Refeeding Summer
SUMMER'S STORY
How It Began
Summer arrived at The Big Purple Barn in June 2018 as part of a neglect case involving five registered Morgan horses. Born in 2009, she was only nine years old when she came into our care, but her condition reflected a long period of severe neglect.
AGE
9
CONDITION
Starvation
INITIAL BCS SCORE
1.5
INTAKE AND INITIAL CONCERNS
How we first met Summer
Summer and the other horses had been left in a dry, overgrazed lot, surrounded by green pasture they could not reach because of electric fencing. With no adequate access to food, they had resorted to chewing the wood of the barn for sustenance. Summer arrived dangerously underweight, with a Body Condition Score of 1.5 and an estimated weight deficit of 300 to 400 pounds. Her feet were overgrown and damaged from at least a year without proper trimming, and she had not received routine dental care, parasite control, or vaccinations.
Immediately we needed to help her safely regain weight and strength, and once her body was stable enough, additional care including hoof rehabilitation, veterinary treatment, vaccinations, and dental work could begin. Summer’s recovery would require patience, careful monitoring, and a slow, intentional plan to help her heal without overwhelming her fragile system.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
What we saw
Body Condition Scoring, or BCS, is a system used to evaluate a horse’s overall fat coverage, nutritional health, and physical condition. Instead of relying only on weight, BCS looks at specific areas where fat is commonly stored, including the neck, withers, back, ribs, tailhead, and behind the shoulder. Horses are typically scored on a 1 to 9 scale, with 1 representing extreme emaciation and 9 representing extreme obesity. Scores between 1 and 3 indicate that a horse is underweight or severely thin, often with visible bones and little to no fat coverage.
Summer arrived with a Body Condition Score of 1.5, meaning she was dangerously underweight. Because her score was below 3, one of the biggest concerns in her early recovery was avoiding refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that can occur when a severely starved horse is fed too much, too quickly. A sudden increase in calories can trigger a sharp insulin response, causing critical electrolytes like phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium to shift rapidly into the cells. When this happens, the body can become dangerously depleted, placing the horse at risk for heart, respiratory, or kidney failure.
MANAGEMENT AND CARE
Avoiding Refeeding Syndome
For this reason, Summer’s feeding plan had to be slow, careful, and closely monitored. Rather than offering unlimited hay or grain right away, her care team focused on:
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High-Quality Forage: Feed small, frequent amounts of high-quality alfalfa hay (ideal due to low starch and high mineral content).
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Feeding Protocol: A recommended approach is to provide 1 lb of alfalfa hay every 4 hours for days 1-3, gradually increasing over the next week.
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Avoid Grains: Do not feed high-starch grains, treats, or supplements during the first few weeks.
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Vet Consultation: Always involve a veterinarian to create a tailored feeding plan.
The first 10 days were especially important because signs of refeeding syndrome often appear within the first several days of renewed feeding. During this period, staff monitored for symptoms such as:
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Increased muscle weakness
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Neurologic dysfunction
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Swelling of the legs or abdomen (edema)
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Irritability or aggression
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Cardiac arrhythmias
TREATMENT AND EARLY CHALLENGES
Our Vetinary Plan
Summer’s recovery began under the guidance of Wolf Creek Equine, who performed a complete exam and submitted blood work to evaluate her organ function. Because she arrived from a neglect case and was medically fragile, Summer was placed in a 30-day quarantine period. This allowed her care team to make sure she was not carrying any contagious respiratory illness, while also giving them time to closely monitor her behavior, vital signs, weight gain, and response to food. Quarantine also gave Summer the space to regain enough strength before being safely introduced to other horses.
PROGRESS
The First Month of Recovery
During her first 14 days, Summer was fed small, frequent meals of high-quality orchard grass mix hay, along with constant access to clean water and free-choice salt. Staff monitored her daily behavior, temperature, and heart rate to make sure her body was adjusting safely. She also received daily turnout in a small quarantine pen, allowing her to move gently, build strength, and begin acclimating to the horses nearby. To support her weight gain, she was given one pound of soaked alfalfa pellets twice a day.
In the next 14 days, her feeding plan was gradually adjusted. Her hay was increased to free choice, and one pound of senior complete pelleted feed was added twice daily. As Summer became stronger, staff introduced short, gentle walks and light grooming to help improve her skin, coat, and overall comfort. During this stage, she also received farrier care to begin addressing her overgrown and damaged hooves.
AFTER QUARANTINE
Happy and healthy
At the end of the first month, Summer was rechecked by the veterinary team, who were pleased with her progress in weight, condition, and attitude. Over the next month, her feed was increased slowly until she reached an appropriate amount for continued recovery. By the 60-day mark, she was healthy enough to receive her vaccinations and dental care, and she was cleared to begin introductions to the herd.
While her early progress was encouraging, Summer’s full physical recovery took about six months. Once her body had healed, her mental and emotional recovery could truly begin. With careful oversight, patience, and veterinary direction, Summer made a complete physical recovery and is now a happy, healthy member of the horse herd.
