean or canola meal with give yourhorse access to good quality sources of protein which builds muscle. Feeds with one or moreof these protein sources are best.

Avoid feeds containing cottonseed meal as the protein source. Cottonseed is a poor source ofprotein that is deficient in the most important amino acids (amino acids are the buildingblocks of protein).

Feeding some lucerne hay will also contribute good quality protein to the diet.

Tip 3—Use top-up feeds designed to build top-line
Feeds such as KER Equi-Jewel and Pryde's ReBuild are based on rice bran and are designed toprovide extra calories and protein to help build topline. You can also use whey proteinisolate or soy protein isolates.

Tip 4—Feed a balanced diet
Once again it really is so important to ensure your horse's diet is meeting all of itsnutrient requirements as any deficiency will stop your horse from reaching its potential andthis includes its potential for building topline. Also, minerals like zinc are needed toeffectively build muscle; failing to provide these nutrients will inhibit muscle growth, nomatter how well the horse is being worked and fed with quality protein.

Again, this is where FeedXL is so useful; knowing that you are feeding abalanced diet that does meet your horse's nutrient requirements.

Tip 5—Avoid or treat back injuries
Use properly fitted saddles at all times and quickly treat any back injuries that may occur.A horse with a sore back will avoid using its back muscles correctly, in turn preventing itfrom building a strong topline.

Feeding a good diet with quality protein, in conjunction with exercise aimed atstrengthening the topline should give you noticeable results in 4 to 8 weeks.

Dr. Nerida Richards (PhD) is Australia's foremost expert in Horse Nutrition. This article iscourtesy of FeedXL DIY Diet Planner forHorses. If you would like be among the first to receive FeedXL newsletters thenplease consider subscribing to FeedXL.

See more horse-feeding articles in The Feed Room.

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Comments  

 

0 #1 Dolsons@bigpond.com 2010-03-05 21:23

Fantastic keep up the good work
Good common sence. I find a lot of peole are afraid to feed a well balanced deit because the horse has more energy.I am a instructor and I also teach my students about deits etc.

 

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