By: Dr Rosie Alcorn BVSc PG Cert VPS Cert AVP MRCVS
As January approaches, many event horses are returning to work after their winter break. As we prepare for the season ahead, we must also brace ourselves for that familiar early phase of work, when horses are fresh, naughty, fluffy, and often behave more like unbacked three-year-olds than experienced eventers.
While it can be tempting to simply sit and pray for this phase to pass quickly, there is a valuable opportunity to be proactive with nutrition to help manage our event horses during this transition.
Before bringing horses back into work, it is highly recommended to carry out a full health check and dynamic assessment to identify any niggles or underlying issues. This allows potential problems to be addressed early and highlights anything that may require careful management before the season begins. Importantly, it also helps rule out pain as a possible cause of undesirable behaviour.
Forage should make up the vast majority of a horse’s diet when returning to work. Horses should consume at least 1.5–2% of their bodyweight in forage per day.
Fibre provides a slow-release energy source, giving horses the fuel they need without excessive fizz. Winter grass is often poorer in quality and lower in nutrients, meaning horses turned out at this time of year frequently require supplementation with good-quality hay or haylage. High-quality hay can be an excellent forage source for horses coming back into work.
When bringing horses back into work, building muscle becomes a key priority. Protein is a crucial consideration during this phase, as it provides the building blocks for muscle repair and development, supporting topline, soft tissue, and overall strength.
Horses require specific essential amino acids - such as lysine, methionine, and threonine - which must be supplied through the diet. Forage alone does not always provide sufficient high-quality protein, particularly during the winter months when nutritional value can vary significantly.
Simply feeding extra calories to compensate for poor protein quality can result in unwanted weight gain and excess energy without improving muscle tone. Instead, supplying a high-quality protein source allows horses to rebuild and maintain muscle effectively without unnecessary excitability.
While many horses thrive during their time off, others may struggle to maintain weight. Regular body condition scoring is essential so feeding can be adjusted accordingly.
For horses that require extra condition without excess energy, a high-fat, low-starch diet is an excellent option. This can be achieved through:
Addition of oil
Addition of a high-fat feed
Addition of extra forage
These horses often benefit from a tailored feeding plan, and it is always worth contacting our advice team for personalised support.
Bringing event horses back into work after their winter break can be challenging, but with the right nutritional approach, it doesn’t have to be chaotic. Prioritising fibre for calm, consistent energy, supplying high-quality protein to support muscle repair and development, and carefully managing body condition all play a vital role in setting horses up for a successful season ahead.
By being proactive with diet and monitoring health from the outset, we can help our horses return to work more settled, stronger, and better prepared - allowing training to progress smoothly and reducing the risk of setbacks as the competition season begins.
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