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Written by: Jessica Konopinski
Published on: 05/05/2023
Let me guess- you’ve been going through more hay than you can count or maybe you’ve been feeding what feels like tons of expensive, high calorie grain and your horse still looks too thin. Nothing can be more frustrating than having a horse who is a “hard keeper”. A lot of factors go into why a horse can be struggling to keep on weight including their age, work load, and underlying health conditions. Not sure of where to look for answers any longer? We’ve got you covered.
The first step is determining if your horse is actually underweight and if so, how much and in what areas of the body. Of course- you can tell alot about a horse by just their physicality, but gathering their actual weight or body condition score will help you solidify your findings and help establish a better solution with a trusted equine veterinarian or nutrition expert.
In a lot of cases, horse owners may not have access to a livestock scale to weigh their horse in which case you can measure their heartgirth and use the conversion (heartgirth x heartgirth) x body length ÷ by 330 to get your horse's weight in pounds. [2]
On the other hand, the body condition score differs in the sense that it analyzes the six areas of the horse’s body where fat is deposited. Using the Henneke scale, you can evaluate the fat deposit under the horse’s skin in six areas including the withers, neck, behind the shoulder, across the back, head of the tail and the rib area scoring each area from 1 (poor) to 9 (excessively fat). The average ideal BCS is typically 5-6, but can range depending on your horse's gender, breed and health conditions. [2]
Before beginning your horse on any substantial new nutrition program, it’s important to not overlook any internal health conditions before putting any time (or your hard earned money) to waste. Now that you’ve determined your horse's weight or body condition score, bringing your findings to a trusted equine veterinarian is key. From there, your veterinarian will be able to test your horse for any underlying health conditions that may be causing your horse to have an inability to put on weight.
Some common conditions seen in horses who have struggled to put on weight include dental issues, ulcers, and parasites. If you have an older horse making sure their teeth are kept maintained is crucial in preventing any pain, discomfort, or infections. Another common condition, ulcers, specifically gastric ulcers can create great discomfort and result in a number of signs including loss of appetite. Another important consideration is to ensure your horse is getting dewormed on schedule to avoid unwanted parasites that could be wreaking havoc on your horse's digestive system. If you're unsure of your horse's deworming history, doing a fecal egg per gram count (EPG) will provide you with the answers you need.
The first thing that comes to mind for most horse owners is that more food equals more calories which equals more weight put on the horse. While increasing the quantity of food can help some horses, it’s the quality that matters most. Think about it. A horse’s diet consists of 1-2% of their body weight in forage daily. If that forage is contaminated with mold, dust or other toxins your horse will either not eat it or their body will not be able to absorb the nutrients needed to keep weight on.
Ensuring the quality and source of your horse’s forage is crucial. A great way to confirm this is by sending your hay in for a hay analysis and then supplementing where needed. Once you ensure the quality of your horse’s forage, consulting with an equine veterinarian or nutrition expert to brainstorm on the quantity, frequency, and key ingredients such as fats, oils, and super fibers can help you get your horse on a consistent feeding regimen for some much needed weight gain. [1]
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✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
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✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
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✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
Jessica is a brand consultant who brings awareness and intention to equestrian and pet platforms. As a former collegiate equestrian athlete and animal lover, Jessica leads with passion and experience through her writing and brand work for companies who advocate for creating a difference in their space. When she's not riding her horse or walking her dog (with iced coffee in hand), you can find her sharing her love for health and wellness with others and integrating these practices in her everyday work.
