Beet pulp might be a beneficial addition to your horses diet if they need to gain weight. | The Horse StaffQ. My horse is 34 years old and has very few teeth left. I currently feed him senior feed, which I make into a very soft mash, in addition to his chopped hay, but he does not maintain his weight well during the winter. Can I replace some of his senior feed with wet beet pulp?A. How wonderful that your horse has reached the age of 34 and that you are working to keep him happy and healthy! It is better to make dietary changes before the horse starts losing weight, because it can be difficult to reverse the process during winter, when horses use so many calories to thermoregulate and maintain core body temperature.You do, however, have a few options to help your horse maintain body weight. The first would be to increase the amount of senior feed youre giving him. Senior feeds are often designed as complete feeds, so they can make up the entire diet. If you dont see this mentioned on the label, check with the manufacturer to see if your senior feed is a complete feed. Giving a few additional pounds of the feed hes already on might be the easiest option.You could also add beet pulp to his diet to help him maintain his weight during the winter. Beet pulp is a great addition because it contains a nice complement of different types of carbohydrates: nonstructural, which horses digest rapidly, and structural, which they digest slower. This gives your horse an immediate source of calories and provides heat during the digestion/fermentation of the nonstructural carbohydrates. Wet or soaked beet pulp can also help your horse stay hydrated in winter, when his water intake might decrease. You might just add some beet pulp to his current ration of senior feed, rather than replacing it. Make sure the diet is still balanced once you make this changein other words, ensure it provides all the nutrients your horse needs. Protein to maintain muscle mass and a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 2:1 to maintain the skeletal system are especially important.I would still offer the chopped hay because forages help keep the digestive tract healthy and functioning well. When horses consume hay, their bodies digest/ferment it primarily in the hindgut. Similar to beet pulp, this fermentation produces heat internally, which can help keep your horse warm in the winter, and he will have to use fewer calories/energy stores to maintain body temperature.Monitor the weather throughout the winter and early spring so you can be prepared for changes. Increasing forage intake when you expect colder-than-normal temperatures or snow and cold rain can help your horse stay warm. Keeping your horse dry and out of excessive wind will also help. Maintaining body temperature is more difficult in winter and one reason so many horses lose weight.Keep an eye on water intake and your horses hydration status, because some horses will drink less due to it either being too cold or unavailable (frozen). Low water intake can lead to improper digestion and impaction colic. Be sure water is always available and at a temperature your horse will drink. Frozen water buckets can make it difficult for your horse to get enough water, because not all horses are willing to break ice on the bucket or trough. Consider heated water buckets or a submersible water heater to help keep water at a comfortable drinking temperature, but make sure they are grounded properly and are not emitting a current into the water.Make it a habit to routinely monitor your horses weight and body condition throughout the fall, winter, and early spring, so when you notice changes, you can adjust the diet quickly. Do you have an equine nutrition question? The Horses editors want to hear from you! Submit your question via the form below. Name(Required) First Last Email(Required) Submit your equine nutrition below!(Required)CAPTCHA