Food For Thought Horse Series- The Hard Keeper
- naturalhorse1
- Mar 10
- 4 min read
The Hard Keeper:
Many horse owners have a horse that struggles to maintain condition.
The horse that eats plenty but still looks ribby.
The one that drops condition the moment the weather changes.
The horse that seems to burn through feed faster than others.
We often refer to these horses as “hard keepers”.
Before adding more and more feed to the bucket, it is worth stepping back and asking why the horse is struggling to hold weight in the first place.
Genetics and metabolism
Parasite burden (worms)
Dental problems
Age-related changes
Chronic stress
Undiagnosed underlying medical conditions
Mineral imbalance
Toxin exposure
Inflammatory feed ingredients
Hindgut disruption
Genetics and Metabolism
Younger horses tend to burn off energy quickly, so they can seem like hard keepers, but will naturally level off as they reach maturity, and may need less feed once they have finished growing at around 6-7 years of age. Other horses have a naturally faster metabolism throughout their lives, enabling them to burn energy more efficiently. Understanding these effects on different horses can help horse owners tailor their feeding and exercise plans to meet the specific energy needs of each horse, ensuring optimal health and performance.
Age-Related Changes
Age can also play a role. Older horses may struggle to maintain condition as their teeth wear, digestion changes, or muscle mass declines. If you are caring for an ageing horse, feeding strategies often need to adapt. You can read more about that here:
Parasites (Worm Burden)
Parasites can interfere with weight maintenance by reducing the horse’s ability to absorb nutrients. If worms are a concern, addressing parasite management should be an important first step. You can read more about that here:
Dental Health
Dental issues frequently contribute to health challenges in horses. Proper chewing is essential for breaking down forage effectively, and if this process is compromised, it can lead to various digestive problems and overall health concerns. Ensuring that a horse’s dental health is regularly monitored and addressed is crucial for maintaining their well-being and dietary efficiency.
Chronic Stress
Never underestimate the impact of stress on horses. Stress increases metabolic demand, and energy is used more rapidly than normal. Horses experiencing stress often show behavioural changes as well as physical signs such as weight loss, reduced condition, digestive disturbance, or increased reactivity.
It is often helpful to feed these horses separately from other herd members so their intake can be monitored and they can consume the additional forage or calories needed to maintain body condition while the underlying source of stress is addressed.
Undiagnosed Medical Conditions
It is important to schedule a veterinary examination for hard keepers to determine if there are any underlying medical issues contributing to weight struggles in your horse. Undiagnosed medical conditions can lead to serious issues such as laminitis, low-grade laminitis, ulcers, metabolic disorders, or inflammatory digestive conditions like colitis. These conditions can significantly affect appetite, digestion, and nutrient absorption, so addressing any potential health concerns is essential for your horse's well-being.
Mineral Quality, Balance and Uptake
Mineral balance is another important factor. Horses rely on a wide range of minerals to support metabolism, digestion, and cellular function. If these nutrients are not balanced correctly, the horse may eat well but still struggle to utilise feed efficiently.
Some mineral supplements rely heavily on synthetic ingredients or may not provide nutrients in the correct ratios, which can limit their effectiveness.
Toxin Exposure and Mycotoxins
Toxin exposure is another pressure the body may be dealing with. Pasture mycotoxins, moulds, and other environmental toxins can create inflammatory stress within the horse’s system and can also affect the central nervous system. We highly recommend using a good plant-based toxin binder or detox formula to help reduce the impact of these environmental toxins while supporting the body’s natural detoxification pathways.
If you would like to learn more about how mycotoxins can affect horses, you can read more here:
Inflammatory Feed Ingredients
Highly processed feeds can also contribute to excess energy and inflammatory responses. These feeds are often heavily refined, which alters the way nutrients are delivered compared with how they occur in whole plants. For example, feeding processed grain products such as oats without the balance and structure of the whole plant can change how quickly sugars and starches are absorbed, which may contribute to metabolic stress and heightened behaviour in some horses.
Even when the feed bucket appears generous, feeding these more artificial ingredients may not be supporting the horse’s metabolism or digestive health.
So What Helps a True Hard Keeper?
The foundation should always remain forage, ideally in the form of natural pasture where possible, rather than intensively farmed grasses, along with mixed meadow-style hay. This provides the fibre that fuels the horse’s digestive system and supports a healthy and stable hindgut microbiome.
Supporting Condition Safely
Once the basic diet is in place, small additions can sometimes help support the condition without overwhelming the horse’s system.
Wholegrain natural sources such as flaxseed, hempseed, and chia products, with minimal processing, if any at all, are the best options for health and can provide useful nutrients and gentle energy.
Flaxseed oil is the only oil we generally recommend using with horses. Many other oils are added to feeds in large amounts and can place unnecessary strain on the horse’s metabolism.
Occasionally, a handful of peanuts or five or six Brazil nuts can be offered as a healthy treat that also provides useful fats and minerals.
Protein-rich meals, such as rapeseed or sunflower meal, can also help support muscle maintenance and body condition.
Feeding smaller meals more frequently may also help some horses maintain condition more comfortably.
Every Horse Is an Individual
Some horses naturally require more calories than others to maintain a healthy body condition.
The goal is to support each horse as an individual and help them maintain a healthy condition for their body type, health status, and workload.
If you are working through these challenges with your horse, supporting digestion, mineral balance, and the body’s natural detoxification pathways can sometimes make a noticeable difference.
If you would like personalised guidance for your horse, we can also help through our Horse Support Consultations:
You can also explore more of our educational resources and nutritional support products here:
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