The Secret To Getting Your Horses Competition-Ready

May 29, 2024

The summer show season is about to start! From hunter/jumper shows, polo tournaments, to dressage shows, competitions have been lining up, from here in Hunt Country, Virginia to Traverse City, Michigan; all the way to the Hamptons in New York! If your horse is participating in a show  this season, here are tips to get them truly ready to be at their best at the horse show! 

Top Tip: Rest and Recovery is Key 

In this day and age, it is already an accepted fact that rest and recovery is really key to keeping horses strong and healthy - whether it is for a jumper show or a 16 goal polo tournament. Quality rest is paramount, where horses actually get ample amounts of deep sleep and REM sleep; otherwise, their health and overall performance get affected.

Veterinary experts, horse owners and trainers all agree that there needs to be the right balance between training, rest and recovery. In this article we would like to walk you through various options to consider to create an environment that is conducive to their optimal well being.

Our horse stall mattresses have been tested and proven to provide the comfortable environment a horse needs to be able to get the quality of rest it deserves. Our StableComfort stall mattress systems incorporate patented, multi-celled mattresses that are rubber-filled, have rubber crumb and also have a rubber top. This mattress system provides at least 3-4 inches of bedding that serves as enough cushion to bases such as concrete or crushed stone. They’re extremely durable, and proven to be able to withstand more than a decade of wear and tear with proper maintenance.

Meanwhile, for the utmost comfort, you also have the option to upgrade to the StableComfort Premium. This adds a premium pad that gets your horse an additional 3/4 inches of recycled foam. This is especially the best recommended option if you have competition horses, or horses that are older or have arthritis issues.

And it’s not just lip service. Clegg Hammer Impact Tests were conducted on StableComfort stall mattresses to show how they have significantly upped the comfort level of a horse from just laying down on concrete. From here, it’s proven that sleeping on a StableComfort stall mattress is more or less six times better than 3/4 inch solid rubber mats on concrete! And then, when you have your horse rest on StableComfort Premium mattresses, the comfort level climbs up to ten times more than the conventional solid rubber mats.

Not only that, StableComfort stall mattresses also contribute to an overall healthier environment in your horse barn. Because the mattress pads are  already filled, you get to use less materials for your horse barn. This contributes to a more airy, ventilated barn which also minimizes manure for waste by up to 66%. This reduces the ammonia and dust levels from bedding in your barn. This allows you to keep surfaces cleaner and dust-free, which could all-in-all improve your horse’s breathing and general well-being.

Ventilation is, indeed, a must in every horse stall, not only in ensuring that the horse rests well, but in controlling odor and the growth of bacteria in a barn as well. They also ensure ample air circulation and make sure that the horse breathes well inside its stall.

One way is through horse stall fans. We strongly advise against traditional box fans; even the law is against them because they are fire hazards. Our PURECOOL horse stall fans come in 12”, 18”, and 24” diameters. They are quiet, have a closed motor design and incorporate a deep-guard design.

Ensure Ample Space and Regular Schedules for Feeding

No horse is the same when it comes to feeding. But all of them need adequate nutrition to keep them happy and healthy.

All horse diets need to have a main course of forage – as in, at least 1 to 2 percent of their body weight — then supplemented with feed or grain pellets for those that have deficiencies. Generally, most horses are not picky eaters, but it should also be considered that horse stomachs can only hold a small amount at any time, because they are actually quite small compared to the horse’s body weight. It also takes about 45 to 72 hours for food to completely pass through their digestive tract. Also, horse owners should always watch what their horse eats – just like us humans, moldy, stale feed could make them unwell.

Given these considerations, it is therefore crucial to be able to design a horse stall that keeps a horse’s feeding times in mind. First is through having your stall fronts custom built for easy feeding. You could select among our various feeding systems including a complimentary feed hole opening or grilled feed doors where you can conveniently place hay and grain feed into the stall from the comfort of your aisle.

Another neat option would be this custom swivel feeder. It features a stainless steel pan bolted on the back of lumber with a swivel feeder. Set it up so you can fill the stainless steel pan from outside the stall, and swing it back into place for your horse to feed on. Below is an example of a Sliding Horse Stall Front which includes a Swivel Feed Door. 

Keep Your Horse Hydrated

Making sure your horse drinks enough water is another non-negotiable. Depending on their size and lifestyle, a horse would typically drink on average 10 to 15 gallons per day. Hydration is very important for their metabolism and to regulate their body temperature. Fortunately, we at American Stalls have options for you to ensure your horse is properly hydrated for rest and proper performance.

Above is the integrated water system installed in the horse stall front, sized and measured so buckets could easily get in and out. This allows clients to manually fill their buckets from the comfort and convenience of their barn aisle. This is especially well suited for training facilities, private barns and other applications. Watch YouTube video on Integrated Water System. 

On the other hand, we also have the automatic horse waterer, a famous option at American Stalls. This is just one design, but American Stalls has many different automatic horse waterer models to choose from to fit your installation needs. You also have the option to choose consumption meters, insulation for cold weather climates, and much more!  

Rule of Thumb: There Is No Quick Fix to Success

Ensuring that your horse brings home the bacon in that polo or hunter/jumper show is actually more than breaking in and training; it’s also a lot about how well and how consistently they are taken care of and nourished. Fortunately, we at American Stalls are your partners in making sure the environment and conditions in your barn would be key to keeping your horse in tiptop shape.

It is time to get that barn build set up for your horse’s competition success. Let us get you started in gearing up your horses for competitions. If you can dream it, we can build it! Contact us today by completing our Contact Form, calling us at (855) 957-8255 or emailing us at sales@americanstalls.com. We look forward to working with you to bring your barn vision to life!

Also in Blog