#208 Feeding Performance Horses: What Most Riders Get Wrong with Rachael Haar

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Equine nutritionist Rachael Haar joins me to simplify what actually matters when feeding performance horses — from forage and hay quality to supplements, gut health, hydration, hauling, recovery, and the nutrition mistakes well-meaning horse owners often miss.

Because let’s be honest: horse nutrition can get confusing fast.

One person says your horse needs electrolytes.

Another says alfalfa makes horses hot.

Someone else swears beet pulp changed their horse’s life.

Then suddenly you’re standing there holding three supplements, questioning every feeding decision you’ve ever made while your horse licks the salt block and judges you.

So today, we’re simplifying all of it.

In this episode, I sat down with equine nutrition consultant Rachael Haar from BCS 5.0 Equine Nutrition, and we had such a good conversation about what actually matters when it comes to feeding western performance horses. We talk about hydration, gut health, hauling, showing, topline, supplements, forage, electrolytes, recovery, and how nutrition may be impacting horses that feel hot, dull, inconsistent, reactive, or flat under saddle.

This episode felt like sitting in the barn aisle having a really practical conversation with someone who actually understands horses, performance, and real life horse ownership. Rachael does an incredible job making nutrition feel way less overwhelming and way more doable.

And if you’ve ever wondered whether your horse actually needs all the things in your feed room right now… this episode is probably going to save you some stress (and maybe some money too).

If you or someone you know has benefited from this episode, be sure to tag us @nicoleburnettmentalcoach @resilientreiner and @bcs5.0equinenutrition on Instagram and share this episode with your community! I am curious to hear all about your experience.

Also, be sure to leave a review on iTunes to help other riders discover the show!

In This Episode You Will Learn:

Why most horse owners are overcomplicating nutrition
What hay testing can tell you about your horse’s health and performance
How nutrition impacts recovery, energy, consistency, and topline
The truth about electrolytes, probiotics, calming supplements, omega-3s, and joint supplements
Why some horses feel hot, reactive, dull, or inconsistent under saddle
How hauling and showing affect hydration and digestion
Why gut health matters so much for western performance horses
The difference between feeding a lightly worked horse vs. a performance horse
Common feeding mistakes horse owners make without realizing it
Simple ways to support your horse’s health without buying every supplement on the market

Questions I Answer:

Does alfalfa actually make horses hot?
Are calming supplements worth it?
How do you know if your horse’s diet is balanced?
What causes horses to feel inconsistent at horse shows?
What supplements are actually useful for performance horses?
Why do some horses struggle with topline and recovery?
What role does hydration play in horse show performance?
How can owners support gut health and digestion during hauling and showing?
How much forage should horses really be getting?
What should owners look for when choosing supplements?

Connect with Rachael Haar + BCS 5.0 Equine Nutrition:

Rachael Haar is an independent equine nutrition consultant who helps horse owners build balanced, forage-first feeding programs that support long-term health, recovery, condition, and performance. Her approach is practical, science-backed, and incredibly easy to understand — especially for riders who feel overwhelmed by all the nutrition noise online.

You can connect with Rachael here:

Instagram: @bcs5.0nutrition

Facebook: BCS 5.0 Nutrition

TikTok: @bcs.5.0.nutrition

Join her Newsletter here: https://bcs-5-0.kit.com/subscription

Links & Resources:

🎯 5 Days to Confident Competitor
Stop “show nerves” and saddle up with swagger.
👉 https://nicoleburnettcoaching.thrivecart.com/5-days-to-confident-competitor/
🎯 Mental Gym for Equestrians
Train your mind like a pro so you ride like one.
👉 https://mentalgymforequestrians.com/
🎯 Free Weekly Mental Coaching Tips
Get rider-specific mindset tools in your inbox. Join my email list here.
👉https://www.resilientreiner.com/