For horses that need to gain, not just eat more
Lola's Equine
Weight Gain Calculator
Build a breed-and-body-aware feeding plan for an underweight horse — grounded in the Henneke Body Condition Score, your region's hay, and a real feeding timeline.
Before you start: rule out medical causes of weight loss first. Have a vet check teeth, deworm, and screen for ulcers or metabolic disease — no feeding plan fixes an underlying health problem. This tool gives general guidance and is not a substitute for a veterinarian or equine nutritionist.
01
Breed & frame
Build the breed mix — each component must be at least 25%, and the total must equal 100%.
0% assigned — add at least one breed.
e.g. 15 hands 2 in = "15.2 hh"
02
Work & lifestyle
03
Body condition
Based on the Henneke Body Condition Scoring System (1 = poor, 9 = extremely fat). Most healthy adult horses are targeted at 5, moderate.
A clear, well-lit, full-body side view works best. This gives an AI-assisted estimate to cross-check your own scoring — it doesn't replace hands-on palpation of the ribs, spine, and tailhead, which is how BCS is actually determined.
now
goal
1 Poor3 Thin5 Moderate7 Fleshy9 Extreme
If you leave this blank, the calculator estimates it from breed, frame, and BCS.
04
Feeding timeline
Choose how many weeks you're planning for. Weight gain that's pushed too fast raises colic and laminitis risk — the calculator will flag it if your timeline is unrealistic.
4 weeks
8 weeks
12 weeks
16 weeks
05
Recommended plan
Ideal weight (frame & breed)
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Estimated current weight
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Weight to gain
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Always introduce feed changes gradually — phase in any new hay or concentrate over 7–10 days, split daily concentrate into at least two feedings, and keep forage available as close to free-choice as your horse's metabolic status allows. Re-check body condition (new photo + hands-on palpation) every two weeks and adjust the plan rather than following it blindly.