Question
I have an idle mature mare (1,250 lb or 570 kg) that would be considered moderately fleshy. She is in a drylot during the growing season and in a pasture during winter. In the drylot and during winter, I place one bale of grass-alfalfa hay into a haynet with half-inch holes, and this lasts two horses two to three days. The bales weigh about 60 lb (27 kg). In addition, I give her two flakes of hay in a haynet at nighttime; she doesn’t have to share this, as she’s kept by herself then. She’s also fed 1 lb (0.45 kg) of a low-calorie feed daily. She’s given fatty acid and hoof supplements, too. In addition to her weight, she has a dry, itchy mane during the winter months and hoof soreness yearlong during wet or cold weather. She is shod in front. I want to do whatever is best for my horse, most importantly weight loss.
Answer
To help facilitate weight loss, is it possible to source a grass-only hay instead of the current grass-alfalfa mix? This will help to reduce calorie intake without further restricting hay intake. I understand why you are feeding a small amount of hay during the night, but long periods of time spent without access to hay—if it is consumed quickly—can have a negative impact on digestive health and behavior.
A lower calorie grass hay, one that is generally harvested later and therefore more mature, would be ideal for your mare, as it would allow her to maximize hay intake over a 24-hour period while reducing total calorie intake. Another consideration when selecting the best hay for an easy keeper is the sugar content. A low-sugar hay can be beneficial even without the presence of metabolic issues. If you can source a consistent hay supply with a forage analysis, that would be ideal.
The low-calorie feed you mention is designed for weight maintenance, but it is a fortified feed that should be fed at 7 lb (3.2 kg) for a 1,250-lb (570 kg) horse to provide optimal vitamins and minerals. A ration balancer would be a more suitable choice based on the current feed amount of 1 lb (0.45) per day. Switching to a ration balancer will also support overall health, including skin, coat, and hoof condition, and will allow the hoof supplement to be more effective. If you are happy offering your mare that product, you can add a vitamin and mineral supplement to provide essential nutrients without adding unwanted calories.
How long have you been on this current feed program? If you have not noticed results after several months, you may want to consider EO-3 and Bio-Bloom PS, supplements formulated with research-backed ingredients designed to promote skin, coat, hoof, and metabolic health.
