Forage First: Why Taking Your Own Hay to Competitions Sets Horses Up for Success

Competitions and training outings are full of excitement – bustling showgrounds, new sights and sounds, unfamiliar stabling, and plenty of atmosphere. While we might thrive on the buzz, for horses it can be unsettling. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to help your horse feel calm, settled, and focused in a new environment is by providing familiar forage.

Consistency is Key 🌿

Horses are creatures of habit, and sudden changes in their diet can cause digestive upset, stress, or even impact performance. By bringing your own hay or haylage, you:

• Maintain dietary consistency, avoiding abrupt changes in fibre type or quality.

• Prevent stomach upsets linked to unfamiliar or dusty forage.

• Support steady energy levels, so your horse arrives in the ring ready to perform.

Calm Horses = Better Focus 🐴

Having forage readily available in the stable or lorry park helps horses settle more quickly in strange surroundings. Chewing hay produces saliva, which not only supports digestive health but also has a soothing effect. A horse that is quietly munching is far more likely to remain relaxed and focused when it’s time to tack up.

Gut Health & Hydration 💧

Show environments can be busy, distracting, and sometimes stressful, which increases the risk of gastric ulcers. Constant access to forage keeps the stomach buffered against acid and encourages regular drinking – both essential for performance and wellbeing.

Smarter Feeding with Slow Feeders 🛒

Using a slow feeder net or system at competitions has multiple benefits:

• Encourages natural trickle feeding patterns, even in a strange stable.

• Reduces waste – no more hay trampled into the bedding.

• Keeps your horse happily occupied during downtime between classes.

At Parallax Equestrian, our slow feeder nets (available in 30mm and 45mm hole sizes) are designed to make this easy. Whether you’re at Burghley or a grassroots event, they keep forage available in a safe, controlled way that supports both calmness and digestive health.

Takeaway ✨

The excitement of show day doesn’t have to mean stress for your horse. By bringing your own forage – and using a slow feeding system to provide it – you’re giving them the comfort of routine, the calm of a busy mouth, and the focus needed to shine in the arena.

Because at the end of the day, happy horses perform better 🐴💚