Fattening a horse, also known as conditioning is a long process, but it is a process that can improve horse health. Horses can lose weight for a variety of reasons, such as winter grooming in harsh conditions, not getting enough calories, or eating bad grass. If you can see the horse's ribs sticking out through its dull coat, the horse may be losing weight, meaning it lacks energy and is unable to work or ride. Before you start overfeeding your horse, check for any health problems that could be preventing weight gain. If you believe your horse is in good health, there are several things you can do to fatten your horse.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Keeping the Horse in Good Health
Step 1. Check for health problems in the horse
Before you start fattening your horse, make sure there are no health problems that could cause weight loss. You will need to take your horse to the vet to make sure it is in good health. If the horse has a medical problem, the vet will provide the appropriate treatment, which will most likely help increase the horse's weight.
The two main causes of weight loss in horses are internal parasites (worms) and poor dental conditions
Step 2. Pay attention to the horse's mouth
You can see an embarrassed horse when you try to put a small amount of food in its mouth. Or, the horse is a messy eater, dropping bits of chewed food onto the surface and into its water bowl (a process known as “quidding”). Horses may do this because of a problem with their teeth. However, if your horse feels pain when chewing, he will probably eat less rather than having pain, so there won't be any other symptoms.
As they age, horses form points (sharp edges of teeth), hooks (uneven teeth that don't touch the lower or upper teeth), and waves (unevenly eroded molars) on the upper and lower teeth (arcade). This can prevent the horse from chewing food properly, thereby losing nutrients
Step 3. Ask the vet to examine the horse's teeth
Ask the vet to examine the horse's teeth to see if the weight loss is due to dental problems. The vet can tell if the horse is not breaking down food properly.
Your horse's teeth continue to grow into their mid-20s, so it's a good idea to have your horse's teeth checked and aligned annually, if needed
Step 4. Check the horse for worms
The veterinarian will perform a thorough worm egg count on a sample of horse faeces to identify specific parasite species (worms). If the horse has a large population of red worms (Cyathostomiasis), it is likely that the horse has intestinal bleeding or stomach pain and is completely unable to digest food. Once the worm species has been identified, the horse worms will be exterminated at two separate times, about three weeks. This will remove the adult worms as well as any developing eggs and larvae.
- Horses are more likely to have worms if they graze on land where grass has been eaten by other horses and is contaminated with horse manure that contains worm eggs.
- Red worms produce about 95 percent of worm eggs in grass fields, so infection occurs in the right environment. Other species found in grasslands, such as strongylid worms can also cause weight loss.
Step 5. Do a complete blood test
While you may not want to spend the money, this test will show whether the horse is deficient in essential minerals and whether all internal organs are functioning properly. This information can help you determine if your horse needs supplements. The vet will also check for other problems in the horse that could interfere with its ability to eat, such as respiratory disease, chronic diarrhea, gastric ulcers, or behavioral problems.
Some behavioral problems can interfere with eating, such as swallowing wind or biting. With this behavior, the horse inhales a lot of air when chewing, which can cause flatulence. This makes the horse feel full, when it is actually full from the air
Part 2 of 2: Feeding the Horses
Step 1. Score the horse's condition
Horses are scored on a scale of 1 to 9 according to the amount of muscle and fat. It is calculated by looking, feeling, and rating the 6 areas of the horse's body. Your veterinarian can help you find out your horse's score, which can help you decide if your horse needs to gain weight. The ideal horse body score is 5 or 6.
- A score of 1 to 4 is considered lean and the horse needs more food to gain weight.
- Very lean horses need a diet high in protein and fat (such as bran) to gain weight.
Step 2. Ask for suggestions on food choices
Consult your local food vendor. The seller knows the benefits of the various foods provided. Describe the horse's condition, so you can get a good recommendation on what food to buy. Remember, do not give grain in large quantities as this is difficult for the horse to digest.
You can also get advice from fellow equestrians. Many of them can provide helpful tips and tricks to improve horse condition
Step 3. Find out how much food the horse needs
If your horse is underweight, ask your veterinarian for a target weight recommendation. Then you need to look at the food packaging and calculate how much food to eat each day. Do not use a horse food shovel as this can be inaccurate and you may overestimate the amount of food to feed the horse. Be sure to feed the horse the weight it needs and allow the horse to graze.
- Normal horses require food as much as 1.8 to 2 percent of body weight (including supplements). So, a normal horse in good condition requires 8-9 kilograms of food a day.
- If you are trying to fatten a horse, consider increasing the amount of food by 2.3 to 2.5 percent of body weight for gradual weight gain.
Step 4. Consider using high-protein hard foods
If your horse is very lean, consider providing a high-protein, calorie-dense diet. You can give extruded high-energy food (500-700 grams for every 100 grams of body weight) mixed with equal amounts of bran (sliced rice bran for animal feed or cereal husks). Or, you can give the same quantity of ground millet and wet rice bran.
Do not increase the amount of food suddenly, which can cause the horse to become ravenous and develop diarrhea or even colic. Find out the amount of food for the horse's target weight and divide it into 3-4 servings of food for one day
Step 5. Make sure the horse gets enough grass
Grass is a staple in the horse's diet. Without grass, horses may not be able to eat fiber, thus becoming thin. Make sure the horse gets at least 3-4 hours to graze, but don't let it go and let it graze all day. Not only does this make the horse eat grass to the ground, but the intestines will become too full and may develop laminitis, diarrhea, or colic.
- Consider giving your horse good quality hay before releasing it to pasture, which can prevent your horse from eating too much fresh grass. Straw can also make the horse urinate regularly and release energy slowly.
- Limit horses to eating fertile grass to 2 hours (1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon). This grass is rich in carbohydrates, which can increase the risk of laminitis or diarrhea.
Step 6. Consider adding oil to your food
Start by adding 62 ml of oil to your horse's diet each day, adding another 62 ml over a few days. Increase to 500 ml of oil per day. You can use corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil. Adding oil to your horse's diet will help promote weight gain and may aid digestion.
Even if you're on a high-calorie diet, make sure your horse gets some light exercise. In this way, the horse will begin to improve its health and build muscle
Tips
- Since different worms require different antiparasitic treatment, it is important that veterinarians test for specific worm species and choose an effective course of action.
- Don't give your horse any supplements you don't need. Preservatives such as selenium and sulfur are toxic in high doses. Do not feed supplements without knowing the exact dose required by the horse.
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Purchase high-quality food when fattening horses. They may cost more, but these foods work faster and are of better quality so you won't have to use them for long.
Adult horse food can be a useful addition when a horse needs to be fattened, even if it is not an adult horse
