Question
Basso is my 15-year-old gelding that is in moderately fleshy body condition - dead on BCS of 6. He needs to lose some weight. Right now he spends 24/7 in a drylot with six flakes of green, leafy alfalfa hay a day in addition to 2 lb (0.9 kg) of ration balancer. He gets 2 lb of a low-starch feed mixed in with his balancer just to make it more appetizing. He’s also given a calming supplement, probiotic, and MSM as an anti-inflammatory. My job prevents me from working him at all right now. I’d like to restart him on soaked beet pulp - about 1 cup daily - but it seemed to cause him to gain weight. Should I change his feed? I think his weight is creeping up, not down. What can I do?
Answer
Based on the details you provided, I have several suggestions to help manage your gelding’s weight. If possible, start by gathering an estimate of his current weight with a weight tape or digital scale, and then continue to track changes in weight monthly.
As you alluded to, the current diet is supplying too much digestible energy (calories) for an idle easy keeper. I understand the inclination to focus on reducing the concentrate portion of his diet. However, the largest contribution of energy to his diet is alfalfa hay. High-quality alfalfa is usually a rich source of protein, calcium, magnesium and, importantly here, energy. Alfalfa can continue to constitute a portion of his forage, but it would be sensible to substitute a lower-energy grass hay, like timothy, for the remainder of his forage allotment. The total amount of hay fed per day should be about 1.5% of desired body weight.
His meals could be simplified to reduce calories and supply optimal nutrient intake. Because he is consuming less than the minimum feeding rate of the low-starch feed, it is wise to feed the ration balancer. I suggest removing the low-starch feed altogether since his primary nutrient needs are being met by the forage and the ration balancer.
Beet pulp is a high-calorie source of fermentable fiber that offers prebiotic digestive benefits. It would be considered a significant calorie source if you were feeding larger amounts of it, but at 1 cup per day, it will have no effect on body condition.
Targeted supplementation may elevate your gelding’s well-being. I suggest supplementing with a source of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, like EO-3. Research has shown that EO-3 is effectively incorporated into cellular membranes of the horse and decreases the production of pro-inflammatory pathways. Because of the small feeding rate, EO-3 will not cause weight gain and is recommended for easy keepers because it works to improve insulin sensitivity.
The addition of vitamin E is beneficial for horses without fresh grass to ensure vitamin E requirements are met. This would be especially helpful for Basso when he is back in work and his requirement is slightly higher. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage that can lead to oxidative stress and muscle soreness. Daily supplementation with a natural-source of vitamin E is most effective because it is better absorbed into the bloodstream than synthetic forms.
Nano-E is a liquid, natural-source vitamin E that is highly bioavailable and effective at improving vitamin E blood serum levels in the horse. A maintenance dose of 1,000 IU (4 ml) of Nano-E will ensure his needs are met. Prior to competition or travel you can provide a loading dose of 2,500-5,000 IU 12 hours prior to stressful event or performance to boost antioxidant status.
