How do I know if my horse is a 'poor doer'?

A 'poor doer' is a horse who struggles to maintain a healthy body condition and often loses weight, especially during the winter months, despite receiving what seems to be an adequate diet. Regular body condition scoring can help you track this enabling you to make changes before it becomes a problem.

My horse is fussy. How can I get them to eat more?

Try adding warm water to their feed, or tempt them with small amounts of grated carrot, apple. Try to work out exactly what it is they don’t enjoy eating by serving different feeds in separate buckets and avoid adding unpalatable supplements.

Is it better to add oil to my horse's feed or use a conditioning feed?

While adding oil provides non-heating calories, it can be unpalatable in large amounts and requires balancing with vitamin E. For most owners, choosing a high-quality conditioning feed which already contains high levels of oil and is fully balanced is a more convenient and reliable option.

How can I tell if dental problems are causing my horse's weight loss?

Look for signs like slow or difficultly chewing (quidding), dropping feed, eating less forage than usual, or a new reluctance to eat. If you are at all concerned, arrange a visit from a qualified equine dental technician or vet to check their teeth.

When should I call the vet about my horse's weight loss?

You should seek veterinary advice if the weight loss is sudden, severe, or unexpected. It's also particularly important to call the vet if your horse is already on a high-calorie diet and continues to lose weight, to rule out any underlying health issues which may be the cause.

We are here to help...

At SPILLERS, we are dedicated to providing expert support and guidance for your horse’s nutritional needs. Whether you have a question about our products, need advice on feeding, or would like to speak to one of our Nutrition Advisors, we're here to help.

The team are available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on 01908 226626.

If you would like to request a call back, contact us via email, book a yard visit or have another enquiry, please use the links below.

FAQs

All Questions Winter horse weight

How do I know if my horse is a 'poor doer'?

A 'poor doer' is a horse who struggles to maintain a healthy body condition and often loses weight, especially during the winter months, despite receiving what seems to be an adequate diet. Regular body condition scoring can help you track this enabling you to make changes before it becomes a problem.
My horse is fussy. How can I get them to eat more?

Try adding warm water to their feed, or tempt them with small amounts of grated carrot, apple. Try to work out exactly what it is they don’t enjoy eating by serving different feeds in separate buckets and avoid adding unpalatable supplements.
Is it better to add oil to my horse's feed or use a conditioning feed?

While adding oil provides non-heating calories, it can be unpalatable in large amounts and requires balancing with vitamin E. For most owners, choosing a high-quality conditioning feed which already contains high levels of oil and is fully balanced is a more convenient and reliable option.
How can I tell if dental problems are causing my horse's weight loss?

Look for signs like slow or difficultly chewing (quidding), dropping feed, eating less forage than usual, or a new reluctance to eat. If you are at all concerned, arrange a visit from a qualified equine dental technician or vet to check their teeth.
When should I call the vet about my horse's weight loss?

You should seek veterinary advice if the weight loss is sudden, severe, or unexpected. It's also particularly important to call the vet if your horse is already on a high-calorie diet and continues to lose weight, to rule out any underlying health issues which may be the cause.