By: Dr Rosie Alcorn BVSc PG Cert VPS Cert AVP MRCVS
The season has begun, and we have been fortunate this year to enjoy beautiful weather in both the UK and Ireland. As we embark on a busy season, it is essential to monitor our horses’ weight regularly and adjust their diets and management plans accordingly.
It is common for event horses to lose condition throughout the season due to increased workload and travel. This can affect both their health and performance. Another challenge is managing the correct energy levels—while adding condition, we must ensure we do so in a way that does not negatively impact performance.
The first step in monitoring an event horse’s weight is understanding its ideal condition.
Weight is typically assessed using a Body Condition Score (BCS) system, where horses are scored on a scale from 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese). The British Horse Society provides an excellent free guide to help with this assessment.
For higher-level event horses, an ideal BCS is around 4-5, as these athletes require leaner conditioning for demanding fitness tests.
For lower-level (grassroots) horses, a BCS of 5-6 is more appropriate.
If you need assistance in scoring your horse, our nutrition team is always available to help!
Several factors can contribute to an event horse becoming underweight:
Inadequate Calories
Horses may not be receiving enough calories or the correct balance of nutrients. Some horses also struggle to eat while travelling or at competitions, leading to weight loss.
Increased Activity
With a high workload, event horses have significantly increased nutritional needs. It can be easy to underestimate just how much extra fuel they require.
Health Issues
Illness, parasites, dental problems, or gastric issues can all cause weight loss or make it difficult for a horse to gain condition. If you are concerned about your horse’s weight, it is important to consult your vet.
An underweight event horse will likely struggle with stamina, strength, and overall performance. The effects can be subtle at first, appearing as a slight drop in performance before becoming more noticeable.
Forage
High-quality hay, haylage, or grass should form the majority of the horse’s diet. At this time of year, paddocks may not provide enough grass to sustain event horses, so additional forage may be necessary.
Increase Calories
Extra calories can be introduced by adjusting the horse’s diet. High-fat, low-starch feeds provide calories without causing excessive energy spikes.
Adding oil to the diet is an easy way to provide slow-release calories. Remember to split additional feeds into multiple smaller meals throughout the day for better digestion.
Key-3 Oil provides balanced levels of long chain omega 3s DHA and EPA and short chain omega 3 ALA. Increasing the omega 3 content in the diet creates an abundance of health boosting benefits such as anti-inflammatory mechanisms which benefits joint mobility and circulation, along with muscle suppleness, function and recovery.
Key-Plus can be added to a horses diet when a top-up of cool calories is required, simply feed alongside a balancer or complete feed.
Make Gradual Changes
When adjusting a horse’s diet, changes should always be made gradually to avoid digestive upset.
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