How to best support your competition horse for performance
Although disruptions should be kept to a minimum it’s inevitable that some changes to routine will occur on the days of competition. Ideally, try to keep your routine on a competition day as close to normal as possible. If travelling to a competition later in the day, provide your horse with his normal breakfast well before they are due to travel. Forage should be available ad lib, including on the lorry if the journey will take a reasonable time. Similarly, water should be available up until loading and, depending on the length of the journey, offered at regular intervals, especially during warm weather.
If your horse has sweated heavily during travel or after exercise, they will require electrolyte supplementation (e.g. Foran Equine Equi-Lyte G or Refuel). Depending on how much the horse has sweated, electrolytes may need to be fed for 2-3 days to aid recovery. Finally, if returning home the same day, you can feed your horse his normal evening meal, forage and water when he is back in his own stable. However, if you are away for multiple days remember to make sure that you bring, or have access to, enough food, supplements and forage for the entire trip.