Paul Austin’s top tips to help your horse get into show mode

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Show world supremo Paul Austin knows that the secret to success in any equestrian discipline in having healthy, happy horses.

Paul is recognised across the country and abroad, not only for his achievements and passion for the equestrian world, but also for his firm belief that the health and welfare of the horse always comes first. Everything from the way the gear fits to how clean it is, to ensuring that the work you’re doing with the horse is good, correct, and consistent, to the standard of care of the horse including its physical health and nutrition. You have to work with the horse and ensure you’re meeting its needs in order to get the best results.

Here are 4 easy tips to help you and your horse get started in the show ring and step out in style.

1. Design and implement your training schedule

If your horse has spent most of the time relaxing in the paddock of late, it is inevitable that some fitness and muscle development will have been lost.

When bringing your horse back into work, make sure to do this gradually. Start with short training sessions and increase the length and intensity of these depending on how fit your horse is becoming. Think of it this way … if you were to start training after a break, you wouldn’t be at bodybuilder level immediately and your muscles would be sore.

Doing this slowly will reduce the chance of injury.

2. Assess and adjust the diet

When horses are spelling, their nutrient requirements are different to when they are in training. It is important that as you increase your horse's exercise and fitness, you adjust their diet accordingly. This means they will meet all their nutritional needs to function and perform at their best.

If their diet is lacking, you won’t see the best results in your horse and it will take more time to build topline, muscle, and condition.

3. Supplements

As part of a diet change, consider adding a nutritional supplement that complements their diet and training schedule. We’ve had a couple of horses in training that have certainly turned the corner by using MuscleBUILDA. It’s been especially effective for those horses that were lacking in condition and topline. MucleBUILDA is a must-have because it can help the horse that needs some extra wow – right now. It’s a game changer and I wouldn’t be without it.

MuscleBUILDA works because it’s a double-action muscle-building supplement – gamma oryzanol and BCAAs - that not only focuses on the quick development of lean muscle to improve the muscle-to-fat ratio but also contains key amino acids that help with muscle replenishment and repair during and after exercise. The additional complex amino acids – arginine, glycine, and proline – help create a positive nitrogen balance to ensure muscle mass gains alongside exercise. It works quickly to achieve the show-ready appearance I’m after when I enter that ring.

MuscleBUILDA has many other great advantages for show prep, including:
• It’s non-swabbable
• It’s sugar-free
• It’s an easy-to-use liquid
• And it’s palatable.

Double-action supplement MuscleBUILDA is an economical choice and means you don’t need to overcomplicate the diet. If you have just taken your horse out of the paddock to get show ready, MuscleBUILDA is the right choice.
Along with muscle development and fitness, I believe good gut health is especially important in your horse’s everyday life. Going to and from horse shows can mean that stress from travel, training, changes in routine and their environment can play havoc with their gut. And a horse that isn’t feeling well just isn’t going to perform, so keeping their digestive systems functioning well is a really big deal and can make a major difference. It’s so important and alongside a correct horse management routine, GastroAID Recovery and GastroAID Everyday are my trusted go-tos for total gut health.

4. Groom, groom, groom!

Seems simple. And it is! Grooming does wonders for coat health and can help create a sleek and shiny coat. Grooming time allows us to inspect and assess the coat and skin to gauge the horse’s overall health and well-being. It is the time to discover any irregularities, cuts, skin infections, bumps, and knocks. Regular, thorough grooming stimulates oil production and blood circulation, as well as removing dead hair, sweat, and dirt. Your horse’s coat will mirror the effort you put into it. As a bonus, it is great bonding time for you and your horse. Of course, it goes without saying to use a quality shampoo and conditioning product to make your horse gleam with health and vitality.

You’ve followed my tips. Let the show begin!

You can find out more about MuscleBUILDA and other effective Kelato Animal Health products here.