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Horses are natural athletes with a higher proportion of muscle mass than most other mammals. Performance horses need muscle power, which is expressed as strength, capacity, and mass. For muscle building and maintenance, care, training, and proper nutrition are essential.
The primary function of a horse's muscular system is movement. Muscle tissue is the only tissue in the body that can contract and relax, allowing it to move other parts of the body. Besides movement, muscles are essential for keeping the body still and upright. It can be said that the body always requires muscle tone, as it literally supports both the horse and us. A term often used when discussing horse musculature is 'topline'. The topline consists of all the muscles along the neck, withers, back, loin, and hindquarters of the horse.
The topline should be rounded and strong, not sunken in any way. Muscles support the skeleton, enabling the horse to bear weight, and they provide the strength and power for performance. If a horse has underdeveloped musculature, its body will not be properly supported, and its movement will be compromised.
A horse with a weak topline will likely not step under itself as expected. The hind hoof should step into the same track that the front hoof just left. If the hooves move close together, it can indicate weakness in the back muscles. A weak topline can be seen when: the neck is concave and hollow, there's a dip on one side of the withers, the spine is higher than the surrounding muscles, the hip corners are sharp and the muscles around them are sunken, or when the width at the knees is much narrower than the width at the hip. When ridden, this often results in a lack of propulsion and alignment.
Genetic potential is a fundamental factor influencing how much muscle mass a horse naturally has, but there are several environmental factors that also contribute. If the horse cannot graze regularly, the topline naturally works less. Feeding roughage from the floor for stabled horses helps counteract this, along with a well-thought-out training plan, assuming there are no underlying conditions preventing muscle setting. Exercises that allow the horse to work in an extended form, stretching its neck, are particularly beneficial for the topline muscles. As a rider, you also need to be aware of your own fitness and balance. A rider with poor balance will alter the horse's movements and its topline development. Additionally, factors like a poorly fitted saddle or unbalanced hooves also affect the horse's movements.
Muscles are made up of proteins. To build muscles, there must be enough protein available in the feed, and the protein source must be of good quality. However, protein from feed cannot be used by the horse's body until it's broken down into amino acids. Amino acids are best described as building blocks for soft tissue, including muscle tissue. A high-quality protein source contains several essential amino acids that the horse must ingest with its food. Traditional grain-based feeds often provide enough protein, but not always of sufficient quality. Modern feed mixes focus more on the right quality protein, often sourced from soy or alfalfa.
M Power is rich in amino acids and antioxidants from natural sources, working together to ensure smooth, healthy muscle function. These primary ingredients are supported by the vitamins and trace elements necessary for performance, plus targeted nutrients, including live yeast, optimizing the digestive process. NAF recommends M Power for muscle development and maintenance during training and competition.
To maintain healthy muscles in the best possible physical condition, it's crucial to care for them throughout the season. Muscles are in a continuous process of repair and renewal, which automatically occurs in muscle cells. For this to happen effectively, a steady supply of the correct nutrients is necessary. Every time muscle cells work, especially during skeletal muscle contraction during physical activity, ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) are produced as by-products of cell respiration. The harder the muscles work, the more these ROS accumulate, also known as free radicals. An accumulation of free radicals leads to oxidative stress, slower recovery, and potentially accelerating conditions like inflammatory reactions. To counteract ROS accumulation, we typically supplement with well-known antioxidants vitamin E and selenium. However, maintaining the musculature of elite horse athletes is complex, and experience tells us that a complex condition requires a complex nutritional response.
NAF M Fit not only provides vitamin E and selenium but does so in a unique and synergistic blend of natural antioxidants, including turmeric, rosehip, and milk thistle. With this mix, M Fit offers a complex range of natural phytoflavonoids – much more than just vitamin E and selenium. These antioxidants are combined with natural adaptogenic herbs, including omicha and ginkgo, to provide the ultimate nutritional support for hard-working horses. Use M Fit throughout the season to support top-tier muscle care.
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