What Is The Best Feed For A Hard Keeper

We have all had that horse that no matter how much it eats, it doesn’t seem to put on any weight. Let me help you with the most important things every horse owner should know when having a hard keeper.

What Is a Hard Keeper?

A “hard keeper,” also called a poor doer or unthrifty horse, is one that has difficulty maintaining body condition even with what seems like adequate feed. This can be due to a faster metabolism, intense workload, stress, medical conditions, or breed tendencies—particularly in Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and senior horses.

You can identify a hard keeper using the Henneke Body Condition Score (BCS), a 1–9 scale:

• 4: Moderately thin
• 3 or less: Underweight

Hard keepers tend to hover around a BCS of 4 or below despite eating well.

Step One: Diagnose Before You Feed

Before making changes to your horse’s diet, identify underlying causes of weight loss:

🩺 Medical Issues to Rule Out:

• Parasites (fecal egg count)
• Dental problems (quidding, sharp points)
• Gastric ulcers
• PPID (Cushing’s)
• Chronic pain or lameness

📊 Management Issues:

• Herd stress or competition for feed
• Inadequate forage or poor hay quality
• Stall confinement or lack of turnout

✅ Pro Tip: Always consult with a veterinarian and equine nutritionist before assuming the issue is dietary.

I bought the One Horse Life OPP course, where you teach your horse how to relax consciously, and you have no idea how my horses have changed (the hard keepers suddenly have amazing bodies with the same amount of food I was feeding before.) I am learning still but I had never seen such a big impact in a horse, it’s body and it’s mind. *This is no paid advertising* This is me genuinely asking you to check that out and give your horse this gift.

Free-Choice Forage: Always First

Your horse’s digestive system was designed to graze 16–20 hours a day. Never let a hard keeper run out of hay.

Best Hay Options:

• Grass hay (timothy, orchardgrass)
• Legume hay (alfalfa/lucerne) for extra protein and calories

Choose and early cut hay for your horse because it is more nutritious. You can also feed mixed forages like alfalfa/timothy grass

📏 Feeding Guidelines:

• 2–2.5% of body weight at least in hay daily (20–25 lbs for a 1,000 lb horse)
• Up to 3% in winter or for very hard keepers

Maximize Forage Intake:

• Use hay nets or slow feeders to reduce waste and support trickle feeding

Feed Small, Frequent Meals

If you’re not already feeding with hay nets and slow feeders, and trying to give your horse 24/7 access to food. Then hard keepers can benefit from smaller meals given more often. This improves digestion, stabilizes blood sugar, and reduces the risk of colic or ulcers.

🕒 Aim for 3–4 meals per day, especially when:

• Feeding grain or concentrates
• Managing senior horses
• Working with horses prone to digestive upset

Calories Are Key — But Safe Calories

More calories are essential, but adding too much grain can cause ulcers, laminitis, or colic.

Best Calorie Sources:

• High-quality forage (always #1!)
• Beet pulp (soaked) Everything you need to know about Beet Pulp.
• High-fat feeds (≥10%)
• Vegetable oils (canola, flaxseed, soy)
• Stabilized rice bran

✅ Avoid high-NSC feeds. Total sugar + starch should stay under 10% of the total diet.

Add Fat for Calorie Density

Fat provides 2.25x more calories than carbs and is safer than grains.

Top Fat Options:

• Flaxseed (whole or ground)
• Canola or soybean oil (start at ¼ cup/day and increase slowly)
• Rice bran (stabilized)
• Commercial high-fat feeds with added omega-3s

Start with small amounts and increase over 2–3 weeks.

Beet Pulp: A Super Fiber – Learn More

Beet pulp is an excellent fermentable fiber—high in digestible energy, low in sugar, and great for gut health.

How to Use:

• Always soak before feeding
• Can replace part of the hay or serve as mash base
• Mix with fat/oil and a balancer for a complete meal

Use a Ration Balancer or Vitamin-Mineral Supplement

Feeding more calories doesn’t mean your horse is getting balanced nutrition.

📉 Common Deficiencies in Hard Keepers:

• Zinc, copper, selenium
• Vitamin E and B-complex
• Amino acids (lysine, methionine, threonine)

Options:

• Ration balancer pellets
• Loose vitamin-mineral mixes

Add according to your hay analysis and feeding program.

Support Digestive Health

🧪 A healthy hindgut improves feed efficiency and weight gain.

Helpful Additives:

• Probiotics & Yeast (support fiber digestion)
• Prebiotics
• Lecithin + Pectin Complexes (ulcer protection)
• Glutamine or licorice (soothing for gut)

Recommended Digestive Aids for horses that are prone to colic, weight loss, or show signs of digestive upset:

• Mad Barn Visceral+
• EquiShure (KER)
• SmartDigest Ultra (SmartPak)

Winter Feeding Tips for Hard Keepers

Cold weather increases calorie demand.

🌡 For every 10°F below 18°F, add 2–4 lbs of hay.

🧤 Essential Strategies:

• Extra hay or soaked beet pulp
• Rice bran for winter-safe calories
• Heated water sources to ensure hydration
• Shelter or blanketing to reduce calorie loss from shivering

Top Feeds for Hard Keepers

When forage and fat alone aren’t enough, look for:

• ≥10% fat
• ≥12% fiber
• Low NSC (<15%)
• Added amino acids & gut support

Recommended Feeds:

Triple Crown Senior

• High-fat, beet pulp-based, low NSC

Purina Ultium Competition / Senior Active

• Performance formula with amino acids and stabilized rice bran

Nutrena ProForce Fuel

• High calorie, prebiotics, and controlled starch for hard kkepers. Maximum of 20 NSC%

Tribute Kalm Ultra

• high-fat pelleted feed with 23.5% NSC targeted to adult horses in heavy work or hard keepers that need to gain weight. Provides energy from fat and fiber to support calm performance.

Monitor Progress

📸 Use photos every 2–3 weeks and BCS charts to assess changes.

Check for:

• Coat and hoof quality
• Muscle tone and top line
• Behavior and energy
• Manure consistency

Final Thoughts

I bought the One Horse Life OPP course, where you teach your horse how to relax consciously, and you have no idea how my horses have changed (the hard keepers suddenly have amazing bodies with the same amount of food I was feeding before.) I am learning still but I had never seen such a big impact in a horse, it’s body and it’s mind. *This is no paid advertising* This is me genuinely asking you to check that out and give your horse this gift.

Feeding a hard keeper isn’t about pouring more grain into a bucket. It’s about:

• Diagnosing the root cause
• Prioritizing forage and fat
• Filling nutrient gaps
• Supporting digestion
• Managing stress and environment

With patience, consistency, and a whole-horse approach, you’ll help your horse gain and maintain a healthy weight.

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