Often, the problem with feeding horses is excessive feed consumption and thus also obesity. Losing weight in horses that are in excellent condition is an everyday occurrence for many owners and riders, but less often is there talk about those horses that, despite their efforts, just do not gain weight or mass. Most often, feeding and exercising these types of horses can be complicated and finding the right line can be challenging. What is wrong when a horse is and remains thin and how can it gain weight?
The condition of a horse is classified with numbers from one to five, with one being very thin and five being fat. The condition class can be further specified with a plus or minus sign, e.g. 4+. A horse classified as one has visible ribs and spinous processes of the spine, and there is no or very little fat tissue. The purpose of the horse and its condition should be in the same proportion, i.e. horses used for racing are often leaner than those used for breeding or companionship. In addition, the condition of fatness is also affected by breed, size and age.
Determining the cause
As mentioned, there can be many reasons for a horse losing weight or having a poor condition rating. The most important thing is to find out the cause so that the situation can be corrected. The easiest approach is to have the horse examined by a veterinarian. The fault is not always in inadequate feeding or feed, but the cause of the weight loss may be, among other things, bad teeth, parasites, stress or a stomach ulcer. A horse that is easily stressed is susceptible to a stomach ulcer and, for example, the marching order of the herd or the lack of food security can increase anxiety.
Gastric ulcers occur in more than half of all regular hobby horses. Symptoms of a gastric ulcer include a slight loss of appetite and weight loss, wheezing, tenderness in the abdominal area, and the horse's reluctance to move.
Especially in older horses, tooth decay can cause loss of appetite and weight loss. It is especially important to pay attention to the quality of hay when feeding old horses or young foals. In addition to the teeth, the digestive system also deteriorates, and nutrients are no longer absorbed effectively.
How to increase mass?
A horse's fattening regimen is always horse-specific and requires careful planning. Since a horse needs more energy from its feed than it consumes to gain weight, the amount of energy the horse receives from its feed should also be increased. If possible, the horse's work should also be lightened. This will reduce energy consumption and it is also good to remember that warping reduces the energy used for heat production.
You can add vegetable oil to the feed a little at a time, as oil contains about 2.5 times more energy than grains. The palatability of the feed can be improved with, for example, flaxseed meal , which also helps with intestinal function. Make sure that the horse also gets enough water. If the horse does not drink enough, it will not be willing to eat, it will defecate less and the manure will be dry. For example, the fluid lost through sweating must be replaced daily.
The most suitable feed for a thin horse is early harvested, energy-rich, leafy hay. Hay feeding can be supplemented with other fibers, such as molasses-free sugar beet pulp or hay pellets. For example, the nutritional value of alfalfa is better than hay. Biohansa alfalfa contains a lot of protein, fiber, amino acids, minerals and vitamins. Hay pellets are very suitable for feeding old horses when soaked.
Alfalfa has a high protein content. A horse's protein requirement is linked to its energy requirement, meaning that as energy requirements increase, e.g. due to exertion, the protein requirement also increases. Increasing muscle mass is not the same as making a horse fat. Mass cannot be increased by feeding it a lot. In addition to protein feeding containing essential amino acids, appropriate exercise is also needed to build muscle mass.
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