If you’re the lucky owner of a winter-weight champion, the nose-to-tail weight evaluation in Part 2 (evaluating your horse’s body condition) of our series may have yielded little more than bonus time with your horse and a snapshot of your horse during every month of the year.

But if your measurements indicate a horse that’s losing weight during the winter months — or barely maintaining it — then stay tuned. There’s no magic weight-gain formula that works for every horse, but here’s what you can do to help your horse gain winter weight.

Schedule a Visit With Your Equine Dentist

As we discussed in Part 2 of this series, healthy teeth play a big role in proper digestion, absorption of nutrients, and weight maintenance. Horses’ teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, so while horses between ages 10 and 20 may only need annual dental work, book bi-annual teeth floating for youngsters, seniors, and horses in heavy work.

Worm Your Horse and Schedule a Fecal Exam

This is a no-brainer, but be sure you stay on top of de-worming your horses, and schedule a fecal exam every six months. Halloween and Easter are good dates for seasonal evaluations.

Rethink Your Grain Schedule

We’ve said it before, but the key to healthy digestion is small meals fed at regular intervals throughout the day. Horses need to eat constantly to maintain a healthy digestive system. Aim to feed three or four small meals per day instead of just one or two.

Provide Constant Access to Hay

Horses are hardwired to munch on small amounts of feed almost constantly. On average, a horse should ingest 1.5- to 2.5-percent of its body weight daily in forage. Not only is fiber-rich hay easily digested, it also provides additional heat during cold-weather months (and it keeps him happier in between meals).

Keep Your Horse Hydrated

Dehydration is a common cause of winter weight loss, so use a safe and effective water heater in your horse’s bucket or water trough. A cheap alternative for milder climates is to float a soccer ball or basketball in a trough to prevent icing over — but we prefer the heater. Remember that hay doesn’t have the same water content as green grass, so be sure to provide clean, ice-free water to make up for that change.

Slow Your Horse Down and Eliminate Stress at Feed Time

An empty belly will often provoke a horse to bolt its feed, but a stressful or intimidating environment will do the same. Eating too quickly gives starchy grains less time to be absorbed in the stomach and small intestine leading to poor nutrient absorption and problems in the hindgut. Avoid bolting by making sure your horse never gets too hungry, is fed in a safe environment without danger of barn mates stealing his food or causing him anxiety, and has ample time to eat. If he’s a habitual bolter, slow him down by adding chaff to his grain — the extra fiber won’t go amiss either!

Evaluate Your Horse’s Vital Stats

Is your horse older than 15? Switch to high-protein senior feed, which is more easily digested and will help him get the most nutritional benefit out of his feed.

Is your horse competing? If so, he needs many more calories than a horse that is exercised primarily during warmer months.

Is your horse outside during cold weather? Additional calories are needed to keep your horse warm — don’t let cold weather steal vital nutrients from his diet because he’s trying to stay warm.

Evaluate Your Horse’s Hay and Grain

Evaluating hay quality is as simple as requesting an analysis from your hay dealer. High-protein hay such as alfalfa or a mix of grass/timothy hay and alfalfa will provide additional calories. Each horse requires a different grain mixture, but a high-fat grain will add surplus calories, and can be supplemented with an add-in like vegetable oil, stabilized rice bran or ground flaxseed products.

Feed SUCCEED

Whether it’s a caused by bad teeth, stressful eating situations, less than ideal feeding schedules or dehydration, poor digestion is a major source of winter weight loss. When natural digestive processes are thrown out of balance by bad habits, stress or other physical factors, it’s impossible for a horse to absorb the nutrients he needs. Feeding SUCCEED® helps alleviate common issues that prevent healthy digestion, as well as helps the GI tract to effectively process what you’re feeding him.

Next Up: Start Preparing Now for Next Winter

If you’re utilizing these weight-gain tips for this winter, be sure to check out the final installment of the series to learn what you can do now to avoid playing catch up next winter.

Be sure to subscribe to the SUCCEED® blog or sign up for email notifications in the sidebar so you don’t miss Part 4: Start Preparing Now for Next Winter.

In Part 1: Why Horses Lose Weight During the Winter, we looked at some common reasons for wintertime weight loss in horses. But how do you know if your horse is dropping weight? And what is a healthy weight range for your horse?

These are both good questions.

There isn’t a single weight range that’s ideal for all horses, because it varies greatly between breeds and disciplines. And very few people are lucky enough to have an equine scale on hand. But it is possible to determine what’s normal for your horse so that you know when something changes. Here are a few tactics for keeping tabs:

Do a Monthly Photo Shoot

If you’ve taken the SUCCEED Challenge, you already know how valuable photos can be in tracking your horse’s condition. Make a goal to snap a few pics of your horse from several angles each month, and then compare the photos.

Manually Feel for Changes

Of course, all of the beauty shots in the world won’t help you assess your horse’s condition if he’s covered in his winter woolies. Make sure to remove winter blankets and run a hand over your horse from ears to hoof to monitor his weight manually. Pay close attention to his back, ribs and croup (in that order), as these are the first three areas to lose weight.

Use a Weight Tape

For less than $5, you can purchase an equine weight tape at your local feed store that can help measure how much your horse weighs. (You can also use a standard tape measure to capture your horse’s heart girth and length, and then calculate heart girth X heart girth X length, divided by 300, + 50 = weight … we prefer the weight tape.) Again, a horse’s exact weight is less helpful than knowing when he fluctuates, so keep that in mind.

Determine Your Horse’s Body Condition Score

Vets use a standard body condition scoring system called the Henneke Body Condition Scoring system to tell whether or not a horse is at an appropriate weight. You can’t really determine an “average” weight, because a thoroughbred is going to look very different than a Quarter Horse broodmare — and both might be in tip-top shape. But horses usually gain (and lose!) weight in a specific order. Here’s what you should look for:

• Loin: A thin horse’s spine will stick up and he’ll have a ridge down his back. This is the first place you’ll notice weight gain or loss.
• Ribs: You should be able to feel — but not see — a healthy horse’s ribs.
• Tailhead/Croup: In a too-thin horse, the tailhead is prominent is easily seen.
• Withers: This varies between breeds, but if your horse is too thin, the shape of the withers will be very visible.
• Neck: you shouldn’t be able to see the bone structure of the neck; be sure your horse’s poll isn’t hollowed out.
• Shoulder: As a horse loses weight, you’ll see more and more definition between the shoulder and the elbow.

Check out a hands-on application of the Henneke BCS system by Holly Werner, senior associate editor of Horse Illustrated magazine with overweight, underweight, and ideal horse models:

Behavior and Performance

We talk a lot about how poor health can equal a bad attitude, and the same is true when a horse is underweight. If your horse seems lethargic, unwilling to work, or unusually grouchy when you show up, evaluate his general condition. If he’s not getting the nutrients and calories he needs to stay fit and healthy, he’s not going to be happy — and you’re not going to be happy with his performance.

Up Next: Strategies for Winter Weight Gain (or Maintenance)

Now that you know what to look for and how to identify a horse that is losing weight, we’ll talk about how to deal with wintertime weight loss in Part 3: Strategies for Winter Weight Gain (or Maintenance). Also be sure to check out Part 1: Why Horses Lose Weight in Winter for common culprits of fluctuating weight.

Be sure to subscribe to the SUCCEED blog or sign up for email notifications in the sidebar so you don’t miss Part 3: Strategies for Winter Weight Gain (or Maintenance).

Ah, winter. Hitting the gym and losing weight to get in shape before summer are top on many people’s to-do lists, but you might notice your horse slimming down this time of year, too. Sympathy weight loss? Unlikely, but cold weather, different feeding habits and increased stall time can have a big impact on your horse’s health.

There are several factors that contribute to your horse’s winter weight loss, and most can’t be fixed simply by throwing grain or hay at the problem.

In Combating Your Horse’s Winter Weight Loss Pt. 1, we’ll look at some of the common causes of wintertime weight loss. In Parts 2-4, we’ll move on to assessing your horse’s condition, strategies for weight gain or maintenance, and advice on preparing now for next winter. Be sure to subscribe to the SUCCEED blog or sign up for email notifications in the sidebar.

To get the scoop on the best practice for winter horse care, we turned to our own Frank Pellegrini DVM and trainer Bill Rodgers, as well as Scott Leibsle, deputy state veterinarian in Idaho.

Causes For Winter Weight Loss in Horses

Many things can be blamed for a shaggy, underweight equine during the wintertime months, but several of the most common include the following:

• Poor Feeding Regimen
• Not taking into account increased caloric needs
• Feeding the wrong quantity or quality of grain and hay
• Dehydration
• Parasites
• Dental issues
• Age

Of course, some of these factors are out of your control; you can’t turn back the clock for your retired eventer, but being aware of the causes can help you tweak those things you can control.

Poor Feeding Regimen

Horses need constant access to quality grass or hay, rather than one or two big hay and grain dumps morning and night. Horses are foragers that munch up to 18 hours a day, which is why you’ll notice happy, healthy horses during the summer months if they’re turned out on good pasture to graze.

Inattention to Increased Caloric Need During Winter Months

Like people, horses need to burn more calories to stay warm during winter months. Humans often use that as an excuse to indulge in a second slice of cake on a long winter’s evening, but horses legitimately need those calories in the form of forage. A healthy digestive system is an active digestive system — and digestion helps create heat, too.

Feeding the Wrong Quantity or Quality of Hay

All hay is not created equal. You probably already know that hay varies in quality, ranging from low-protein oat hay to mid-protein grass/timothy hay, to protein-heavy alfalfa. If you have any doubts about hay quality, request a professional hay analysis from your hay dealer.

Feeding the Wrong Quantity or Quality of Grain

As any owner of a hard-keeping horse will tell you, giving your horse more to eat doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll put on weight. Feeding more grain morning and night can actually cause your horse to lose weight, since processed feeds are harder for horses to digest (especially in large quantities). Undigested starch in the hindgut can cause diarrhea, ulcers, colic and plenty of other problems that cause weight loss.

Dehydration

Just as you probably don’t feel like guzzling ice-cold water when it’s snowing outside, horses are also more prone to dehydration in the wintertime — and care givers who forget to break the ice on water buckets don’t help things! Since horses need water to process their food, dehydration can lead to all sorts of problems in the hindgut, including increased acidity and toxins that can make your horse uncomfortable or lead to more serious issues like hindgut acidosis, colonic ulcers, and colic.

Parasites

Your horse is probably already on some type of worming schedule, but remember that while worms go dormant in the winter, they don’t die off completely. Be sure to stay up-to-date on fecal exams (Halloween and Easter are good target dates).

Dental Issues

Poorly tended teeth are a common cause of winter (and summer!) weight loss. If a horse can’t chew, he can’t eat. Chewing also produces saliva, which buffers the continual production of acids in the horse’s stomach – offering a natural protection against gastric ulcers. Also, these starches and sugars can reach the hindgut when the horse is unable to chew properly and consumes grain meals too quickly. Undigested starch in the hindgut creates lactic acid which causes the horse discomfort, and can also lead to colic and laminitis.

Age

A horse’s age plays a major role in his ability to maintain winter weight, as the fingerlike projections that absorb nutrients in a horse’s digestive tract don’t work as well as the horse ages. Like humans, older horses’ teeth as well as kidneys and liver, also deteriorate over time, which is why it’s imperative to keep your horse’s digestive system as healthy as possible through good feeding habits and attention to overall health.

Next Up: How To Assess Your Horse’s Body Condition

Common problems identified, we’ll talk about how to evaluate your horse’s weight and condition in the next post so you can target winter weight loss problems early on — or before they begin.

Be sure to subscribe to the SUCCEED blog or sign up for email notifications in the sidebar so you don’t miss Part 2: Assessing your horse’s condition.

The holiday cookies, gift giving, cookies, parties, and more cookies are behind us. And it’s that time of year when we lament that extra piece of pie, commit to working out and eating right, and set goals for 2012.

You’ve probably set some New Year’s resolutions for yourself. Have you considered making one for your horse?

Perhaps you’ve already set training or show goals for 2012. It’s time to master that flying change, start showing recognized, or move those jumps a little higher. But have you considered your horse’s health in making those goals? Perhaps it’s time to kick that “manure issue” once and for all, or build up a better topline and coat, or get your horse to that ideal weight. A healthier horse goes hand in hand with meeting those training goals!

Out With the Bad, In With the Good

Your horse’s overall health begins in its digestive tract. Good nutrition, correctly utilized by your horse’s body, is the key to overall wellness and avoiding health problems. (Not to mention those costly vet bills!)

Commit to getting rid of these common detriments to your horse’s digestive health:

• Large grain meals fed twice a day. Does your horse really need all that grain for the amount of work he does? If not, cut back! If so, break it into smaller meals fed more often, or mix with chaff or use a slow feeder to increase the time it takes to eat.
• Two flakes of hay twice a day (or something similar). Your horse needs to be munching constantly all day to maintain a healthy digestive tract and get the most from his food. Feed hay free choice (he will learn to self-regulate), feed a flake more times throughout the day, or use a net or slow feeder.

And add in these beneficial feed and care practices:

• Turn your horse out as much as possible
• Feed grains/concentrates that are lower in complex sugars and starches
• Break feeds into smaller meals
• Provide constant access to quality pasture grass or hay

Accept the Challenge To Promote Total Equine Wellness

New Year’s resolutions aren’t just about what we’re removing from or adding to our lives. Eating well and working out are ultimately about getting healthy. If you are committed to having a healthier horse in 2012, now is the time to take it to the next level with SUCCEED®.

SUCCEED® Digestive Conditioning Program® is an all-natural digestive supplement that promotes the health of the entire digestive tract – and is recommended by some of the best horse men and women in the country.

Start the New Year right for you and your horse, and take the SUCCEED Challenge. You can give him the best chance for a healthier 2012, and there’s no risk. You’ll get a free 10-pack starter kit, free shipping, and a money back guarantee.. You’ll see results in 60 days, or it’s FREE.

New Year, New Horse. Take the Challenge today!

Read these SUCCEED Challenge Success Stories:

• Stephanie and Gershwin
• Heidi and Dolce
• Sharon and Don Caruso

We’ve all been around horses with stall manners that range from annoying to sometimes even downright dangerous. Stall vices like cribbing, weaving, biting, kicking, and more are chronic issues for some horses. And perhaps you struggle with one of these behaviors in your horse.

But are stall vices always bad behavior or attitude related? There is strong evidence to suggest that stall vices in some horses may actually indicate an underlying health issue.

Cribbing Can Indicate Gastric Ulcers

Cribbing, commonly considered a learned or genetic pattern, has been shown to potentially have its roots in the horse’s stomach health.

Feed routines that consist of just 2-3 meals per day, limited to no turnout, regular travel and competition, and heavy exercise can all take a toll on a horse’s stomach. Any one of these can allow stomach acids to build, causing the horse discomfort and potentially leading to the development of equine gastric ulcers.

Horses may be sucking in air – the primary action of a cribbing horse – to relieve this discomfort. Sucking in air expands the stomach, causing acid levels to drop away from irritated portions of the stomach lining and providing momentary relief.

Withdrawn horses, or stall walking and weaving may be outward signs of digestive imbalance as well.

Irritability and Poor Ground Manners

Whether a horse is training for a high level of competition, occasionally shows or competes in events, or is used exclusively for trail riding or other leisure activities, it can be prone to irritability, poor trainability, or a general “poor attitude.” Pinning their ears when you walk into the stall, threatening to kick or bite while being handled (or actually doing it!), and general grouchiness may be more than just a bad personality.

If a horse is uncomfortable or in pain due to low-grade digestive imbalance, hindgut acidosis, or even gastric ulcers or colonic ulcers, they only have one way to tell you – their behavior!

Also, sensitivity to touch around the flank area, while girthing, or even under saddle can sometimes signal a hindgut issue. The major portion of the equine digestive system is the hindgut – the colon and cecum – which, in turn, makes up the majority of the horse’s belly.

Explore Potential Digestive Issues in Poor Horse Behavior

As with just about anything with horses, there are a handful of reasons why a horse may display stall vices and poor attitude and behavior. It could be a training issue, learned behavior from other horses, aversion to certain handlers, or a history of abuse of some kind – as well as a signal that the horse is uncomfortable or in pain.

As you explore options for amending a horse’s bad behavior, be sure to consider digestive health in your options. Consult with your vet to analyze your horse’s feed and care, or to run diagnostics to test for clinical issues.

Also, you can promote better GI health by providing regular turnout and exercise, breaking meals into smaller portions fed frequently throughout the day, feeding more forage and less concentrates, or supplementing with a digestive health aid like SUCCEED® Digestive Conditioning Program®.