Question
I have a geriatric Miniature Horse mare that needs to gain weight, as she’s unthrifty with a body condition score of 4 on the Henneke scale. She lives outside on bermudagrass pasture that I would call moderate in quality. In addition, she gets 2 lb (0.9 kg) of a grain-based sweet feed once a day. Do you have any suggestions to improve her condition?
Answer
Given her age, it is important to have the mare’s teeth evaluated to ensure she is able to chew pasture grasses adequately and grind sweet feed thoroughly. Any corrective procedures necessary to balance her dentition should be performed by a knowledgeable veterinarian or dentist well trained in the care of aged teeth.
In addition, I recommend having your vet rule out other possible health concerns that could be contributing to low body condition (parasitism, chronic pain such as arthritis or subclinical laminitis, etc.). Constant low-level pain can sometimes adversely affect appetite.
Once any dental or other discomfort has been addressed, increasing caloric intake for weight gain can begin by boosting access to good-quality forage. If the mare is able to consume long-stem forage, then providing hay would be appropriate. If she has poor dentition or if quality hay is hard to come by, then hay substitutes like cubes, pellets, or chopped hay would be best, though these products might need to be soaked prior to feeding. Offer the forage at least twice a day but preferably more often. Providing small, frequent meals is ideal for digestive health. A complete feed can also be fed to the horse if found to have poor teeth.
You may also consider making a change to the concentrate portion of the mare’s diet. I suggest transitioning her to a feed higher in fiber and lower in nonstructural carbohydrates. Many “senior feeds” fit this nutritional profile, but read the nutritional information provided for verification.
Focusing on hindgut health during dietary changes is especially important because the hindgut houses a large microbial population responsible for fiber fermentation and energy production. EquiShure is a time-released hindgut buffer that works to maintain a balanced hindgut environment. Anecdotal reports suggest underweight senior horses and horses with poor dentition often benefit significantly from EquiShure.
In addition to dental soundness, overall health, and nutritional management, it is worthwhile to consider the mare’s environment. You mentioned she lives outside year-round. Does she have protection from the wind and elements in all seasons? Wintry weather can be especially hard on older horses, and just as draining are the heat and humidity of summer.
Does she have competition for resources from pasturemates, especially younger or larger horses? Occasionally, more dominant horses will subtly and relentlessly “herd” older ones, never allowing them to rest adequately. Especially passive old horses may separate themselves from the remainder of the herd to avoid skirmishes related to feed or shelter.
Make diet and management changes gradually and carefully monitor your mare’s weight as you modify her diet. Get into the habit of evaluating her body condition every week or two. Nutritional management may require frequent fine-tuning depending on pasture quality and other factors.
