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I have a nine-year-old, 16-hand (163 cm) appendix Quarter Horse gelding that weighs about 1,300 lb (590 kg). He has been diagnosed with chronic kidney failure after noticeable weight loss on an unchanging diet. His creatinine level was 3.5 mg/dL on the most recent testing. He receives a diet of orchardgrass/bromegrass hay, timothy pellets, ground…

I own a 14-year-old, 15-hand Arabian gelding in light endurance work. He’s an off-track racehorse and aside from free-choice hay I feed him a slurry of copra meal (1.25 lb; 0.6 kg), micronutrient pellets, ground flax (6 oz; 177 ml), and a gastric supplement twice daily. He’s in good weight. I have not had him…

My mare was diagnosed with Lyme disease. She remains on a course of antibiotics, though she continues to improve with no fever, limb edema, or discernible pain. The veterinarian suggested contacting an equine nutritionist about thoughts and recommendations on feeding her. What are your opinions?

I own a 10-year-old, 16.2-hand Warmblood gelding. He’s fed five flakes of hay a day, a sport-horse feed, one-half cup of beet pulp, and biotin daily. Frankly, I don’t know why he’s on the beet pulp, but it was part of his diet when I acquired him. He has shown a loss of muscle tone…

I have a nine-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that weighs about 900 lb (410 kg). He’s moderately fleshy, so it would be best if he lost some weight. He has been diagnosed with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), and he suffers from tying-up episodes during stressful times, generally when he is moved to a different stable. He’s…

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),…

I own a 10-year-old, 15.1-hand (155-cm) Morgan gelding in moderate work. He is in a stall 17 hours a day and in a paddock for the other 7 hours. He is chubby, probably a body condition score of 6, as the fat along his barrel is spongy and he has fat accumulation along his withers…

Rosa is my 10-year-old, 16.3-hand (170-cm) Quarter Horse mare (1,100 lb or 500 kg; BCS 5). She was emaciated when we adopted her four months ago, and she has rallied to almost ideal body condition, even while being pregnant. Days after we adopted her, she was diagnosed with anaplasmosis. Rosa is consistently lame, even at…

My 35-year-old Arabian gelding weighs about 750 lb (340 kg) and is moderately thin, so he needs to gain some weight. He is fed free-choice grass hay, as well as one gallon twice per day of this mixture: one part soaked beet pulp, one part senior pellets, and one part alfalfa pellets. Can I add…

My two-year-old Standardbred racing filly is 15.2 hands (157 cm) and weighs 975 lb (445 kg). At this weight, she’s in moderate body condition. Right now, she’s on 12 hours of turnout daily. Her current ration includes 40% whole oats, 20% steamed rolled barley, 20% coarse-cracked corn, 20% balancer pellet, 2 oz of a vitamin…

I have an eight-year-old pregnant Thoroughbred mare; she weighs about 1,200 lb (545 kg) and is moderately fleshy, a body condition score (BCS) of 6. She spends most of her on pasture, and only about four hours each day in a stall. She consumes about 2 lb (1 kg) balancer pellet and 2 lb (1…

I own a 20-year-old Quarter Horse—14.1 hands, 1,000 lb (450 kg). He’s on 24-hour turnout, occasionally ridden, and his weight is just right. He’s fed 3 quarts of a maintenance sweet feed, trace minerals, ground flax, and round-baled grass hay. When he comes into the barn, he is offered grass hay. I’d like to improve…

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…