How to Monitor a Horse's Weight in Winter
If you need to monitor a horse's weight in winter, you'll have to first asses the amount of fat it is carrying in specific areas using a chart made specifically for condition scoring. Once you know your horse's ideal weight, measure it regularly using either weight tape or a scale and record the information. If you notice it is losing or gaining more weight than it should, it might be helpful to check your horse's manure for clues about its eating habits. For example, if its manure is drier or less frequent than usual, check to see if its water supply is frozen.
. Condition score the horse Condition scoring is a process in which you assess the amount of fat the horse has on it. Condition scoring requires that you look at and feel the horse's body and assess the amount of fat it is carrying in specific areas. With condition scoring, you can evaluate whether the horse is in ideal condition or not. Once you look at and feel an area, you will write down your assessment in a chart made specifically for condition scoring. Condition scoring can take some instruction and practice, so you may want to consult with your veterinarian for some guidance on the procedure. A horse needs some fat to get it through the winter but it shouldn't have so much fat on it that it becomes obese. Use a weight tape. A weight tape is a tool used to approximate a horse's weight. It is a measuring tape that is wrapped around a horse's back and chest and the measurement markings are in pounds or kilograms. Using a weight tape will not give you a completely accurate measurement. It is only an estimate. It is best used for assessing change over time. Have the horse weighed. If you are bringing your horse to a veterinary clinic or a center that has a horse scale, then you can have the horse actually weighed. However, this is not usually available to horse owners on a regular basis. Using a scale is the most accurate way to weigh a horse. Measure the horse's weight regularly. In order to get an accurate understanding of changes to the horse's weight over time, you will need to measure it on a regular basis. If you are very concerned about a horse's weight, this can be every week. If you think the horse is maintaining weight fine, then every couple of weeks should be fine. Use the same type of weight measurement every time you measure the horse. This is the only way to really assess changes in weight over time. Take the horse's winter coat into consideration. When a horse is in the cold during the winter, it can grow a thick winter coat. This can interfere with weight tape measurements and condition scoring, which is why it is important to put your hands on your horse as you take these measurements. This will enable you to feel for fat pockets and ribs beneath the horse's wooly coat. With this coat change in mind, try to be consistent with the pressure and placement of weight tape and how you feel the horse's body when condition scoring. If you focus on consistency, any changes you document will usually signal a real trend in weight change. Be sure to remove a horse's blanket daily to assess weight gain or loss. Record your horse's weight over time. To track the horse's weight, you will need to know what its weight was before the winter. Then, you will need to keep a record of its weight throughout the winter. Make sure to write down each weight along with the date in a journal or notebook. This will be helpful to share with your horse's veterinarian later on. Be sure that you measure the horse's weight the same way every time. For instance, if you use a horse tape to measure the weight in the Fall, then use it to make subsequent measurements. Get professional help. If you are unsure if your horse's weight loss is of concern or you are unsure how to help your horse gain weight, you should get some professional advice. Talk to your veterinarian about what and how much you should be feeding your horse to fatten it up. Your veterinarian will also be able to recommend further bloodwork and diagnostics if they suspect that something else, such as parasites or disease, may be causing your horse's weight loss. Weight loss, if at all, should be gradual. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice extreme changes in your horse's weight over a short period of time. Check your horse's manure. Your horse's manure can provide some helpful clues about their eating and drinking habits. If you notice anything different, then call your veterinarian. Some instances where you would want to call your horse's vet include stool that is: Runny or wetter than usual, such as diarrhea. Drier than usual and/or less frequent, which may indicate constipation. This could be caused by not being able to access water because it is frozen. Check your horse's water often in cold weather to make sure it is not frozen. A different texture or color than is normal for your horse. Identify the signs of an emergency. If your horse has lost too much weight it can be an emergency that requires immediate veterinary care. Assess your horse's vital signs. Make sure that it is breathing regularly and that it has a strong pulse. A horse with irregular breathing or a weak pulse, or that is weak and unable to move, is in desperate need of emergency veterinary care. If any of its vital signs are not strong, you should call a veterinarian immediately. Help your horse regain weight. Horses should eat 2 - 2.5% of their body weight in good quality bulky foods, such as grass or hay, during winter. For the average 1,000 pound horse, this would mean eating 25 pounds. Make sure that your horse is getting enough. Getting your horse to gain weight requires that you feed it more calories every day than you have been. Discuss making one of the following changes to your horse's diet with your veterinarian: Give the horse unrestricted access to hay around the clock. Change to a higher grade of hay. Add in a complete feed. Add 4 to 8 ounces of corn or cocosoya oil to a small amount of grain. Add beet pulp, sweet feed, or concentrates to your horse's diet. 
. Use a weight tape. Have the horse weighed. Measure the horse's weight regularly. Take the horse's winter coat into consideration. Record your horse's weight over time. Get professional help. Check your horse's manure. Identify the signs of an emergency. Help your horse regain weight. 