Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
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All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Cathy,
Any feed that is higher in calories will be beneficial. But, you want to look for one that is higher in fat. Complete feeds such as Blue Seal, and others, are not only higher in fat, but also are grain-based. So, feeding higher levels increases the risk of digestive upset.
Therefore, I would recommend that you add more forage to the diet. Give him extra high quality hay, such as alfalfa, or add beet pulp to the diet.
In addition, I would suggest a weight gain supplement. I like Weight Builder (by Farnam). There are other weight gain supplements available. Just look at the ingredients and make certain that the main component is from plant oils.
You should make sure that he is getting a probiotic daily and a good overall multi vitamin/mineral supplement. As horses age, their ability to absorb B vitamins tends to decrease. The probiotic will help with this. Also, you can give him a B complex supplement. This will increase his appetite as well as his overall health.
These are some basic suggestions. Hope you find it helpful. Let me know if I can assist you further.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 