Question

I now own a 15.3-hand, 10-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that is skinny (thin neck, light coverage of fat over ribs, spine slightly raised). He’d be a body condition score of 3. He’s consuming 2 lb (0.45 kg) of high-fat concentrate, 4 flakes of hay, and some bagged alfalfa hay every day. I understand the risk of refeeding emaciated horses too quickly, so I am looking for an appropriate weight-gain plan.

Answer

Work closely with your veterinarian to monitor your gelding’s health during this transition period. You veterinarian will likely be interested in evaluating the horse’s parasite burden with a fecal egg test and in assessing the condition of his teeth. Inability to chew properly can profoundly affect weight gain.

I would maintain the current amount of concentrate and build calorie consumption by offering near constant access to good-quality hay. Frequent assessment of body weight and body condition are beneficial in making timely adjustments. Gradual increases in concentrate can be started after the initial refeeding period and go-ahead from the veterinarian. High-fat and high-fiber feeds provide appropriate energy sources for supporting weight gain.

Two factors determine how much digestible energy is required above maintenance values: total amount of weight gain needed and the timeframe in which the weight must be gained. Slow, consistent gain is generally preferred.

Hay and concentrate feed amounts should be fed based on your horse’s target body weight. Because approximately 45 lb (20 kg) of gain is needed to achieve a one-point increase in body condition score, a diet consisting of free-choice hay and feed intake of 4-6 lb/day (1.8-2.7 kg/day) should supply sufficient calories for weight gain within 60-90 days.

Digestive upset can be a concern with refeeding underweight horses and offering higher feed intakes, so be on the lookout for problems (changes in manure consistency, colic signs) and contact a veterinarian immediately if anything unusual arises. Problems can be minimized, as mentioned previously, with gradual increases in feed.

Kentucky Equine Research has developed research-proven digestive health products. These are especially important when horses are undergoing a change in feeding management.