Healthy weight gain in horses – how to support weight gain without increasing inflammatory risk

For veterinarians, nutritionists and other professionals

The purpose of weight gain in horses should not simply be a calorie surplus, but a targeted approach to nutritional optimization, where sugar and starch are limited and easily digestible, calorie and protein sources are used.

Assessment criteria

• Body weight/condition (BCS) and any measurements
• Roughage analysis: Dry matter, crude protein, sugar and FE
• Mineral coverage: Based on NRC and/or KER recommendations
• Individual factors: Age, tooth wear, metabolic status, course of disease
• Nutritional status and history
• Digestive or hormonal imbalances (e.g. PPID, EMS, peptic ulcers)

BCS improvement : With a daily calorie surplus of 10–15 MJ, one can expect:
• Approximately 1 BCS point up in 6–8 weeks
• Requires metabolically stable horses and appropriate allocation of protein

Recommendation :
• Use KER's Body Condition Score Chart (9-point scale)
• Supplement with monthly photos (side and back)
• Use your hands to assess the ribs, topline, hip and hindquarters

Sugar intake

At Regulator Complete, we recommend a maximum of 1.0 g of sugar per kg of body weight as a basic rule.
During periods of weight gain, you can temporarily go up to 1.5 g/kg if the horse is metabolically stable.

This should be limited to shorter periods, as research (including Suagee-Bedore et al., 2023) shows that sugar/starch above 1.2 g/kg can induce systemic inflammation – especially in older and overweight horses.
Therefore, it is only recommended as a time-limited strategy and in combination with low-starch feed.

🧮 Calculation examples for 100 kg horse

🧪 Example: 400 kg horse

Wrap : 70% DM, 60 g crude protein/kg DM, 5% sugar

✅ Recommendation

• Focus on protein-rich mash and low-sugar supplements
• Use fermentable fiber and fats as energy sources rather than grains
• Cover microminerals with supplements like Every Day Happy or Peak Performance, which also contain plant extracts and omega-3

🐎 Social interaction and movement as a supporting factor

Feeding alone is rarely enough. Access to daily exercise and social contact is essential for both digestion, muscle activity and appetite.

• Free movement stimulates intestinal motility and supports muscle mass
• Folding time with freedom of movement contributes to stress reduction and hormonal balance
• Social contact with conspecifics supports well-being and reduces the risk of behaviorally related weight loss

📌 Movement and environmental conditions should therefore be included in any professional assessment of weight gain.

📎 Sources

• National Research Council (NRC, 2007): Nutrient Requirements of Horses
• Kentucky Equine Research (KER): Feeding for Weight Gain
• MadBarn: Feeding Underweight Horses
• Suagee-Bedore et al. (2023): IL-1β Response to High-Starch Meals in Older Horses

📩 Do you need documentation for a specific horse or assessment of a plan?

Book personal telephone advice – we make our experience and background available.