Feeding for Weight Gain and Condition

• Is there an underlying problem that can be addressed? For example, does the horse have poor dentition or are they being fed too little for their workload?
• Or do we need to find ways of managing a chronic issue such as previous worm damage or inflammatory bowel conditions?
• Energy and calories are two measures of the same thing – we tend to use calories when talking about weight gain and loss.
• Essentially, more energy consumed than used results in weight gain.

Make sure you have completed our Digestive System – Elementary Level before proceeding so you understand how the horse’s digestive system works to be able to feed it effectively.

• Good grazing provides the most digestible source of fibre and in the spring can provide more than double the energy requirements of a horse in light work.
• Usually highly palatable.
• Horses are usually, but not always, happier when out in the paddock.
• Often there is an unlimited supply, but if that’s not the case then alternative sources of conserved forage are needed.

• Use haylage or hay that has been cut at a young botanical age as it will be more digestible and the horse will get more benefit from it.
• Feed conserved forage ad-lib but weigh it to know that enough is being consumed.
• A change from pasture to hay is a high risk time for colic and weight loss and should be done gradually – this is because we’re changing from a highly digestible form of fibre to one that contains much higher levels of indigestible fibre.
• If the horse is struggling to chew due to poor dentition, an alternative such as short chopped fibre or fibre mashes must be used in order to supply sufficient fibre, thereby helping to maintain weight and condition.