Why Horses Lose Weight

Learn Why Horses Lose Weight and What You Can Do About It

If you have a horse that just isn’t putting on, or maintaining a healthy weight, here are some reasons and what to do. There are several reasons a horse may lose weight, or fail to put on weight despite eating what appears to be a good diet.

The most obvious reason a horse may lose weight is because it is not eating enough. Throughout their lives, horses have different nutritional needs. A young horse should be kept healthy, but not overweight at all, as that brings problems of its own. A young horse should be on the lean side. You should just be able to feel the ribs, but not see them sticking out prominently. Overfeeding at this age may cause joint problems.

Working Horses

As a horse enters its working life, a basic hay or grass diet may not be quite enough. Most horses used for casual riding will be fine, but a horse that is working hard such as a show horse, long distance trail horse, a draft horse used for logging or other high-performance activities may need to be supplemented with grain or other concentrates.

Hay or grass may not provide the energy and nutrition it needs. If you are competing with your horse, or riding demanding trails, or hauling logs out of the bush every day, you might notice your horse lose weight and it will need a few extra meals to stay in good shape. It’s not uncommon for broodmares to lose weight as they nurse a foal.

Summer Weight Loss

It’s not unusual for horses in the summer months to lose weight. The heat combined with pesky biting insects can run a horse down very quickly. Especially susceptible to the stress of heat and bugs are senior horses and those with very sensitive skins. Many thoroughbreds have this problem. In addition to protection from the heat of the day, and the bites of the mosquitoes and other flies, horses that have problems keeping weight on in summer could benefit from extra feed, whether it’s good-quality hay in the barn where it can relax and eat without fretting at the bugs, or a concentrate or supplement to help put on weight.

Cold Weather