By Mike Barrett, PAS, ADM Equine Specialist
Nine times out of ten, when I ask horse owners what they want to improve physically about their horses, the answer is “stronger topline.” Topline seems to always be a focus. It is never strong enough. As I continue to probe the owners about how they are trying to fix their horses’ toplines, their answers always involve exercising and end with “but nothing seems to make it stronger.”
My next question is, “What are you feeding?”
I then get a blank stare and the response, “What does my feed have to do with topline?”
“Good question,” I reply, and then explain that the topline is a muscle, and horses tend to put muscle cover on from tail to head. I continue to explain that while calories from feed will add to the barrel of the horse, we need to increase the amino acid or protein content of the feed with quality proteins that can be easily digested by the horse. This will improve topline, since protein or amino acids are the building blocks of muscle. I continue to explain that working a muscle without giving it the needed building blocks to grow will only lead to the muscle becoming sore, not build in strength and mass. However, as we add quality protein into the diet, the topline will start to strengthen, grow stronger and look fuller with minimal work.
It takes time to increase the strength and mass of the topline. Normally, by increasing the amount and quality of the protein in the diet, the topline will show noticeable growth in about 60 days, but it can take upwards of six months to a year, depending on the starting point.
When building topline, I like to use a product that is high in protein, such as ADM’s StaySTRONG™* 33, a ration balancer, and stay away from fats that can just add cover.
For more information on ADM’s equine products and programs, log on at www.ADMequine.com or call 800-680-8254.
*StaySTRONG is a trademark of Archer Daniels Midland Company.
