Weight gain expectation

[leheath]

I just imported a horse who lost a small amount of weight (maybe 50-100lbs) during 40 hours of transportation plus massive climate change. In addition, the diet it previously had, on which he was happily maintaining an appropriate weight while in work at the level I intend to maintain him (free choice low-ish quality grass hay plus all day pasture, plus a tiny amount of RB and vit/min supplement), is not possible here, so I can’t just return him to that diet and I have no practical way of determine approximate calorie content of his previous diet.

I know you generally do not want to put weight on a horse too quickly, but maybe that only applies to really underweight horses (which he isn’t)? Still, I just haven’t really had this situation previously as I usually purchase a local horse and just put it on the same diet it was on before I bought it and adjust accordingly as needed.

So, having started him on a decent, balanced diet, how long should it take to see him gaining weight before I increase his feed?

[Xanthoria]

I tend to find that it takes about a month for a change of diet to show a weight increase. Deworming, dental work, the ability to stay warm if the weather is cold and workload being things that can affect how quickly that happens.

I wouldn’t be stuffing a horse with loads of grain to try and pack weight on as if you live in So Cal perhaps you don’t have all day turnout for the excess energy you might produce. Instead, a good grass hay (as much as the barn will give if boarding) and a daily feed of alfalfa pellets with a cup of canola oil and a ration balancer (or California Trace supplement) fed at the correct amount will provide a pretty balanced diet with a bit of extra protein and non heating calories.

Try that for a month - then reassess.

[S1969]

It’s unlikely you can put the weight back on him faster than it came off. Obviously it did not happen in 40 hours. So, how long has it been since he was at an appropriate weight?

What is his diet now? Is he in work? And if so, how much?

I would make sure you’re feeding him enough NOW, rather than wait and see if he’s gaining weight on it.

[AKB]

I would provide free choice, good quality, hay, as well as the ration balancer pellets. Within 2 weeks, I would expect to see him starting to gain weight. Take photos at least weekly to help you know if he is gaining.

[enjoytheride]

@S1969

It’s unlikely you can put the weight back on him faster than it came off. Obviously it did not happen in 40 hours. So, how long has it been since he was at an appropriate weight?

What is his diet now? Is he in work? And if so, how much?

I would make sure you’re feeding him enough NOW, rather than wait and see if he’s gaining weight on it.

You would be surprised at how fast horses can lose weight in transport. Especially an import.

[JB]

Horses can absolutely lose that much weight in 40 hours of transport. A lot of it is some dehydration, I guarantee. The rest, yeah, real weight.

@leheath I would just work him into your new diet, full ration balancer (as opposed to small bit + v/m), make sure he’s well hydrated, and I bet in 1-2 weeks you’ll see a noticeable improvement. You may have to adjust the feed portion, as not all horses do as well without lots of fresh grass, but play that by ear.

[lenapesadie]

Depends. If your horse adjusts happily to his new living conditions and diet then maybe a month. If he’s freaking out about going from fee choice forage and great turnout to living in a round pen with limited forage then maybe never. Anywhere in between.

My example: Moved gelding from all day group turnout with limited forage in stall to part day individual turnout with unlimited forage 24/7 about 6 months ago. Overall caloric intake about the same. He stressed about the move, loss of turnout friends, loss of run on stall and lost 100-200 pounds the first month or two. He’s back at his original body condition (less fitness level / muscle / top line). I wasn’t particularly worried about the weight loss, he is a big chunky guy and summer is the worst here, but I am still concerned about his mental health. We move back to all day turnout at new barn as soon as the heat eases off and I’m hoping that will help my guy’s sanity.

Back to OP, I hope your new horse settles in nicely! Congratulations! Don’t stress too much about weight! It doesn’t sound like horse is turning into a skeleton or anything. Again congratulations and Good Luck with your new horse!

[leheath]

@lenapesadie totally get your concern for your boy’s mental health and hope the move to the new barn helps him. I definitely struggle with the very minimal turnout available here in SoCal, although most horses seem to adapt to it just fine. And thank you, I’m excited about my new horse and he’s definitely not turning in to a skeleton, so I’ll try not to stress more than he is!

Thanks all so far. Yes, the horse absolutely did lose the weight during 40 hours of transport with a very dramatic climate change. Fortunately, he seems to be a fairly easy going boy so is adapting very well to the very significant change in management (no pasture, no all day turnout, no free choice hay!) and climate.

1-2 weeks was kinda my expectation, but it’s good to know that a month isn’t unreasonable. He’s in work (but lighter than pre-import due to epic heat), but without all day turnout, I was a bit hesitant to overfeed and end up with a wild beast! However, it’s been 10 days and he put the dehydration weight back on quickly (which wasn’t much - shippers said he drank significantly all the way) but I don’t think he’s gained more than that. I think I will conservatively up the calories a little this weekend, especially as the weather has cooled a little so I am increasing the work a little.

[lenapesadie]

@leheath that’s awesome he’s a laid back individual. I imagine he’ll be fine and bounce right back. My boy is the poster child for overly sensitive types. I’ve never been to California but understand that a corral / run of sorts attached to a stall / shelter / shade structure with minimal other turnout is relatively common in many areas. Always thought that would be easier on my boy as opposed to 18 / 20 hours in the 12x12 box stall. Grass turnout is worthless / not that awesome if they get minimal access!

Totally agree on too hot for heavy work. Sounds like you have a good citizen of a horse and sensible plan of action!

[TKR]

Really good hay is always best for weight gain. I have two that are in their late 20’s and lost some weight over this hot summer. I’ve added some ground flax seed to their Senior feed and minerals and wet it (since they are older) and they LOVE it! I have seen a significant weight gain, especially on my gelding who is more compact. It also adds great shine. Flax seed has to be ground to be digestable. One of the feed companies stocked at my vendor has it bagged and ground into a white powder. I only add about 1/2 lb 2xday, mixed well. Good luck!

[leheath]

@lenapesadie

@leheath that’s awesome he’s a laid back individual. I imagine he’ll be fine and bounce right back. My boy is the poster child for overly sensitive types. I’ve never been to California but understand that a corral / run of sorts attached to a stall / shelter / shade structure with minimal other turnout is relatively common in many areas. Always thought that would be easier on my boy as opposed to 18 / 20 hours in the 12x12 box stall. Grass turnout is worthless / not that awesome if they get minimal access!

Totally agree on too hot for heavy work. Sounds like you have a good citizen of a horse and sensible plan of action!

Yes, my boy lives in a coral with shelter/shade structure with basically no turnout and that’s pretty normal in this area unless you are boarding at super fancy (and expensive) places that have irrigation and pasture turnout. I do think it is better that a box stall with only a few hours turnout depending on the horse so I hope you can find a place where your sensitive boy can be happy.

[S1969]

@leheath

@lenapesadie totally get your concern for your boy’s mental health and hope the move to the new barn helps him. I definitely struggle with the very minimal turnout available here in SoCal, although most horses seem to adapt to it just fine. And thank you, I’m excited about my new horse and he’s definitely not turning in to a skeleton, so I’ll try not to stress more than he is!

Thanks all so far. Yes, the horse absolutely did lose the weight during 40 hours of transport with a very dramatic climate change. Fortunately, he seems to be a fairly easy going boy so is adapting very well to the very significant change in management (no pasture, no all day turnout, no free choice hay!) and climate.

1-2 weeks was kinda my expectation, but it’s good to know that a month isn’t unreasonable. He’s in work (but lighter than pre-import due to epic heat), but without all day turnout, I was a bit hesitant to overfeed and end up with a wild beast! However, it’s been 10 days and he put the dehydration weight back on quickly (which wasn’t much - shippers said he drank significantly all the way) but I don’t think he’s gained more than that. I think I will conservatively up the calories a little this weekend, especially as the weather has cooled a little so I am increasing the work a little.

Fair enough; I read this as meaning 40 hours plus some time in a very different climate…thinking it might have been several weeks of weight loss. Yes I would think then a lot of that weight loss was dehydration, so if you’re only looking to add 50 or so pounds, I wouldn’t be too worried. But because the diet and climate is so different it’s hard to know how fast he will gain without knowing if you’re feeding enough.

So, he used to have free choice hay + pasture but now doesn’t. How much hay is he getting now? You really can’t overfeed hay for a horse that needs weight. I agree that conservatively increasing concentrates is another thing.

[leheath]

@S1969

Fair enough; I read this as meaning 40 hours plus some time in a very different climate…thinking it might have been several weeks of weight loss. Yes I would think then a lot of that weight loss was dehydration, so if you’re only looking to add 50 or so pounds, I wouldn’t be too worried. But because the diet and climate is so different it’s hard to know how fast he will gain without knowing if you’re feeding enough.

So, he used to have free choice hay + pasture but now doesn’t. How much hay is he getting now? You really can’t overfeed hay for a horse that needs weight. I agree that conservatively increasing concentrates is another thing.

Sorry, should have been clearer in my original post. Thankfully, I don’t think he has lost any since arriving in the much different climate. He’s getting approx. 10lbs alfalfa hay and 7lbs orchard grass per day - both excellent quality. This week, we are going to bump up the orchard grass hay to 10lbs and add a little more ration balancer. I could add more alfalfa (it is the most economical hay here) but he’d only had a small amount before arriving here, so we want to wait a little longer to make sure it’s not going to make him bounce off the walls! :lol: I’m also taking photos because I think they make it easier to objectively judge progress rather than just what I see when I go ride.

[S1969]

@leheath

Sorry, should have been clearer in my original post. Thankfully, I don’t think he has lost any since arriving in the much different climate. He’s getting approx. 10lbs alfalfa hay and 7lbs orchard grass per day - both excellent quality. This week, we are going to bump up the orchard grass hay to 10lbs and add a little more ration balancer. I could add more alfalfa (it is the most economical hay here) but he’d only had a small amount before arriving here, so we want to wait a little longer to make sure it’s not going to make him bounce off the walls! :lol: I’m also taking photos because I think they make it easier to objectively judge progress rather than just what I see when I go ride.

I think 17lbs of hay is very minimal for any horse you are trying to add weight for. 20lbs might be ok for a maintaining weight, but not really for weight gain unless the horse is a relatively easy keeper.

My TB would starve to death on 17lbs of hay. So, it definitely depends on the horse. If he is cleaning it all up and still not at the weight you want, I’d be adding hay, no question.