03/30/2026
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?
Before assuming something complicated is wrong, work through the fundamentals. Most weight and topline problems come back to basic management.
Start here, in this order:
1. Enough forage – The most common issue is simply not enough calories. Many horses do best with at least 1.5% of body weight in forage daily(alfalfa preferred), sometimes more. Each horse is a little different on what works for them, but forage first!
2. Balanced nutrition – Add a mineral balancer or a complete feed with meaningful fat levels. And remember, 8% fat is not high fat.
3. Fresh water – Horses that are not drinking well will not digest or utilize feed efficiently.
4. Teeth – Poor dentition prevents proper chewing and reduces nutrient absorption.
5. Worming – Be sure your horse is up to date, and ideally run a f***l test so you know what parasites you are actually treating.
If all of those boxes are checked and your horse still struggles, the next things commonly investigated are:
- Ulcers
- EPM
If you have addressed the basics and your horse still is not gaining weight or building topline, it is time to dig deeper. Bloodwork, diagnostics, and a full veterinary exam can help identify the underlying issue.
Start simple. Work methodically. Most problems reveal themselves when you go step by step.
𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐗 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬
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