When we notice that a horse is thin, with a body condition below what is desirable, there are some factors to evaluate.
Ensure the horse is healthy
Certain health problems make gaining weight challenging, even under the best of circumstances.
A veterinarian should examine the horse's mouth to ensure there are no dental abnormalities that are causing the horse pain, which can make grasping and grinding food painful, limiting food intake.
A fecal egg count will determine if there is a significant parasite burden in the gastrointestinal tract consuming essential nutrients for the horse. An endoscopic examination of the stomach will reveal if there are gastric ulcers, a condition that is highly prevalent in sport horses.
Food
forage value
Providing good quality forage is perhaps the first factor to take into consideration in the case of thin horses. Evaluating the forage that is provided is essential to know its nutritional value and to make appropriate decisions about whether to use that same forage or not (looking for a more suitable alternative).
If pasture is available, placing animals on high-quality pasture is still a great strategy for a horse to gain weight. When placing a horse on high-quality pasture, the transition should be slow.
If good quality pasture is not available, you can supplement the grass hay with a good early-season legume hay with pliable stems and plenty of leaves, which generally contains more energy than good quality grass hay. Ideally, the quality hay should be made available on a regular basis to maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
ALFALFA INTACOL
Choose a concentrated food with a high energy content
To increase a horse's weight, a concentrated feed with a high energy content should be chosen, preferably one that provides energy from sources such as starch, fat and fermentable fibre. Ensuring a complete vitamin and mineral profile is also essential.
In the case of high-performance sports horses, they must be supplemented with foods suitable for competition.
PALATIN
POWER UP
In the case of older horses with dental problems, preference should be given to a food in the form of “porridge”, enriched with linseed oil.
NATURE MASH
In the case of young horses, food suitable for growing horses should be provided and fed according to their needs, avoiding excess energy, as excess may contribute to growth problems.
YOUNG
Pregnant mares should have access to a different compound feed in the last third of pregnancy, as well as throughout the lactation period, given that their needs increase.
EPOLDRIN
Complementation
High-calorie foods can be added to concentrated feed to increase energy density. For example, corn oil provides energy but offers a high amount of omega-6 fatty acids, especially when combined with a diet rich in cereals. Flaxseed oil and fish oil are two interesting alternatives for increasing calories, both rich in omega-3.
Certain cases may also benefit from a supplement that improves gastrointestinal performance, with substances that act as a buffer, helping to reduce gastric acidity and, by providing probiotics and prebiotics, improve intestinal microbiota and digestive efficiency.
GASTROBALANCE
It is necessary to be patient
The effects of dietary management for weight gain and improvement of body condition will be revealed over time and not immediately. Therefore, one should think about continuity and not the immediate future.