In many of the equine disciplines, regular feed provides just enough energy. Endurance, eventing, Western and even dressage disciplines, however, demand more than this. The trouble is that there are so many contradictory opinions on feeding. So my rule of thumb is keep it simple and appreciate that no two horses are the same.
Horses have evolved to eat grass. When you place more demands on your horse – in endurance and other events – you can start with a balanced ration. Only when your horse shows you that it needs more should you add to its their diet.
Fats are the king of energy supply. No feed supply should ever be without fat. Because of the way that fats are structured, they play a vital role in helping the body maintain numerous vital functions. Good blood flow, heart and brain function rely heavily on fat intake, and the hormonal system functions far more efficiently when the correct fat is given.
Washing effect
A horse that is lean can benefit from bergafat in its diet. This is lecithinated (stable) palm fat, a substance originally developed by Berg & Schmidt and now used as an ingredient in several other feed products. It has a washing effect in the gut, keeping it healthy. Seed oils are not ideal.
If your horse is involved in a strenuous discipline or is breeding, bergafat is an ideal source of energy. In fact, most horses could benefit from it for everyday functioning. Bergafat also has phospholipids, which allow it to digest the nutrients in its feed more efficiently. In addition, it is high in Vitamin E to protect the body cells against free radicals.
For energy and optimal condition
There are a number of situations where supplementing your horse’s feed with Bergafat can make all the difference. Bergafat is ideal:
- As a source of energy in sports, both for short-term peak performance and to prevent premature exhaustion when demands are continuous;
- For horses that show over a period of a few days, helping them to keep their edge;
- As an energy and nutrient depot to keep breeding stallions in good condition and help ensure that breeding mares maintain fertility and health during pregnancy;
- As a source of unsaturated fatty acids to ensure top physical condition, a glossy coat and healthy fat deposits;
- As a replacement for carbohydrates in cases of insulin deficiency and for regulating abnormal carbohydrate metabolism in horses prone to ‘Monday mornings’. These benefit greatly if fed Bergafat and grass.
Feed Bergafat per body weight. I start with half the dosage and increase it over two or three weeks to the full dosage. A daily amount of 0,5g/ kg to 1g/kg body weight is recommended.
