Got A Hard Keeper? Here Are 6 Tips To Help Your Horse Gain Weight

If you own a horse who is a hard keeper, you know how difficult it can be to help your horse gain and maintain weight. Here are 6 tried and true ways that you can help your horse gain weight.

1. Increase the Amount That Your Horse Eats

The first step in helping your horse gain weight is to increase the amount of food that your horse is eating. Increasing both hay and grain intake gives your horse the extra calories that he needs to put weight on. It is important that you feed a quality hay and grain; if you have questions about what feed is right for your horse, consult with your veterinarian or with an equine nutritionist.

2. Add Fat Calories to Your Horse’s Diet

Supplementing your horse’s diet with fat can increase his caloric intake and help your horse gain weight. There are many fat and weight builder supplements for horses which you can purchase; this takes the guesswork out of dosage and these supplements generally don’t spoil like oil, another popular feed additive, does.

3. Provide Small Meals Throughout the Day

In addition to feeding your horse more, feed him more often throughout the day. Your horse’s body isn’t built to absorb the nutrition out of two or three large meals. Horses are grazers by nature, so by providing him with smaller meals, you are increasing the nutritional value that he gets out of his feed.

Ever wonder if you're storing your hay properly? Check out our article 7 Rules For Proper Hay Storage to find out. 

4. Ensure Your Horse Gets All of His Food To Help Them Gain Weight

If your horse is fed while turned out in a herd with other horses, he might not be getting all of his food. Try to arrange for your horse to be fed while he is alone in his stall, so that you know that he’s eating all of the food that you are providing to him. If you feed hay in turnout, then provide more piles of hay than there are horses, so that there is plenty of hay for every horse in the field.

5. Provide Regular Dental Care

If your horse’s teeth are in need of floating, it can be difficult for him to chew his food completely. This can slow your horse’s food intake, and also affects how much nutrition he can absorb from his food. Make an appointment for your horse to receive dental care at least once a year.

6. Consider Ulcers and Worms

Sometimes, horses which are hard keepers are actually dealing with stomach ulcers or worm loads. Both issues can cause a horse to lose weight, and can make it difficult to put weight back on the horse. If you suspect that your horse might have either ulcers or worms, then it’s time to treat him with an ulcer treatment or a dewormer. You can ask your vet about the best course to take given your horse’s particular situation.

Have you ever helped your horse gain weight? What did you do? Let us know in the comments below!