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  Discussion on Eventing off grass
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 2, 2001 - 11:52 am:

Dear Dr O

I was very interested to read your summary of recent research on nutrition for performance/competition horses as, against traditional wisdom, I have been one-day eventing off pasture for some years now owing to my horse being even sillier than normal if she is stabled. It has never caused me any problems other than trying to find the horse in the field in the pitch dark!

I am now leaving the haynet in the box on the way to the events after reading your article.

However, I parked up last Sunday next to a woman who goes even further than I do. She had brought a young horse which has had a rearing problem and she had boxed 4 hours to the event with the horse, having not fed it at all. It didn't rear... We were both surprised to meet another person eventing off grass as it is just "not done" here.

Now, I always feed my mare before we set off to an event, but this means that often the 5-8 hours recommended in your article to elapse after the grain feed and before the competition has not passed.

Do you have any thoughts, or has anyone else had experience of not feeding at all except hay en route before competitions? I am tempted...

All the best

Imogen

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 3, 2001 - 6:16 am:

Hello Imogen,
The changes suggested are not to correct problems but make an attempt at reasoning with the available information what might optimize performance.

I do not like feeding grain to horses while they are trailering. Over the years I have seen three horses choke (and heard of many others) while riding and one developed aspiration pneumonia because the head was tied up. Hay while riding would be much less likely to cause such a problem but probably not fool proof.

The article would not address the dressage portion of your one day as this is not a metabolically challenging event and so the recommendation does not apply to this so this may give you the extra time you need. Otherwise you may have to get up a little earlier if you want to try these principles to see if you notice a difference.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 3, 2001 - 7:05 am:

Actually my horse usually puts up more of a sweat during the one-hour work-in while I try to wear her out before the dressage test than at any other time during the day! But I understand what you are saying. I would never feed a horse grain while it was being transported - I normally feed an hour before leaving the yard, I am just thinking of trying not feeding any grain at all before the event because I think she is probably dealing with a metabolic spike just at the time when I want her nice and calm for the dressage.

All the best

Imogen
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