Fat chance

 

Equine obesity is a growing problem. Richard Stephenson MRCVS, equine vet at Pool House Veterinary Group, regularly treats overweight and obese horses and says: “Obesity increases the risk of arthritis, heart disease and lung problems, and it is directly linked to laminitis – one of the most common causes of euthanasia in horses. Next to colic, obesity kills more horses than any equine disease in the UK – yet it is one hundred percent preventable.” So how can you make sure your horse is a healthy weight?

Equine obesity is still a big problem amongst horses in the UK. As the average weight of the UK human population rises inexorably, so too does the weight of the equine population. The Blue Cross animal charity recently revealed that 40% of all horses and ponies taken in by its equine centres last year were overweight. Feed helplines are also receiving more calls regarding obesity, which indicates two things: firstly, that lots of horses and ponies are still overweight, but secondly – and more encouragingly – that horse owners know to do something about it.

Why are horses getting fatter?

 

There are a number of reasons for horses becoming overweight and, like humans, it is down to an incorrect balance of diet and exercise. It is essential that you are able to be realistic about your horse’s workload and feed accordingly; there is a tendency to overestimate workload. It is also easy to blame concentrate feed when a horse gets overweight but of course during the growing season grass is just as likely, if not more likely to be the main culprit.

Grazing on improved pastures, over-feeding and rugging and stabling in winter all means that horses can easily put on weight, as they do not live in conditions that in the wild would mean they lose weight naturally.

What can be done?

 

If you think your horse may be overweight, it is important to act quickly. It can be very difficult to assess gradual weight gain as you see the horse every day and the changes could happen slowly. The best way to monitor your horse’s weight is to use a weigh tape, available from most retailers and companies. If you are able to get an accurate weight measurement on a weigh bridge this is even better. Regular weight measurement means you are more likely to spot gradual weight gain and adjust feed or work load accordingly before it becomes a problem. Remember, even if your horse or pony does not get much concentrate feed, it is still important to regularly check his weight, as grass and hay has different nutrient levels depending on the time of year.

If you are unsure how to adjust your horse’s diet the try phoning one of the many feed helplines. Most are impartial, not necessarily recommending their own brand of feed, and they are all highly experienced and able to offer very useful advice. To find the feed helplines ask your local feed merchant or check out the relevant feed websites.

What type of diet is best?

 

Truly effective weight management plans must integrate both regular exercise as well as adjustments to the horse’s diet. It is this balance that is crucial and it is now generally agreed that for good doers, or those prone to weight gain and laminitis, a high fibre diet supplemented with essential vitamins and minerals is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy weight. Losing weight is difficult, and horses cannot ‘crash’ diet as they need a regular intake of feed to ensure healthy digestion – the horse was designed to trickle feed and graze throughout most of the day, so he must always have sufficient fibre in his diet. Any sudden dietary changes puts the horse at risk of colic so the best way to diet is to reduce the horse’s calories, not necessarily the quantity of feed. Soaking hay overnight can remove some of the sugar, or chopped straw can be a successful low calorie alternative. To control grazing either limit turnout time, use extra fencing to strip graze or use a grazing muzzle.

 

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