Building Weight & Topline on Your OTTB

Bringing an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) into a new home is an exciting chapter—but it’s not without its challenges. One of the most common issues OTTB owners face is building and maintaining healthy weight and topline after racing life.

Off-the-track Thoroughbreds are at a unique stage in their journey—transitioning from a racing career into a new phase of life. This shift presents a valuable opportunity to reassess and optimise their nutrition to support long-term health, condition, and performance. By focusing on balanced, high-quality feeding strategies, we can lay the foundation for sustainable weight gain, muscle development, and overall wellbeing.

Understanding Where They’re At

Most OTTBs come out of racing with high energy demands, minimal body fat, and a history of grain-heavy diets. That can leave them with:

• A stressed digestive system

• Imbalanced gut bacteria

• Underdeveloped muscle groups (especially over the topline)

• Potential ulcer history

Step 1: Fix the Foundation — Gut Health Comes First

Before trying to pack on weight or muscle, the gut needs to be functioning well. Inflammation, hindgut acidosis, and ulcers are all common in ex-racehorses and can block nutrient absorption. Begin by:

• Providing 24/7 access to good-quality forage (preferably a mix of pasture and hay)

• Feeding a high-fibre, low-starch base feed (like a lupin or soy hull pellet)

• Adding digestive support such as bovine colostrum to promote healing, calm inflammation, and improve nutrient uptake

Step 2: Prioritise Quality Protein

Topline isn’t built with calories alone—it’s built with quality protein. A complete amino acid profile (like that found in soybean meal) helps the horse build new muscle tissue. Feeding 300–600g of soybean meal daily can make a big difference, especially when paired with the right workload.

Step 3: Calories That Don’t Cause Chaos

Ditch the high-starch, race-day style feeds. You can provide calories without the fizz by:

• Feeding fibre-based energy sources

• Including cool calorie options like flaxseed oil or copra meal

• Avoiding grains that spike blood sugar and risk ulcer relapse

Step 4: Balance the Micros

A good Vitamin & Mineral balancer rounds it all out. Choose a pellet or powder designed to complement forage-based diets and keep the rest of the plan stable. Think of it like a multivitamin—small but mighty.

Step 5: Monitor and Adjust

Track weight using a weigh tape or equine scale, and body condition score regularly. OTTBs are adaptable, and their needs may shift as they start working, adjusting to turnout life, or overcoming stress. Reassess at 4–6 week intervals and tweak as needed.

Final Thoughts

Supporting an off-the-track Thoroughbred as they transition into a new chapter takes time, patience, and the right nutrition. By focusing on gut health, quality fibre, protein, and balanced vitamins and minerals, you're not just helping them gain weight—you’re helping them thrive.

If you’re unsure where to begin or want a tailored plan to suit your horse’s unique needs, I’m here to help.

📩 Book a nutrition consultation or reach out for a chat to make sure your OTTB has the best nutritional start to their new career.