Preparation is key

PREPARING FOR AN EVENT – ON THE DAY

On the day of an event, you want to see the culmination of all the training and preparation come to fruition at the perfect moment. Although the nutritional groundwork has already been laid, there are still opportunities to maximise performance with planned, shorter term support.

Branched chain amino acids

All proteins (including muscle protein) are made up of amino acids and while some of these can be synthesised in the body, many can’t and so must be obtained from the diet. These amino acids are termed ‘essential amino acids’.

Three of these essential amino acids are further sub-categorised into ‘branched chain amino acids’ (BCAA’s) and are estimated to make up to 40% of muscle protein. This makes them hugely important for building quality muscle and so should be readily available in an equine athlete’s diet – particularly during training.

BCAA’s are also important on a shorter term basis for the climatic performance demands though – be it for speed or stamina. When the muscles are worked hard or long, the body naturally looks to utilise BCAA’s as a source of energy, and so starts to break down muscle tissue, increasing the risk of soreness and prolonged post-exertion recovery. The sooner this happens during exertion, the sooner it may affect performance. Supplementing with BCAAs prior to expected effort can help delay this process and so support maximum effort and optimal recovery.

Pre-Fuel Gel – rapid energy paste with essential BCAA’s to maximise athletic performance, along with vitamin E, B vitamins and essential minerals to support optimal muscle function. Perfect for when significant athletic effort is required in one day. Couple with Refuel Gel, post-performance, for optimal recovery.

Optimise your horse’s Performance + Recovery with Foran Equine’s Pre-Fuel + Refuel Gel

Antioxidants

All body processes produce particles called free radicals and the faster and harder we ask the body to work, the faster the production of these free radicals gets. Clearing the body of these particles is a natural part of the early exertion recovery period (which in the case of stamina-based performance, starts during the event itself) and this role is performed by antioxidants.

Many compounds have antioxidant effects, including some vitamins, such as vitamin E. More recently feeding Ubiquinol (CoQ10) daily during training has been shown to increase plasma and muscle levels. Providing optimal levels of antioxidants during training and prior to exertion will help support the body’s natural free-radical clearing process and so optimise performance and recovery.

Learn more about maximising recovery {link to ‘maximising recovery’ section}

Mental Preparedness

Responding to new environmental stimuli with increased alertness is perfectly natural but if a horse struggles to maintain focus when the time comes to perform, it can hinder them showing their true ability.

Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter associated with calm focus and concentration. It is generated in the body from an amino acid called L-Tryptophan, so making sure that this compound is available in abundance prior to training sessions or during competition can help direct mental energy into performance.

Nutri-Calm Gel – concentrated, convenient formulation containing L-Tryptophan and Serotonin, as well as B-complex vitamins and magnesium, to support the nervous system and facilitate focus and concentration, when needed most

For more advice on targeted supplementation to support your performance goals, contact Foran Equine to speak to one of our advisers here