“Hard keeper” is the term given to horses who require all the groceries they can get to avoid getting thin. Many of these horses have a faster metabolism that just seems to burn up all the energy you feed them with nothing left over for fat storage. Or, in some instances, it is related to age and the ability to optimize nutrient absorption. If your horse is a hard keeper, their diet is likely at the forefront of your mind year-round. But during the colder months, you must take the necessary steps to avoid winter weight loss. These are our top tips to help your horse gain weight and keep that weight on throughout the colder months.
1. Rule Out Health Problems
The first step you should always take if you notice your horse is looking thin is to have the vet look it over. Sometimes, weight loss is more than just a “hard keeper” situation. Stomach ulcers could reduce appetite or prevent nutrient absorption. Or parasites could be stealing all those extra nutrients you’ve been feeding. Getting these issues ruled out or treated first is most important. Treatment with Ulcergard or Dewormers first will ensure your weight gain efforts are not in vain.
Additionally, getting your horse’s teeth checked by the equine dentist regularly is a necessity for all horses, but even more so for hard keepers. If they are past due for a floating, it could prevent them from chewing all their food properly, reducing nutrient absorption. Or, if they are in pain or discomfort, it could result in appetite loss, and they will not want to eat all their food. Along with the veterinary exam, you just want to rule out any more severe issues before turning your focus to diet.
2. Adjust Your Feeding Frequency
Besides the more obvious variable – feeding amount – is another important thing to consider in your feeding routine. That is feeding frequency. Naturally, horses are grazers – their bodies are designed for smaller meals, more often throughout the day. If your horse is digesting too big of meals at once, it can reduce the rate of nutrient absorption and storage, as well as disrupt digestive health. It becomes especially important to keep your horse’s feeding schedule in mind if they are a hard keeper. Instead of just two meals a day, consider breaking down the meals to add lunch as well.
Additionally, a Slow Feed Hay Net, such as this one from Weaver, is the perfect way to promote natural foraging. Instead of mowing through their breakfast of hay in an hour or two, the smaller holes help them eat slower, allowing them to digest properly. These nets are also a great way to reduce waste and ensure your horse eats all their hay before making a mess in it.
3. Increase Caloric Intake with Healthy Fats
More grain is not always the answer for upping those calories. In fact, too much grain can upset your horse’s digestive tract. Instead, add a supplement with highly concentrated healthy fats. This will help increase energy storage and is the easiest way to increase caloric intake.
Oil is one of the most common ways to add fat to your horse’s diet, such as dac’s Oil Supplement. This oil is made with natural vitamin E and contains a blend of flaxseed, vegetable, and fish oil to not only help your horse maintain a healthy weight but also support their skin and coat–another important factor in the winter months.
Equine Mega Gain from O3 Animal Health is another excellent weight gain supplement. It contains a perfect blend of omega-3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. The balance of healthy fats provides your horse with extra calories without making them “hot” or easily excitable.
3. Provide Protein and Topline Support
Ensuring your horse has enough protein in their diet will also be beneficial for healthy body composition. Many amino acid supplements or ration balancers also contain loads of vitamins and minerals to further add nutritional benefits for your horse. This is especially helpful for equine athletes in the midst of show season or even senior horses who need extra support for healthy muscle tone.
Cavalor WholeGain is an excellent option for weight gain and muscle support. It contains vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids to improve body condition, topline, and coat health. It also contains prebiotics and probiotics for gut health, which is essential for proper nutrient absorption. Hold on, we’ll get more into this in just a minute!
Another supplement for increasing protein intake is Kinetic Vet M.A.S.S. Builder. It provides support for muscle development and promotes a healthy appetite with key amino acids, rice bran oil, and Fenugreek.
4. Don’t Overlook Digestive Support
This is an often-overlooked component of helping your horse gain weight. But if you think about it, there’s no point in increasing feed and supplements if they aren’t properly digested and metabolized anyway. Proper breakdown and storage of these nutrients are what really help your horse pack on the pounds. Probiotics, yeast, and enzymes are all important components of your horse’s diet. This will also keep them comfortable with an increased feed intake.
Cavalor Vitaflora contains live yeast cultures and prebiotics to support healthy populations of “good” bacteria in your horse’s intestinal tract. This supplement promotes digestion and overall hindgut health to maintain a healthy intestinal pH and maximize nutrient absorption.
Grand Meadows Postbiotics offers multifunctional digestive support as well as immune support. It will enhance fiber breakdown, stabilize hindgut pH, and improve the delivery of nutrients. This supplement also contains rice bran and mineral oil, making it an excellent addition to the hard keeper’s diet.
We also love ProElite Gutbiome for digestion and immune support. It contains a blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, with the inclusion of butyric acid and zinc to promote gut tissue integrity and efficient nutrient absorption.
5. Proper Hydration, Always
Just because it isn’t hot out doesn’t mean proper hydration is crucial for horses during the winter months. However, the cold weather can reduce a horse’s thirst drive, making it more difficult for them to maintain proper fluid levels. Dehydration can lead to sluggish digestion, impaction colic, and a decreased ability to absorb nutrients from their feed, which can hinder their ability to gain or maintain weight. Ensuring your horse has access to fresh, unfrozen water at all times is essential for their health and weight management during the colder season.
When the temperatures drop below freezing, utilize a heating solution such as a Heated Water Bucket or Sinking Tank De-Icer to keep the water ice-free and accessible.
If your horse struggles with reduced thirst drive, add some flavor to the water with Gallagher’s Water to encourage drinking. This tasty hydration beverage is made from premium alfalfa and encourages even the pickiest horses to drink. It also contains electrolytes to further support proper hydration.
More Ways to Optimize Your Horse’s Health
Keeping our horses healthy is always at the front of our minds. Discover how Cavalor’s Resist + Vit C can help provide the immune support they need to feel their best during temperature drops, travel, stressful events, and more.
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