39: Dietary Strategies for Underweight Horses

Healing Horses with Elisha

This week, I explore ways to help horses that find it hard to gain weight.

Many horses struggle to gain weight, which is a significant concern for their owners, particularly during winter. Despite being well-fed, those horses often remain thin, unable to build and maintain muscle mass. It is a common issue, particularly among thoroughbred breeds with high metabolisms. As those horses age, keeping weight on them becomes even more challenging.

So, today, I share various dietary strategies to help hard keepers gain weight and improve their overall health.

Factors to Rule Out Before Increasing Food

Before deciding to increase the food intake to address weight loss in your horse, you need to rule out other potential health issues that may impact their ability to maintain weight.

Equine Dental Health

Healthy teeth are crucial for a horse to chew and digest its food. Misalignment, sharp edges, missing teeth, abscesses, or sore gums can make eating uncomfortable, leading to weight loss. Symptoms like dropping food (quidding) could indicate dental issues. I recommend regular checks by an equine dentist to maintain oral health and efficient digestion.

Ulcers

Ulcers, particularly in performance horses, can significantly impact appetite and weight. Up to 80% of horses may have ulcers or related lesions. Symptoms include decreased appetite and rapid weight loss. Stress and medication can exacerbate ulcers, leading to a pot-bellied appearance and hollow flanks. Treatment often involves medication and dietary adjustments to support digestive health.

Leaky Gut

Leaky gut, caused by the over-fermentation of starches and sugars in the hindgut, leads to intestinal gas, heat, toxins, and systemic toxicity, causing weight loss, diarrhea, and laminitis. It is essential to support the hindgut and digestive health to manage and prevent those symptoms.

Parasites

Active parasite infections interfere with nutrient absorption and can cause significant weight loss. Chemical dewormers are essential, as natural remedies are often ineffective against active infestations. Parasites can cause anemia and deplete vitamins and minerals, further impacting the health and weight of a horse.

Stress and Hormonal Imbalances

Stress affects the ability of a horse to maintain weight. High stress can lead to muscle wasting, particularly in horses with conditions like Cushing's disease (PPID), so it is essential to manage stress through proper nutrition, environmental enrichment, and sometimes hormonal regulation.

Respiratory Issues

Conditions like COPD or heaves can prevent proper blood oxygenation, making it difficult for horses to build mass and tissue. Addressing respiratory health and ensuring efficient gas exchange in the lungs is crucial for those horses to maintain or gain weight.

Importance of Fiber

Fiber is essential for horses as it ferments into energy in the form of volatile fatty acids, fueling their cells. Ideal fiber levels in hay are crucial for energy and digestive health. However, too much fiber can be counterproductive if it is not digestible, requiring horses to eat more to meet their nutritional needs.

Hay and Slow Feeders

Providing hay 24/7 is essential, especially for hard keepers. Slow feeders can help to manage intake, but for horses that need to gain weight, loose hay or feeders with larger holes may be necessary to ensure they get enough calories. Owners should tailor the quality and type of hay to meet the needs of each horse.

Variety in Hay Types

Using different types of hay can help manage the dietary needs of a herd, especially when perfect hay is hard to find. It is beneficial to introduce variety and ensure the hay is palatable and meets the specific requirements of the horses. Analyzing the hay for fiber content, including lignin levels, helps ensure digestibility and nutritional adequacy.

Extruded Feeds

Horses that struggle to gain weight despite adequate fiber and forage may require extruded commercial feeds. Those feeds are highly processed for better digestibility, providing additional calories and nutrients. It is essential, however, to always choose the cleanest options and use them carefully.

Protein

Protein is vital for muscle building and tissue repair. Alfalfa is a good source of protein, but for horses allergic to it, you can consider spirulina or soy protein (preferably non-GMO). Ensuring sufficient protein intake helps prevent muscle wasting and supports overall health.

Conclusion

Maintaining the weight of horses requires a multifaceted approach, addressing potential dental, digestive, parasitic, and respiratory issues, managing stress, ensuring adequate fiber and protein intake, and sometimes using commercial feeds for additional calories. Regular monitoring and a tailored approach to the needs of each horse are crucial.

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