My 12-year-old Quarter Horse mare is in moderate weight (14.3 hands; 1,000 lb or 450 kg). She’s an easy keeper that I use for trail and ranch riding. She has access to pasture, with the amount of time grazing dependent on grass growth, and she also receives 0.5-1 lb (0.2-0.5 kg) of oats and a hoof supplement. This mare has always had great hooves, but lately her sole has become soft and thin. We had a lot of rain this summer, which necessitated me keeping her in a drylot to restrict grazing, and I wonder if that could have contributed to the hoof deterioration. From a nutritional standpoint, is there anything else I can do for her?

Irish is my 13-hand (132 cm), 18-year-old Welsh/Belgian crossbred gelding. He weighs about 950 lb (432 kg), so he’s a stocky guy! He is in light work, driving 3-6 miles (5-10 km) every other day or so. Occasionally, we go camping, and he will work harder on those days, driving 15-20 miles (24-32 km) per day. He had gained weight over the winter, and we had a hard time getting him back in shape. During this conditioning period, to reward him for his hard work, I let him have a half hour of pasture each morning. Within two weeks, Irish no longer wanted to trot when asked. He tested positive for PSSM1 and ever since then I have been trying to figure out a suitable ration for him. He is fed 18 lb (8.2 kg) of soaked hay, 1 cup of low-starch pellet, magnesium, salt, MSM, vitamin E, and selenium. I haven’t tried a fat supplement yet because I didn’t want him to gain weight. I am trying to get a grip on a ration that will help control his PSSM and support weight loss. I am worried that he is not getting the vitamins and minerals he needs because I soak his hay.

Will feeding calcium carbonate prevent OCD in foals, even foals from bloodlines known to have the problem?

My eight-year-old Thoroughbred mare (16 hands, 1,100 lb or 500 kg) is in moderate body condition. She’s used as a hunter and jumper, and I’d like her to gain some weight. She gets 16-18 hours of turnout daily. As far as feedstuffs, here’s her daily diet: 5 lb (2.3 kg) all-purpose feed; 2 lb (0.90 kg) alfalfa cubes; 3-4 flakes of hay when stalled 6-8 hours a day; round-baled hay when outside. While she has plenty of energy and seems fit, her topline is narrow and lackluster. In addition, she has thin-walled hooves and occasionally suffers from sore heel bulbs. A course of omeprazole and a follow-up antiulcer supplement was intended to prevent gastric ulcers, but I feel she might be suffering from them again. She’s ridden 4-7 days each week. Any ideas?

What is the crest of the neck, and why is it important when condition scoring horses? I’ve often heard the phrase “cresty neck” but I am unsure what it means.

My 34-year-old mare has begun to lose weight with the onset of autumn. She is eating 2.5 lb (1.1 kg) of senior feed twice a day plus pasture 24 hours a day. What do you suggest?

I own a 20-year-old Quarter Horse—14.1 hands, 1,000 lb (450 kg), 24-hour turnout, occasionally ridden, weight just right. He’s fed 3 quarts of a low-starch feed, trace mineral supplement, 1 cup flaxseed, and free-choice grass hay (mediocre quality). While I think he’s in good weight, I’d like to improve his topline and muscle definition. Would vitamin E be appropriate?

Our fast-growing three-month-old foal was diagnosed with physitis in both hind fetlocks. We first noticed swelling about one month ago. At that time, we prohibited the foal from further accessing his dam's grain, as he was eating quite a bit of it. We started him on balancer pellets but then took him off those as well because of the high protein content. I have limited his turnout to a small paddock. He shows no sign of lameness. What should I do?

I own several pony broodmares, all of which are in early lactation. This year, several of them are underweight on a hay-only diet, the same diet that kept them in healthy weight in the past. One aged mare has lost weight rapidly over the past two months. Her current weight is 735 lb (334 kg), and she appears to be a body condition score of 3 or 4, which is rather alarming compared to her usual moderately fleshy (BCS of 6) condition. I recently started her on a 5 lb (2.3 kg) of feed along with weight-gain and vitamin-mineral supplements. There is no grass in the field, but the mares have 24/7 access to round-baled, good-quality grass hay. I am confident the mares consume plenty of hay based on how quickly they go through the bales. My vet fears this year’s heat and dry conditions have taken a toll on all horses, especially lactating broodmares. What else can I do to improve condition of my mares, especially my 22-year-old?

I have a 25-year-old mare that colicked a few months ago. I have been soaking alfalfa/grass cubes, and she is doing very well. I am struggling with how to crumble these cubes in freezing temperatures during winter. The feed store where we purchase the cubes also sells fines, which would not need to be soaked, as they are already minute pieces. The fines are almost entirely alfalfa. What are the potential pitfalls of feeding her this much alfalfa through the winter? She roams about 4 acres of pasture every day, but I'm not sure how much she really eats. I appreciate your time and any helpful input you may have.