Keeping weight on horses is key to keeping them healthy—and warm during these winter months. However, keeping weight on horses, especially senior horses, can be a challenge. So, here are some tips from our experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) to help make it easier.

• Parasites. A fecal egg count can tell you if your deworming program is effective or if you have resistance and you’re feeding the worms instead of your trusty companion. 
• Chronic conditions can cause your horse to lose weight. Many older horses suffer from arthritis, which can make trips to the feeder or walking around the pasture uncomfortable. Treatment for arthritis is often multimodal and may consist of medications, therapy and moving hay racks and nets to shoulder height.
• Chronic infections, gastric ulcers, metabolic disease, kidney or liver disease or other diseases can make it difficult to keep weight on a senior. Be sure to observe your horse closely to see if you can pick up on any abnormal behaviors prior to your vet’s visit. Your vet might want to run blood work or do other diagnostic testing to rule out any of these conditions. 
• Dental issues can be a big issue for any horse, but especially older horses. Dropping food, bad breath or unchewed grain in fecal piles can be signs that your horse needs dental attention. A good oral examination can spot any issues and issues can be corrected to decrease pain and help your horse eat like they should.

• A high-quality forage is important for most horses. Make sure that you are buying the best hay for them. A nutritional analysis of the hay will show that your geriatric horse is getting the best nutrition possible. 
• Fat! Seniors are all about the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Senior feeds are often rich in fat to help boost calories. Rice bran, vegetable oil and flax seed can be other good sources of fatty acids and help keep the weight on. Introduction of a fat source should be done slowly to give your horse time to adjust and prevent any unwanted side effects (such as greasy diarrhea). 
• Salt and minerals: free access to a block or a loose mix will ensure your horse can consume adequate salt and minerals to support body function and encourage them to drink water.

• Feed multiple small meals. For many older horses, they will consume more feed if it is broken up into six small meals per day.
• If you are soaking the feed, be sure to not feed more soaked feed than what they can consume in one meal.
• Is there competition at the feeders? As horses age, their position in the herd may change. Is your horse being crowded out when they go to have a snack?
• Depending on there you live, insects can be an issue as well. Are flies annoying your horse when they go to eat or graze? A comprehensive fly control program or providing a physical barrier (such as sheets or fly masks) may help your horse focus more on eating and less on annoying pests.
• Is there always fresh, clean water? Free access to clean water is important for body functions and to maintain a normal appetite and digestion. Special attention should be paid in the winter to make sure that the water is not only ice free, but also maintained at a warm temperature. Horses will drink less water in the winter if it is cold. 

Keep your senior horses happy, healthy and safe this season—and every season—with these tips!