Question

I show stock-type horses in hunter under saddle and western pleasure futurities. I often start riding them when they are just turning two years old. They get turned out for half the day when they’re home, but when they are at shows or during certain periods of training, they are confined to stalls (boxes). How can I be sure I am properly nourishing their immature skeletons?

Answer

The first step is to make sure the ration you’re feeding your two-year-olds contains sufficient energy and fortification. Two-year-old performance horses are an unusual class because they require nutrients for growth as well as additional energy for whatever work is asked of them. Another post on the Answer Exchange details the challenges inherent with properly nourishing two-year-old performance horses.

A qualified equine nutritionist should be consulted to ensure your horses are receiving all the nutrients they require to fuel growth and performance.

Because the skeletal factor most affected by both the beginning stages of training and stall confinement is density/integrity, you may be considering some type of bone-building supplement to prevent consequential loss in bone density. There are numerous supplements on the market with a dizzying array of nutrients, from diatomaceous earth to fish bones. Very few of them have supporting research to substantiate their effectiveness.

A top choice would be a supplement that includes not only minerals but also bone-building proteins and vitamins. DuraPlex is one such supplement. Research on this product concluded that DuraPlex increased bone mineral density and bone area in both performance horses and growing youngsters. In addition, DuraPlex was shown to prevent the natural demineralization that occurs when access to free-choice exercise is restricted such as when young horses enter a training program or during recuperation from injury.