Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
Currently, I am discontinuing new questions. This may change in the future, but in the meantime, please know that It has been a true pleasure serving you.
Take a look at my Nutrition Library and Tips of the Month for a variety of answers on selected topics. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, Forage for Thought.
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All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Jamie,
Performance horses often benefit from additional carbohydrates in their diet since this assists with metabolizing fat for energy. However, too much starch (grain) can aggravate ulcers, and barrel racers often suffer from this digestive problem.
So, rather than add more grain, I would suggest feeding more carbohydrates in the form of beet pulp, since this is highly digestible but does not increase stomach acid like starch does.
Additional fat is also helpful for performance horses, so depending on the horse, its age, overall health, history, weight, and activity level, an appropriate diet can be developed to meet the calorie and carbohydrate needs by feeding a commercial ration or mixing your own ingredients to better accommodate your horse's particular needs.
Happy Holidays!
Dr. Getty 
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO