The 7 Nutritional Pillars of the High-Performance Horse
- Twenty Four Carrots
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Achieving peak performance in horses requires far more than training or conditioning. True performance begins at the cellular level, where nutrition fuels the body, protects tissues, and supports recovery after every stride.
At Twenty Four Carrots, we believe in a whole-food holistic approach to equine wellness. Whether your horse is a jumper, dressage athlete, ranch partner, or endurance competitor, the nutritional demands of performance are significant. Their bodies are constantly repairing muscle fibers, generating energy, managing oxidative stress, and maintaining emotional balance.
To support these demands, we focus on seven core nutritional pillars that create a foundation for long-term strength, stamina, and resilience.
1. Balanced Energy Sources
Energy fuels every movement your horse makes. The key is providing energy sources that align with your horse’s workload and metabolic needs.
Fats
Fats offer a slow-burning and highly efficient fuel source, providing almost 2.5 times more energy per gram than carbohydrates. Horses adapted to diets rich in beneficial fats typically exhibit:
Lower lactic acid accumulation
Improved endurance
Better thermoregulation
More stable temperament
These benefits are why fats are especially valuable for sustained disciplines such as dressage and endurance.
Carbohydrates
Forage-based carbohydrates support the equine digestive system and provide steady energy. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), such as sugars and starches, fuel quick bursts of speed. The key is balance, so the horse receives enough power without overwhelming the hindgut.
Protein
Although not a primary energy source, protein stabilizes metabolism and supports muscle repair. High-performance horses need a thoughtful balance of calories from fat, fiber-based carbohydrates, and quality protein to maintain ideal condition and avoid metabolic strain.
2. Protein and Amino Acids
Protein supports nearly every system involved in performance, including:
Muscle strength and repair
Soft tissue health
Immune defense
Hormonal balance
Hoof and coat integrity
But protein quality matters more than quantity. Horses require specific amino acids to build and repair tissues, and deficiencies often show up as poor topline, fatigue, or slow recovery.
The Inner Glow Omega Booster Advantage
Inner Glow Omega Booster contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein source. This is rare in equine nutrition and invaluable for performance horses that must continually rebuild muscle fibers. Complete amino acid profiles help improve topline, support connective tissue, and promote more efficient recovery after work.
This whole-food protein source is far more bioavailable than many isolated protein powders, allowing the horse’s body to utilize the amino acids effectively and consistently.
3. Minerals for Muscle, Nerve, and Bone Health
Minerals influence everything from muscle contraction to hoof integrity. Even subtle imbalances can compromise performance.
Key Minerals Include:
Magnesium for muscle relaxation and nerve regulation
Zinc and Copper for connective tissue, coat quality, and immune health
Calcium and Phosphorus for skeletal and muscular strength
Selenium for antioxidant defense and muscle recovery
Where Inner Glow Contributes
Inner Glow Omega Booster includes naturally occurring minerals that support these essential pathways. These minerals come packaged within whole-food components, which improves absorption compared to isolated mineral supplements. This means your horse receives muscle-, bone-, and nerve-supporting minerals in a form the body can easily recognize and utilize.
4. Vitamins for Cellular Health and Antioxidant Defense
Exercise creates oxidative stress, and without adequate antioxidant support, the body struggles to recover efficiently.
Key Vitamins:
Vitamin E to protect muscle fibers
Vitamin C to promote tissue repair and immune function
B vitamins to convert nutrients into energy and support emotional balance
Whole-Food Synergy
Whole-food ingredients contain vitamins alongside their natural cofactors, enhancing absorption and effectiveness. This is why ingredients such as spirulina, dandelion, and medicinal herbs play such an important role in equine health.
Inner Glow contributes to this pillar through its high levels of naturally occurring antioxidants, which help buffer oxidative stress and reduce inflammation from training or travel.
5. Electrolytes for Hydration and Performance
Sweat loss is one of the greatest physiological stressors for performance horses. A single hour of intense work can result in the loss of liters of sweat containing sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
Electrolyte depletion can cause:
Fatigue
Muscle cramps
Dehydration
Difficulty focusing
Poor thermoregulation
How Inner Glow Helps
Inner Glow Omega Booster supports electrolyte retention due to its unique whole-food properties. This helps maintain hydration, cellular fluid balance, and muscular responsiveness, especially during heavy work or warm climates. By supporting the body’s ability to hold and utilize electrolytes effectively, Inner Glow becomes a valuable daily tool for horses in training or competition.
6. Gut Health: The Hidden Pillar of Performance
The gut directly influences:
Nutrient absorption
Immune function
Hormonal balance
Mood and behavior
Inflammation and recovery
A compromised gut can derail even the best feeding program.
Supporting the Digestive System
Forage access, slow feeding, clean water, prebiotic and probiotic support, and consistency are key.
Inner Glow’s Role
Inner Glow Omega Booster contains soluble and insoluble fibers that support healthy digestion, smooth gastrointestinal transit, and feed the beneficial microbes in the hindgut. This helps stabilize energy, improve nutrient absorption, and reduce the risk of digestive stress.
7. Recovery and Longevity Nutrition
Performance is only as good as the recovery that follows.
Key Recovery Needs:
Forage and electrolytes after exertion
High-quality protein for muscle repair
Antioxidants to reduce muscle damage
Fiber to maintain gut comfort
Inner Glow’s Multi-Benefit Impact
Inner Glow supports recovery on multiple levels:
Complete protein for rebuilding muscle
Omega 3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation
Healthy fats that stabilize energy and support the nervous system
Natural antioxidants and minerals that assist tissue repair and cellular defense
These benefits extend beyond immediate recovery and contribute to long-term joint, muscle, and metabolic health. When used consistently, Inner Glow helps create a foundation of longevity, resilience, and emotional steadiness.
In Closing
Each of the seven nutritional pillars plays a vital role in equine performance. Neglecting even one can affect stamina, behavior, soundness, or long-term health.
At Twenty Four Carrots, our mission is to support every pillar through whole-food-based, bioavailable nutrition that honors how horses naturally thrive. Inner Glow Omega Booster is a perfect example of this philosophy. It delivers complete protein, beneficial fats, omega 3 fatty acids, natural antioxidants, mineral support, and electrolyte-retaining properties, all in one synergistic blend.
It is more than a supplement. It is a foundational tool for horses who work hard, think hard, and give us their best every day.
Sources:
Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Performance Horse Nutrition and Notes on Conditioning.
Retrieved October 2025 from https://esc.rutgers.edu/fact_sheet/performance-horse-nutrition-
and-notes-on-conditioning
Zinpro Corporation. The Role of Nutrition for Performance Horses. Retrieved October 2025 from
ESC Rutgers. Vitamins and Minerals for Performance Horses. Retrieved October 2025 from
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