Horse Feeds For Weight Gain

If you're looking to help your horse gain weight, it's important to provide a balanced diet that includes sufficient calories, protein, and nutrients to promote healthy weight gain without causing digestive issues. Weight gain feeds should provide energy-dense calories, usually from a combination of fats, fiber, and digestible carbohydrates, rather than relying on excessive amounts of sugar or starch, which can lead to problems like colic or laminitis.

Here are some key strategies and feeds that are commonly used for weight gain:

1. High-Calorie, Low-Sugar, High-Fiber Feeds

These feeds are ideal for horses that need to gain weight while avoiding the risks of high sugar or starch intake, such as hyperactivity, colic, or laminitis.

Dengie Alfa-A Oil: A high-calorie fiber feed that combines chopped alfalfa with oil. It’s low in sugar and starch but high in digestible fiber and calories from oil, which provides slow-release energy.
Allen & Page Calm & Condition: A conditioning feed that is low in starch and sugar, suitable for horses that need to gain weight without becoming excitable. It’s fiber-based and high in calories.
Spillers Conditioning Fibre: A molasses-free fiber feed designed to help horses gain weight. It contains added oil for extra calories and slow-release energy.
Baileys Alfalfa Plus Oil: Contains alfalfa and added oil for increased calories. It’s high in protein and fiber, making it ideal for promoting weight gain and muscle development.

2. High-Fat Feeds

Fat is an excellent source of calories, providing over twice the energy density of carbohydrates or protein, and can be added to the diet to promote weight gain without adding excess sugar or starch.

TopSpec CoolCondition Cubes: These cubes are designed to promote weight gain while keeping energy levels calm. They are low in starch and sugar and include oil for calorie density.
Triple Crown Senior: Though designed for senior horses, this feed is also excellent for weight gain. It is high in fiber and fat, making it easy to digest and a great option for horses that need extra calories.
Purina Amplify High-Fat Supplement: This high-fat supplement is designed specifically for horses needing more calories. It’s made from a blend of vegetable oils, rice bran, and flaxseed, and can be added to regular feed to boost calorie intake.
Rice Bran (Stabilized): Stabilized rice bran is an excellent high-fat, high-calorie supplement that is commonly used to add calories to the diet. It is also rich in Vitamin E and healthy fats.

3. Complete Conditioning Feeds

These are all-in-one solutions that provide a balance of calories from multiple sources (fiber, fat, and controlled starch) to promote weight gain without excessive energy.

Baileys No. 4 Topline Conditioning Cubes: A popular choice for helping horses gain weight, these cubes provide calories from both fiber and oil. They are low in starch and sugar, making them suitable for horses prone to digestive issues.
Saracen Equi-Jewel: A conditioning feed that uses stabilized rice bran to provide calories from fat. It’s often recommended for horses that need to build muscle and gain weight while staying calm.
Spillers Conditioning Cubes: Designed for horses that need to gain weight and condition, these cubes provide a balanced source of calories from fiber, fat, and a moderate level of starch.
Bluegrass Stamm 30: A conditioning supplement that provides high-quality protein and essential nutrients, encouraging healthy muscle development and weight gain.

4. Soakable Feeds

These feeds are especially useful for older horses with dental issues or horses that struggle to maintain weight. They provide highly digestible calories and are easy to chew and digest.

Allen & Page Weight Gain: A high-fiber, conditioning feed that can be soaked. It’s designed for horses that need extra calories and is low in starch and sugar, using oil and fiber to provide calories.
Speedi-Beet: A non-molassed beet pulp that is soaked before feeding. It’s high in fiber and low in sugar, making it an excellent way to add extra calories in a safe and digestible form.
Fibre-Beet: A combination of alfalfa and beet pulp that can be soaked to create a palatable, high-fiber mash. It’s ideal for adding safe calories and improving overall condition.

5. High-Protein Feeds for Muscle Development

For horses that need to gain muscle mass as well as fat, adding a source of quality protein is important.

TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer: This balancer provides a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein to promote muscle development without adding excess bulk. It’s ideal when paired with a calorie-dense feed for weight gain.
Baileys Stud Balancer: Though designed for growing horses, this balancer is excellent for adult horses that need to gain muscle mass. It’s rich in essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of muscle.
Alfalfa Pellets: Alfalfa is naturally high in protein and digestible fiber. Pellets can be added to a horse's regular diet to boost protein intake and provide additional calories.

6. Oils and Fat Supplements

Adding fat supplements is an efficient way to increase the calorie content of a horse's diet without increasing the volume of feed.

Linseed (Flaxseed) Oil: A great source of omega-3 fatty acids and high in calories, linseed oil can promote weight gain while supporting skin and coat health.
Coconut Oil: A palatable oil that’s high in calories and provides easily digestible fat to help horses gain weight.
Soya Oil: Another high-calorie oil that can be added to a horse’s feed to boost calorie intake.

7. Additional Tips for Weight Gain

Forage Quality: Ensure your horse is receiving high-quality forage (hay or pasture). If your hay is low in nutrients, consider feeding a high-fiber hay replacer or soaked feeds like beet pulp.
Small, Frequent Meals: Feeding smaller amounts more frequently throughout the day can help horses digest their feed better and absorb more nutrients.
Dental Health: If your horse struggles with chewing, soaking feed or offering softer forage alternatives can improve weight gain by ensuring they are digesting their food properly.
Probiotics and Digestive Aids: Adding a digestive supplement, like probiotics or prebiotics, can help improve gut health and nutrient absorption, leading to better weight gain.

Summary of Recommended Feeds for Weight Gain:

Fiber and Oil-Based Feeds: Dengie Alfa-A Oil, Allen & Page Calm & Condition, Baileys Alfalfa Plus Oil.
High-Fat Feeds: TopSpec CoolCondition Cubes, Purina Amplify, Rice Bran.
Complete Feeds: Baileys No. 4 Topline Conditioning Cubes, Saracen Equi-Jewel, Spillers Conditioning Cubes.
Soakable Feeds: Allen & Page Weight Gain, Speedi-Beet, Fibre-Beet.
Protein for Muscle Development: TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer, Alfalfa Pellets.

When feeding for weight gain, always make changes to the diet gradually and consult with a veterinarian or equine nutritionist to ensure the feeding plan is balanced and safe for your horse’s individual needs.

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