Rule out teeth, worms, pain and illness first. Then build weight with plenty of good forage, gradual added oil or a conditioning feed, and small frequent meals. Aim for slow, steady gain.
Find the cause first
A horse that will not hold weight often has a hidden reason: sharp teeth that stop it chewing, a worm burden, pain, or an underlying illness. Book a dental check, review the worming plan, and ask your vet to examine the horse before you simply add feed.
Build on forage
Forage should always come first. Offer good quality hay or haylage near to free choice, because most horses gain condition on more and better forage alone. A slow feeder lets a thin horse trickle-feed through the day, which suits the gut and reduces ulcer risk.
Add calories gradually
If forage alone is not enough, add a conditioning feed or a little vegetable oil, introduced slowly over one to two weeks. Split feeds into several small meals rather than one large one, since a horse’s stomach is small and copes better with little and often.
Support the whole horse
A balanced diet with the right vitamins and minerals helps a horse use its feed and build good condition. Where the diet is short, a quality supplement fills the gaps. Compare options in our horse supplements guide.
Go slow and track it
Healthy weight gain takes weeks, not days. Body condition score every couple of weeks and adjust gently. Rapid feeding of rich hard feed risks colic and laminitis, so patience is the safest path.
