While obesity is currently a major problem in the horse world, having an underweight horse can also be problematic, which will have you searching ‘horse feeds for weight gain’ or ‘feeding a horse for weight gain’. Once you’ve identified that your horse is underweight – body condition scoring can be a useful tool to help with this – it’s important to identify the root cause. It could be a range of problems, such as inefficient digestion or dental issues – or you could simply be feeding the wrong feed or the wrong ration.
Horse feeds for weight gain will contain a range of components – some will be high fat, while others will contain extra proteins. To work out what your horse needs and what will suit him best, it’s worth contacting a range of feed manufacturers to see what they would suggest. Most offer a free nutritional helpline service and will take a full history of your horse in order to offer the best advice.
It’s also important to know that not all feeds – even horse feeds for weight gain – will provide your horse with everything he needs in his diet. Ones that do (assuming you feed them at the recommended rate) are called complete feeds. To be absolutely sure he’s receiving a complete and balanced diet, an additional feed balancer or vitamin supplement could be your answer, but it’s best to consult a nutritional helpline if you’re unsure.
NB: Cost per day has been calculated using the maintenance measure for a 500kg horse in light work (where there was variation) and the RRP of the smallest available bag/tub. Some products require you to feed more in certain situations, which will increase the cost per daily measure, while buying a larger bag (if available) will likely decrease it – these costs per day are a guide only.
Horse feeds for weight gain
Spillers Digest+ Conditioning Cubes
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £18.15
Daily ration: 3kg
Cost per day: £2.73
Low in starch and high in digestible fibre and oil for slow-release energy, these cubes from Spillers contain pre- and probiotics to support gut health and reduce the risk of excitability, as well as high quality protein sources to support good muscle tone and topline development. They are molasses-free and contain no added sugar.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk
TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer
Bag weight: 15kg or 20kg
RRP: £37.55 for 15kg
Daily ration: 500g
Cost per day: £1.26
This TopSpec balancer helps to significantly increase weight gain by improving the efficiency with which your horse converts the total feed and forage he eats into what he needs for maintenance, work and weight gain.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk
NAF Five Star Optimum
Bag weight: 3.7kg or 9kg
RRP: £34.99 for 3.7kg
Daily ration: 100g
Cost per day: 95p
This concentrated formula from NAF is formulated to complement either a high-fibre, low-concentrate or performance diet and optimise the nutritional value of every daily feed ration. It can also be fed on its own and contains key ingredients to optimise gut function, combined with optimum nutritional supplement specification to balance the diet.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or gsequestrian.co.uk
British Horse Feeds Fibre-Beet
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £19.59
Daily ration: 750g
Cost per day: £0.74
Described as a ‘super fibre’ conditioning feed, Fibre-Beet is a formulated blend containing all the benefits of the original Speedi-Beet product, with added high quality alfalfa for optimum condition and to provide quality protein for muscle tone and function. It has a high digestibility value providing slow-release energy without the fizz, and helps to generate heat to maintain core body temperature. Ready to feed in only 15 minutes when soaked in warm water or 45 minutes if soaked in cold water.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk
Saracen Condition Improver Cubes
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £19.50
Daily ration: 2kg
Cost per day: £1.90
This calorie-dense feed contains Equi-Jewel, which is a rice bran supplement that supports topline development. It includes superfibres and oil to provide controlled energy release, support a healthy digestive system and promote healthy and shiny skin and coat.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk
Dengie Alfa-A Oil
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £20.75
Daily ration: 1.5kg
Cost per day: £1.56
This high-fibre feed from Dengie promotes weight gain and exceptional condition without excitability. It is blend of pure alfalfa and rapeseed oil that’s abundant in quality protein for aiding topline and muscle development, while the high oil content promotes healthy skin and coat shine. It contains no added sugar and is low in starch (2%). Approved by BETA for horses and ponies prone to equine gastric ulcer syndrome.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
Dodson & Horrell Build & Glow
Bag weight: 18kg
RRP: £31.70
Daily ration: 500g
Cost per day: 88p
Build & Glow from Dodson & Horrell is a high calorie, palatable pellet with a low feeding rate, making it easy to incorporate into an existing feeding plan to support weight gain and coat condition. It contains a blend of rapeseed oil, linseed, rice bran, soya and Vitamin E, as well as added seaweed, biotin, and nettle.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
Rowen Barbary Solution Mash
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £20.96
Daily ration: 2kg
Cost per day: £2.10
This palatable and fully balanced mash from Rowen Barbary is ideal for horses that need to gain weight and condition without the risk of excitability. It’s a high-oil formula with just 1% sugar, and contains added antioxidants, digestive enhancers and natural herbs to support overall health.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk
EA Bloom and Condition Pellets
Bag weight: 18kg
RRP: £28.99
Daily ration: 250g–1kg
Cost per day: From 40p
This is a carefully formulated blend of high oil, omega-3, stabilised rice bran and full-fat linseed, with added antioxidants and calcium. It provides slow-release energy for improved condition and stamina without excitability, promotes healthy skin and coat, and encourages topline development. It is highly palatable and easy to mix into existing feeds.
In the UK? View now at equine-america.co.uk
Connolly’s Red Mills Horse Care Ultra Cubes
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £11.95
Daily ration: 1–3kg
Cost per day: From 59p
Free from cereal grains, this ultra-low starch conditioning cube from Red Mills is specially formulated to support condition and topline. This nutritionally advanced formulated has a starch content of just 4%, which is one of the lowest starch content of conditioning feeds on the market.
In the UK? View now at ebay.co.uk
Cavalor WholeGain
Bag weight: 20kg
RRP: £69
Daily ration: 500g – 1kg
Cost per day: From £1.72
This feed is 20.5% fat, which safely adds weight without excess energy. Feeding fat does not cause undue systemic stress, such as kidney issues seen with protein-based feeds, or muscle and gastrointestinal problems correlated to high starch rations. With additional Omega 3 and Florastimul prebiotic, Cavalor WholeGain also helps strengthen immunity and improves gut health and digestion.
In the US? View now at chewy.com
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