How do you maintain a horse's muscles?

Muscle development and muscle building

For optimal muscle development and muscle building, a horse needs protein and training. Because muscles are broken down during training, protein is important to repair and rebuild muscles. Antioxidants are needed to remove free radicals from the body. So with good nutrition, you can do a lot to properly support your horse's muscles before, during and after training for optimal performance. This allows the horse to gain more stamina and the body is better able to eliminate waste products.

A horse's muscles have a lot to endure during intensive training. During exercise, energy is burned in the muscles by the oxygen present. When there is a lot of energy to be burned, there is not enough oxygen in the muscles. As a result, muscles get a little bit damaged each time. This causes the release of free radicals (waste products), such as lactic acid. These waste products must be eliminated by the body. If this does not happen sufficiently, the horse may get muscle pain and be a little stiff the day after training.

"For optimal muscle development and muscle building, not only training is important, the right amino acids and antioxidants are also important."

Antioxidants

Vitamin E, selenium and vitamin C are antioxidants and promote the elimination of formed lactic acid. In addition, they can prevent free radical damage to cells. To utilize vitamin E, selenium is important. Together, they provide muscle recovery. Research has shown that selenium deficiency requires more vitamin E and vice versa.

Protein

Protein consists of compounds of different amino acids. Herein, a distinction is made between "essential amino acids" and "non-essential amino acids." The best known essential amino acids are Lysine, Threonine and Methionine. But Leucine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, Histidine and Valine are also essential. These essential amino acids must be provided to the horse through the diet. They are the basis for optimal muscle recovery, muscle development and muscle building. Non-essential amino acids can be produced by the horse itself in the intestines.

Fresh grass, roughage and concentrate feeds are the main sources of the horse's protein supply. However, it cannot be taken for granted that a horse will get the right amount from roughage and/or concentrate. Thereby, the ratio of essential amino acids is important for muscle conversion. Concentrated feed often consists of many grain products and these, by nature, usually do not contain all the essential amino acids. The quality of roughage also often varies greatly.

Correct amino acid profile

Digestion of protein takes place mainly in the small intestine. Here the protein compounds are broken down and the amino acids can be absorbed into the blood through the intestinal wall. It is therefore important to choose products with easily digestible proteins and a correct amino acid pattern. The more the amino acid pattern matches the body's own proteins, the better the digestion of this protein is and the easier it can be utilized by the horse. For the amino acids lysine, methionine and threonine, the ratio in muscle tissue of horses is 10:3:6.

If the horse is fed too little protein, too much non-utilizable protein, or protein with the wrong amino acid pattern, it will not be able to build muscle and there is a risk of muscle breakdown. So your horse may need extra supplementation by means of special muscle-building supplements. A correct combination of amino acids can lead to better energy metabolism in the muscles, muscle building and better stamina.

"The ratio of the amino acids Lysine, Methionine & Threonine in muscle tissue of horses is 10:3:6" 

Additional supplements

HorseAdds has several supplements to support muscle building and recovery. HorseAdds Amino contains the essential amino acids lysine, methionine and threonine in the right proportions to help your horse build muscle. The amino acids are pressed into a pellet, making it easy to add to your horse's daily ration. If you prefer to feed a highly concentrated powder supplement, choose HorseAdds Muscle Build.

HorseAdds Muscle Recovery contains high doses of vitamin E and is specially formulated to help your horse's muscles recover after exercise.