Feeding Archie in the 48 Hours Before a Three-Day Event
The two days before a three-day event are when I become especially careful about Archie’s feed routine. I am not trying to transform his condition, fill him with extra energy, or introduce a miracle ingredient. By the time we arrive at the venue, his fitness and preparation have already been built through weeks of training. My job is to keep his digestion settled, his hydration consistent, and his energy available without making him feel heavy or overexcited.
Eventing places unusual demands on a horse. Dressage requires concentration and controlled movement, show jumping asks for power and accuracy, and cross-country combines speed, endurance, and recovery. Archie needs enough fuel for all three phases, but he also needs a feeding plan that works while travelling, stabled away from home, and eating around a busy competition timetable.
His exact ration changes with his workload, body condition, forage analysis, weather, and advice from our veterinarian or equine nutritionist. The routine below describes what has worked for Archie rather than a universal feeding prescription. Any substantial change in concentrates, supplements, or forage should be planned well ahead of an event.
Starting With His Normal Routine
I begin with the diet Archie is already eating successfully. The 48 hours before an event are a poor time to experiment with a new conditioning feed, a different chaff, or an unfamiliar supplement. Even a product marketed for performance horses can alter his appetite, manure, temperament, or gastric comfort.
For Archie, forage remains the foundation. I keep good-quality hay or haylage available for as much of the day as practical, following the management arrangements at home and at the showground. Continuous access to forage supports normal gut movement and gives him something to do during travelling and stabling. If the venue provides forage, I take enough of his usual supply to bridge the changeover rather than assuming he will accept whatever is offered.
I weigh his hard feed instead of estimating it by scoop. Scoops vary in size, and different feeds have different densities, so volume can be misleading. His meals are divided into several manageable portions, with plenty of time between a concentrate feed and exercise. This is especially important on arrival day, when loading, unloading, walking, and settling in can make the whole schedule feel more complicated than usual.
The Day Before Travel
The day before we leave, Archie eats much as he would on an ordinary training day. I do not deliberately restrict his food to make him lighter, and I do not suddenly increase grain because I expect strenuous work at the weekend. A horse cannot safely build useful glycogen reserves from a last-minute oversized meal, while a large concentrate feed can increase the risk of digestive upset.
His morning feed is a familiar combination of his regular performance ration, a low-dust chaff, and any approved supplements that he normally receives. The chaff helps slow the meal and makes it easier to hide a small amount of water if needed. I keep the portion consistent rather than turning it into a large bucket simply because we are travelling the next day.
At lunchtime and in the evening, I focus on forage intake. Archie gets his usual hay allocation, and I check that he is drinking, passing normal manure, and behaving as he normally does. These simple observations are more useful than trying to make dramatic nutritional adjustments. A horse that is already eating poorly or producing unusually dry manure needs attention before a competition, not an extra scoop of feed.
I also prepare his travel supplies at this stage. His hay is portioned into labelled nets, his feed is measured into separate bags, and his water buckets and feed tubs are cleaned. Having everything ready prevents me from guessing at meal sizes when we arrive tired and working to a timetable.
Travel-Day Meals And Hydration
On the morning of departure, Archie receives a familiar, moderate feed early enough that he has time to eat and digest before loading. The meal is not larger than normal. If we are leaving before his usual breakfast time, I may offer a small amount of forage first and provide the rest of his morning ration when we reach the venue, depending on the journey and his behaviour.
Forage is particularly valuable during travel. I use a hay net that allows him to eat safely and steadily, following the transport arrangements recommended by his carrier. Having hay available can reduce boredom and support saliva production. I also make sure he is not travelling immediately after a large concentrate meal.
Water requires more planning because some horses are reluctant to drink unfamiliar water. Archie is usually a good drinker, but I take water from home when possible and mix it gradually with venue water. On longer journeys or in warm weather, I offer water at suitable stops according to the transport plan. I do not force him to drink, and I monitor his attitude, gum moisture, urination, and general comfort.
When we arrive, I give Archie time to settle before offering his next meal. His first priority is familiar forage and water. Once he has looked around, cooled down if necessary, and shown that he is comfortable, he receives his normal feed in a smaller portion if the timing is close to exercise. I would rather divide a meal than rush him through a full bucket before a tack check or trot-up.
| Feed priority | What I offer Archie | Why it matters before competition |
|---|---|---|
| Forage | His usual hay or haylage in regular portions | Supports gut function, chewing, and a steady supply of energy |
| Concentrate feed | The same performance ration he eats at home, weighed carefully | Provides concentrated calories without an abrupt dietary change |
| Chaff or fibre feed | His familiar low-dust fibre addition | Slows eating and adds palatable, chewable fibre |
| Water | Clean water, with home water used during the transition when practical | Helps maintain hydration and encourages normal digestion |
| Supplements | Only products already tested in training and approved for his needs | Avoids introducing unpredictable effects at the event |
Keeping Energy Steady Without Overfeeding
The phrase “loading up” can make it sound as though a horse should receive a huge amount of starch before a demanding weekend. That is not how I approach Archie’s preparation. His daily ration is designed around his total workload, body condition, and forage intake, so the event does not require a sudden carbohydrate binge.
Depending on the horse and the feed, large high-starch meals may contribute to excitability or digestive problems. Archie performs best when his energy feels steady and usable. I would rather give smaller, measured meals with fibre as the base than feed one enormous bucket and hope it produces extra stamina.
I pay attention to the difference between calories and mental energy. Adding more feed does not automatically make a horse stronger on cross-country, and a horse that becomes tense or distracted may waste energy. Archie’s eventing diet has to support muscle work while preserving the calm focus he needs for dressage and show jumping.
His final meal before a phase depends on the timetable, the weather, and the advice of the professionals involved in his care. In general, I leave adequate time after a concentrate feed before harder exercise and make sure forage is available. I avoid feeding a large meal immediately before jumping or fast work. A small fibre-based snack may be appropriate at certain times, but I keep the routine familiar and modest.
What Changes Between Phases
The first day of competition is often more complicated than it looks because dressage may be followed by a long wait, preparation for show jumping, or a change in stable arrangements. Archie continues to receive forage throughout the day, with concentrates divided around the timetable. I do not remove his food simply because his dressage test is short; the rest of the weekend still matters.
After work, I offer water and forage first, then his normal recovery meal once he is cooled and settled. If the weather is hot or he has sweated significantly, electrolyte use is something I discuss and plan in advance rather than adding casually. Electrolytes should be given with access to water and according to suitable professional guidance. They do not replace plain water or correct a horse that is unwilling to drink.
The evening before cross-country, I keep Archie’s routine as boring as possible. He gets his usual forage and a measured feed, with no new treats or rich extras. I want him comfortable overnight and ready to eat breakfast in the morning. I also check his manure, appetite, water intake, legs, and attitude, because these indicators can reveal a problem sooner than a feed chart can.
After cross-country, recovery becomes the main concern. Archie receives small, appropriate amounts of water and forage while cooling down, and I watch him closely for signs of unusual fatigue, abdominal discomfort, dehydration, or poor appetite. Any worrying sign means contacting the event veterinarian promptly. No feed plan should override a clinical concern.
The Small Details That Keep The Plan Working
I label every feed bag with Archie’s name, meal, and amount. This prevents confusion when several horses are being fed in a busy stable block. I also write down the times he eats, drinks, works, and receives any supplements. The notes help me spot patterns and make the next event less stressful.
Treats stay limited. Archie may receive a small piece of carrot or an occasional familiar reward, but I avoid filling his bucket with extras from different people. Rich treats, unfamiliar grass, and generous handfuls of someone else’s feed can create more risk than benefit during a competition weekend.
I take care with forage changes. If Archie is moving from hay at home to haylage at the venue, I introduce that change before the event when possible. If the event forage is different, I provide his own supply and transition gradually. Sudden changes in moisture, fibre type, or grazing access can affect appetite and manure.
These are the core checks I make before loading:
- Pack enough familiar forage to cover the journey and the first part of the stay.
- Weigh each hard-feed portion and label it by day and meal.
- Confirm that Archie is drinking, eating, and passing normal manure.
- Bring clean buckets and a practical supply of home water where possible.
- Keep supplements and treats identical to those tested during training.
- Write down feeding, exercise, and recovery times for everyone helping at the venue.
Adjusting The Plan For Archie
Archie’s ration is never based solely on the event schedule. I consider his body condition, the amount of forage he is consuming, recent training, travel length, temperature, and whether he is a naturally enthusiastic or cautious eater. A plan that suits one horse may be entirely wrong for another, even if both are competing at the same level.
I am particularly careful with horses that have a history of gastric ulcers, tying-up, metabolic disease, insulin dysregulation, or poor appetite when travelling. Those conditions require individual veterinary and nutritional guidance. Feed labels can provide useful information, but they cannot replace an assessment of the horse in front of me.
The goal is continuity. Archie arrives with the same basic diet, the same feeding equipment, and the same expectations he has at home. The quantities may be adjusted for the workload under professional guidance, but the ingredients and timing remain predictable. That predictability helps me identify a genuine problem instead of wondering whether a new feed caused it.
A three-day event can make every detail feel urgent, yet the most effective feeding routine is usually quiet and unremarkable. Familiar forage, measured concentrate meals, sensible hydration, and careful observation give Archie the best chance of staying comfortable through dressage, show jumping, and cross-country.
I record what he eats and how he responds after each event, then discuss meaningful changes with our veterinarian or equine nutritionist before the next training block. Those notes gradually build a more precise plan for Archie and make future competition weekends easier to manage. Follow along with Party Pony Eventing for the practical routines, stable checks, and feeding lessons that shape our next event.