Weight Management

Pony Gaining Weight – What Do I Feed My Pony?

Hello. I have a large pony that is Insulin Resistant. He foundered 3 years ago – August and come to find out he’s Insulin Resistant but not Cushings. Because I caught it so quickly we were able to “cure” him and to this day he is SOUND! He hardly rotated. I noticed he was getting QUITE fat and saw a beautiful cresty neck (to which I thought I was training him SO well, and that’s why he had such a beautiful neck!) He is on a VERY strict diet – beet pulp, cinnamon, rice bran, vitamin E and salt…

March 20, 2012 Ask the Vet, Diseases and Conditions, Nutrition, Weight Management 2 Comments

Does Your Overweight Horse Need to Lose A Few Pounds?

I have acquired an overweight horse that needs to lose approximately 150 pounds. I plan to feed him mixed and grass hay with minimal to no grain. Because of this I feel he needs a vitamin/mineral supplement to make up for any deficiencies due to hay quality. Any suggestions? L.S.

February 29, 2012 Ask the Vet, Nutrition, Weight Management 3 Comments

Is Your Senior Getting Leaner?

Could feed/treats cause a horse’s sides to sink in? Like, right where the quarters and the stifle are sinks in. Is this normal? She’s an older horse, I didn’t know if it had to do with age or too many treats or just too much sugar? – Thanks, Savannah

November 15, 2011 Ask the Vet, Weight Management 1 Comment

Is There a ‘Perfect’ Weight For a Horse?

My horse is approx. 15.1 hands, and is 966 lbs. What is the best weight for a horse? I have been told he needs to lose weight. – BS, Alabama Dear BS, Most experts agree that the “best” weight for a horse is somewhere in the 4 to 6 range on the Henneke Body Condition [...]

October 11, 2011 Ask the Vet, Basic Health Care, Weight Management 9 Comments

The Hard Keeper: How to Put Weight on Safely and Sanely

I have a nine year old Thoroughbred. He’s a super hard keeper. Prone to be a bit anxious, although not a ‘hot’ horse at all. I’m looking for a good weight gainer supplement that will help him build muscle for moving up to jumping 1.30. Any ideas? I’ve had him on and off of Succeed. [...]

September 27, 2011 Ask the Vet, Weight Management 19 Comments

Rapid Weight Loss in Horse

We have a 34 year old mare, who is losing weight rapidly in the last month. She will not eat it if we add water to it. What could we add/supplement or change to help her?

November 22, 2010 Weight Management 4 Comments

Horse Weight Loss

I have a horse that had a previous Body Condition Score (BCS) of 5. I have had the equine dentist out to examine him and perform a routine checkup. However, my horse does not bit well and still drops his food while eating. His BCS now is at 4. What can I do to improve this?

October 27, 2010 Ask the Vet, Weight Management 3 Comments

Rehabilitating a Hardkeeper

I have recently taken in a 21-year-old gelding that had been in my family in the past. His body condition score (BCS) was between a one/two. He has been fed performance 12:12, but I wondered if there is something else I can offer him or am I just being too impatient?

July 8, 2010 SmartPak Features, Weight Management 5 Comments

Slow Down Hay Eating

I have a question about hay feeding. I have heard someone makes some sort of system that helps horses not gulp down their hay in big mouthfuls. I cannot find anything on where to get anything like that. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Thanks. DB, Texas Dear DB, This is a fascinating [...]

September 30, 2009 Weight Management 1 Comment

Adding Weight, Not Attitude

I have a sensible 7 yr old thoroughbred that I use for dressage & trail. My trainer told me I should try to put some weight on him. On her and another trainer’s advice, I started giving him beet pulp and barley. I was told that would not increase his energy. After a couple of [...]

August 26, 2009 Weight Management 0 Comments