Helping your horse achieve a healthy weight naturally

In recent years, more horses have been struggling with excess weight, leading to health issues like joint problems and metabolic disorders. Ensuring your horse maintains a healthy weight is crucial for their overall well-being. But how can you know thaht your horse is too heavy? Before embarking on a weight loss journey, it’s essential to assess whether your horse is indeed overweight.​

In this blog, we’ll guide you through identifying signs of excess weight in your horse, determining when it’s time to take action and providing practical, natural tips to help your horse reach their ideal weight.

Is your horse overweight?

Determining if your horse is overweight isn’t always straightforward, especially with breeds like Fjords, Haflingers, and Tinkers, which naturally have a stockier build. The Henneke Body Condition Scoring (BCS) system is a reliable method to assess your horse’s fat levels. This scale ranges from 1 (emaciated) to 9 (extremely fat), with a score of 5 being ideal. A score above 7 indicates overweight, and 8 or 9 signifies obesity, necessitating weight loss for health reasons.​

Signs of an overweight horse:

An overweight horse often has some obvious characteristics. For example, watch for the following signs:

• Fat deposits around the neck, shoulders, and tailhead
• A noticeable crease down the back
• Difficulty feeling the ribs
• Reduced stamina and increased fatigue
• Increased risk of laminitis and metabolic disorders

If you recognize these signs, it is time to take action and help your horse lose weight.

What causes overweight in horses? 

Horses naturally store fat, especially in preparation for winter months when food is scarce. In the wild, this fat reserve is essential for survival. However, in modern domestic settings, where pasture is abundant year-round and exercise may be limited, many horses accumulate excess weight, leading to obesity.​

Factors contributing to obesity:

• Genetics: Certain breeds are predisposed to weight gain. “Easy keeper” breeds like Shetland Ponies, Tinkers, Fjords, and Haflingers have highly efficient digestive systems, allowing them to extract maximum energy from minimal feed. While advantageous in sparse environments, this trait can lead to rapid weight gain in domestic settings. ​
• Overfeeding: Providing unrestricted access to lush pasture or excessive concentrates can result in calorie intake surpassing energy expenditure, leading to fat accumulation.​
• Lack of Exercise: Horses confined to stalls or with limited turnout have reduced opportunities for physical activity, decreasing calorie burn and promoting weight gain.​
• High-Sugar Forage: Feeding hay or grass high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) can contribute to fat storage, especially in breeds sensitive to sugar intake. ​
• Stress: Chronic stress can disrupt hormonal balance, leading to metabolic changes that make weight loss more challenging.​

Understanding these factors is crucial in developing an effective weight management plan for your horse. By addressing the root causes, you can help your horse achieve and maintain a healthy weight naturally.

Potential health risks of obesity in horses

An overweight horse is at risk for several health issues, including:​

• Laminitis: inflammation of the hoof tissues, leading to pain and lameness.
• Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS): a condition characterized by insulin resistance, increasing the risk of laminitis.
• Joint strain: excess weight puts additional stress on joints, leading to arthritis and mobility issues.
• Reduced performance: obesity can lead to decreased stamina and increased fatigue.

Natural weight loss strategies for horses

As you can read above, overweight horses are at risk for several health issues. Below, we’ve combined tips on how to help your horse lose weight naturally. You might then be asking yourself: but how quickly can horses lose weight? A safe rate of weight loss is about 0.5–1% of body weight per week. Rapid weight loss can be harmful and should be avoided.

Adjust their diet

Reducing caloric intake is essential. Feed 1.5% of the horse’s ideal body weight in hay daily. If weight loss doesn’t occur after 30 days, reduce to 1%. Ensure the hay is low in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), ideally below 10%. Soaking hay for at least an hour can help reduce NSC levels.​

Limit pasture access

Pasture grass can be high in sugars, especially during certain times of the day or after frost. Restrict grazing to early morning hours and consider using a grazing muzzle to control intake.​

Eliminate high-calorie feeds

Remove grain and high-calorie concentrates from the diet. Instead, provide a vitamin and mineral supplement to meet nutritional needs without adding excess calories.​

Increase physical activity

Regular exercise enhances insulin sensitivity and promotes weight loss. Aim for 20–30 minutes of moderate activity, such as walking or trotting, 2–3 times a week. Gradually increase intensity and duration as fitness improves.​

Monitor progress

Regularly assess your horse’s BCS and adjust the diet and exercise regimen accordingly. Consult with a veterinarian or equine nutritionist to ensure the weight loss plan is effective and safe.

Natural supplements to support weight loss in horses

In addition to dietary adjustments and increased exercise, certain natural supplements can provide extra support for horses struggling with weight loss, especially those predisposed to obesity or facing challenges in shedding excess pounds.​

Weight Support

A 100% natural blend containing L-carnitine, green tea, and nettle, designed to support healthy weight management. L-carnitine aids in fat metabolism, green tea provides antioxidants and may enhance metabolic rate, and nettle supports overall wellness. This supplement is particularly beneficial for horses actively working to lose weight or those needing assistance in maintaining a healthy weight.​

Glucose Support

Formulated to support metabolism and help maintain balanced blood sugar levels, Glucose Support contributes to healthy weight maintenance. By stabilizing blood glucose, it can prevent insulin spikes that lead to fat storage, making it suitable for horses requiring additional support in weight management.​

Incorporating these supplements into your horse’s regimen, alongside proper diet and exercise, can enhance their weight loss journey. Always consult with a veterinarian before introducing new supplements to ensure they align with your horse’s specific health needs.