A crisis can develop quickly if an elderly, ill or otherwise unthrifty horse starts to dropping pounds during the cold season. Here’s how to head off trouble.
It’s not normal for a horse to lose weight over the winter. It’s a sign that he is burning more calories to keep warm than he is taking in. If a chubby, otherwise healthy horse drops a few pounds, there’s generally little cause for concern. But some horses in only moderate condition can ill afford to lose even a little weight, especially if they are elderly or have a chronic illness. Here’s how to prevent winter weight loss.
1. Reassess your horse’s feed ration. Consult with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist to determine whether he is getting enough calories and other nutrients. The amount of feed you offer in June might not be enough in January, for example. If you decide to increase the amount of grain your horse receives, consider adding another meal rather than increasing individual serving sizes to reduce the risk of colic. Or you may want to switch to a higher calorie feed or add an energy-rich supplement to your horse’s ration. One safe and simple way of providing additional calories is to top-dress meals with a couple tablespoons of corn oil.
2. Feed lots of forage. Hay won’t necessarily put weight on a horse, but it will help keep him warm because it is digested slowly, producing metabolic heat along the way. Ideally, hard keepers will have access to as much hay as they want during the winter, but this may not be practical for you. Increase the amount of hay you provide as much as you can, remembering that horses will eat more and waste less if it’s of good quality.
3. Keep him warm. A healthy horse with a thick, natural coat will need only a run-in shed to keep warm in even frigid temperatures. However, older horses, those with health conditions or those that are clipped need more help. Waterproof blankets are an easy solution, and it helps to have two of different weights for varying weather conditions. Shelter from wind and cold rain is also critical; make sure all your field-kept horses have access to a run-in shed and that more aggressive horses allow the herd use the space. If your horse is kept in a stall, make sure it’s free of drafts.
4. Keep his teeth in good shape. The inability to properly chew feed will cause a horse to lose weight rapidly, no matter how much you feed. To head off this kind of trouble, have your veterinarian perform a full dental exam and address any issues at least twice a year–more often if problems arise. For older horses or those with chronic dental conditions, you may need to wet the feed or switch to hay cubes to ensure they get their allotted calories.
5. Do periodic visual checks. This advice may sound obvious, but keep in mind that winter blankets–particularly on older, retired horses or others that aren’t ridden regularly–can hide weight loss for weeks. To avoid surprises, remove your horse’s blanket at least every other day. Then run your hand along his top line, hindquarters and ribs, feeling for bones you couldn’t feel before (see “Body Condition Score,”) With just this simple step, you can catch weight loss early, when it’s easier to reverse. If you’re not sure his condition is changing, use a weight tape or take a digital picture for comparison to another in a few weeks.
When further investigation is needed
If, despite your best efforts, your horse loses weight this winter, ask your veterinarian to examine him for an infection, illness or parasite problem.
In Focus: Body Condition Score
Widely used since its development in 1983, the body condition score system (BCS) provides an objective estimate of the fat stored on a horse’s body. It requires a visual, as well as hand-on assessment of the horse, focusing on particular target areas. The nine-point BCS scale ranges from 1 (“poor” with no fatty tissue felt) to 9 (“extremely fat”); most healthy horses will have a BCS of 4 to 6:
BCS Score: 4 (Moderately thin)
- Slight ridge along top of back.
- Faint outline of ribs discernable.
- Tailhead prominence will depend on conformation, but fat can be felt around it.
- Pelvic “hook” bones on either side of the rump are not discernable.
- Withers, shoulders and neck are not obviously thin.
BCS Score: 5 (Moderate)
- The back over the spine is level
- Ribs cannot be visually distinguished but can be easily felt.
- Fat around tailhead feels slightly “spongey”
- Withers appear rounded over spinous processes.
- Shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body.
BCS Score: 6 (Moderate to Fleshy)
- May have a slight crease down the back.
- Fat over ribs feels soft and spongy
- Fat around tailhead feels soft
- Fat beginning to be deposited along sides of eh withers, behind the shoulder and along the sides of the neck.
