Adapted from "Trimming the Fat: Weight Loss Strategies for the Overweight Horse, Fact Sheet, Maryland Cooperative Extension."
Horses that carry excess body weight are at an increased risk for many
health problems. These include laminitis, decreased athletic and
reproductive performance, and a greater risk for heat stress. In this
overview, you can learn about ways to combat overweight horses. However,
you should always work closely with your veterinarian to determine the
cause of obesity in your horses. It may be related to their exercise
level and diet or it could be related to their metabolic and
physiological condition.
It is very important to periodically evaluate your horse's body weight
and body condition score (BCS). There are three different ways you can
measure body weight. 1) livestock scale 2) heart girth weight tape or 3)
calculate body weight by using the measurement of the horse's heart
girth (HG), and body length (BL). Use this equation: W = ((HG) squared x
(BL)) / 330. Body condition score is also very important. It is
measured from 1 - 9 with 9 being extremely fat. This score measures the
amount of fat that a particular horse stores a different locations
including withers, shoulder, ribs, loin, neck, and tailhead. Horses that
are nearing a BCS of 7 are at a higher risk of developing health
problems.
Various methods for reducing your horse's weight:
* Set a target weight loss
* Increase exercise level
* Reduce feed intake
* Change the type of diet
* Reduce access to pasture
* Feed horses separately
* Use drugs, medications, and supplements as a last resort
Horses need to lose excess weight gradually and over several months.
Horses can safely lose one BCS per month (about 50 pounds). Horse owners
need to be careful with their horses losing weight too rapidly, as they
may develop bad behaviors (wood-chewing, bedding ingestion, etc.). Try
not to monitor your horse's weight loss too often (weekly is too often)
because it could discourage you. It is very important that a horse maintain
it's ideal body condition once it reaches that weight / BCS. Horse
owners should be diligent to watch their horse's rations, needs that
arise that may change or alter the quantity of feed the horse receives,
and the animal's overall health. Don't forget to contact your
veterinarian to discuss the best weight loss plan for your horse.
See the full article here.
Submitted by: Margaret A. Bell, Livestock Agent
Craven and Jones Counties
