I did check the recommended supplementation rate for the Well Pride fish oil, and 1/2 teaspoon per day is well below the recommended rate, and most likely isn’t providing the extra benefit to your horse that you are intending. To achieve the recommended feeding rate, you would need to provide 6 teaspoons (1 oz.) per day to get to the 7 grams of omega 3 (EPA/DHA) per day that has been demonstrated to provide benefit. With the correct level of fish oil supplementation, the flax seed is most likely not providing extra benefit, therefore would not be needed in the diet.

In addition to proper nutrition, regular exercise is key to managing body condition and has been shown to benefit horses with special metabolic needs. Any dietary changes should be made gradually. Good luck with your pony. Please let us know if you have any more questions.

Thank you! ~Emily L.

I have a pony with some Thyroid issues (cresty fatty neck). We have cut out all sugar from her diet. Her current feeding routine is Purina Well Solve L/S and grass hay. In her grain we mix 1/2 teaspoon WellPride Fish oil (once daily) and 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed (2 daily). What should we add if anything for the omega 6? What ratio should we add?

Thank you
Melissa C

Thanks for stopping by the blog and for asking your question. Sounds like you have done all the right things for your mare. If you estimate her weight to be 700 pounds but you still believe she is underweight, you will want to feed her to the TARGET body weight. In other words, if you estimate she needs an extra 100 pounds, you can feed her to the 800 pound feeding rate. Once she gets there, you can back her off to maintain the desired weight and body condition score. Remember in to increase her rations slowly.

One great aspect of feeding Life Design Senior is that it is formulated as a complete feed. In other words, you don’t need to offer hay with this feed, as it has enough fiber that is easily digested for our senior friends. One suggestion is to cut out the beet pulp and increase her LD Senior amount. It will ensure all the nutrients she needs are appropriately balanced. An 800 pound horse fed LD Senior without hay (or with very little hay) can be fed up to 12 pounds a day for maintenance. If she is in light work, she can have up to 14 pounds a day.

If you find she is still struggling to hold her weight, I would recommend top dressing her feed with a fat supplement, such as Empower Boost. It is balanced correctly to be top dressed with any commercially balanced feed and provide a concentrated source of calories…plus it smells yummy!

I hope one or all of these suggestions help you and your mare. Please feel free to let us know of any more questions. Best of luck!

Megan C.

I have an 11-yr old 4th level Oldenburg/TB who works 5 days a week. He’s a very easy keeper, and I often have to cut his grain back a bit when he starts to look chubby. He’s maintaining his weight well, but I’d like a little more energy without adding hotness. He can be a tiny bit sluggish sometimes and we’re going up a level this year so the work will be more intense. However, TC Low Starch made him nuts and he can get spooky very easily.

Here’s his current regimen. Do you think I should switch from SafeChoice (which he’s been on for years) to something like Empower Balance Grass?

3 flakes Timothy hay (at a boarding barn–don’t know weight)
1 flake Alfalfa hay
4 lbs SafeChoice
SmartVite Easy Keeper Grass
CW daily wormer
Cosequin ASU
Hyaluronic acid, Collagen, Silica, monthly Adequan

Thanks for any insight you can offer!

Thank you for stopping by and for being a user of our Life Design Senior. You are absolutely right – even in the winter, it is important to do a regular BCS (body condition score) as the long winter coat can hide weight loss or even gains. Maintaining a healthy weight over the winter months means a strong start come spring. Thanks again!

Megan C.