| Do you have a skinny horse? If so, then the cold | | | | deeper look at what you are feeding him. Thin horses |
| weather probably has you fretting over the most | | | | come in two categories: low-energy and high energy. |
| economical kind of horse feed to offer your horse this | | | | Horse Feed for the Low-Energy Thin Horse |
| winter. Thin horses, often called "hard keepers" are | | | | If your horse is thin and has low energy, then adding |
| always a challenge to feed, even in good weather, but | | | | calories to his diet and improving his ability to digest |
| when the weather turns cold, feeding a thin horse can | | | | food will help him gain weight. You can increase his |
| rack up the feed bills fast. Here are some options you | | | | grain content by up to one pound per 100 pounds of |
| can consider to put and keep weight on your horse | | | | body weight per day. Corn and barley provide more |
| this winter. | | | | energy than oats. Pelleted senior feeds also tend to |
| Factors That Affect a Horse's Weight | | | | work well for thin horses. You can also add up to a |
| There are multiple physical and emotional factors that | | | | cup of corn oil per day to his feed, along with alfalfa to |
| affect a horse's weight, and this is especially true of | | | | provide extra energy and calories. If you horse is picky |
| the thin horse. Most horse owners probably already | | | | about eating grain but likes to eat hay, he may have |
| know about many of these factors, but I'll cover them | | | | ulcers that need to be addressed. |
| quickly anyway. | | | | To improve your horse's ability to digest his food, |
| Teeth: If you horse has not had a float within the last | | | | consider adding high-quality acidophilus and bifudus to |
| year, it may be time to take him to the veterinarian or | | | | his food, along with high-powered enzymes. Blue-green |
| equine dentist for a checkup and float. While this will | | | | algae also provides a wide-spectrum of vitamins, |
| cost you a bit up front, having your horse's teeth in | | | | minerals, and trace minerals to cover any nutritional |
| good working order (without sharp points or hooks or | | | | gaps that may be present in his diet. I find that a |
| ramps) ensures that you get the most out of every bit | | | | packet or two of Simplexity Health's Essentials is a |
| of feed this winter. | | | | good "all in one" source for acidophilus, bifidus, |
| Calorie Needs: Be sure that your horse's basic calorie | | | | enzymes, and blue-green algae. |
| needs are met. We'll get into the details of what the | | | | Horse Feed for the High-Energy Thin Horse |
| feed later in this article, but double check that your | | | | If your horse is thin and has high energy, then chances |
| horse is getting enough calories in his diet. A horse not | | | | are that he loses weight through sheer nervous |
| in work who lives in a stall and wears a blanket during | | | | tension and continuous movement. To help this kind |
| the winter obviously needs fewer calories than a | | | | horse retain weight, the goal is to keep him calm and |
| horse in heavy training who lives outdoors in a run or | | | | relaxed. This kind of horse gains weight more quickly |
| pasture. Your horse also uses more calories in cold | | | | with increased grass hay and some alfalfa. Increased |
| than in balmy weather (shivering eats up a lot of | | | | grain does not seem to work as well. In addition to |
| calories!). | | | | feeding him more calories, adding higher doses of |
| Parasites: Check your horse's parasite load with a | | | | probiotics like acidophilus and bifidus can help a lot. A |
| fecal test. If your horse comes up negative for | | | | healthy population of probiotics in the gut helps your |
| parasites, you may still want to consider giving a | | | | horse produce B-vitamins, which results in a calmer |
| double dose of Strongid-type wormer to eliminate | | | | and more relaxed horse. Simplexity Health's Omega |
| tapeworms, which do not appear on fecal analysis. | | | | Sun Algae also helps many high-strung horses calm |
| Stress: Stress can easily cause a horse to lose weight, | | | | down because it positively affects the horse's nervous |
| and horses feel stress in a number of ways. Physical | | | | system and brainwaves. |
| stress can appear in the form of an injury, hard training, | | | | Horse Feed and the Thin Horse |
| or extreme weather conditions (such as extreme cold). | | | | Obviously no "cookie cutter" recipe of horse feed is |
| Horses can feel emotional stress if their living | | | | going to work perfectly on every thin horse, but |
| conditions don't match their personality. For instance, if | | | | hopefully this gets you started on thinking about |
| your horse is low in the pecking order and is constantly | | | | economical ways to feed your thin horse this winter. I |
| being terrorized by his herd mates, he is bound to feel | | | | have one thin horse (the low-energy kind) to feed this |
| stressed. Also, if your horse is one who needs lots of | | | | winter and he is already gaining weight from increased |
| room to move, keeping him in a stall or run will cause | | | | hay, alfalfa, senior feed, plus probiotics, algae, enzymes, |
| physical and emotional stress, and can even lead to | | | | and mangosteen juice (my special "horse goo" recipe). |
| nasty vices like cribbing or weaving. Horses not suited | | | | He's living high on the hog... and loving every minute of |
| to their occupations will also feel stressed. | | | | it! |
| Horse Feed for the Thin Horse | | | | What about you? Do you need to rethink your horse's |
| If you have checked all of the factors above and your | | | | diet? |
| horse passes with flying colors, then it's time to take a | | | | |