At Bell Equine we see far more problems with overweight horses and ponies than those that are too thin. So we would remind everyone to watch their horse and ponies weight.

The very simplest way of monitoring weight is by checking the fitting of your horse’s girth: does it do up tighter than usual or does it need letting out an extra hole?  You can also use a weight tape (or even a long piece of string) to measure your horse’s girth. We have a set of accurate equine weigh scales at Bell Equine and you are welcome to check your horse or pony’s weight free of charge – just make an appointment at reception to see one of our trained nurses or stable staff, if you want to have a weight check done.

Sam Corrie (who is spending an intercalated year studying with us at Bell Equine as part of his equine studies degree from Warwickshire College) has been comparing the different methods used to measure weights. Sam’s study confirmed what we have long suspected - a weight tape will provide a good approximation of weight –  but it can be out by a significant margin, especially in  lean or odd-shaped animals, such as a pregnant mare or a donkey. 

We use our equine weigh bridge at the hospital not only to ensure every patient is accurately dosed for any treatment whilst staying with us, but also to allow us to effectively use weight changes to monitor our patients’ progress.           

IF you are worming your horse, check the weight first as many horses get underdosed for their true weight

·         One in 5 riding horses between 14.2hh and 16hh weighs over 600kg.

·         3 out of 5 horses between 16.1hh and 17.2hh weighs over 600kg

IF you need help ask us – ring Bell Equine on 01622 813700 

Hints to HELP your horse to lose weight from Bell Equine:

·         Modify the type and amount of feed gradually. Sometimes vets may advise total starvation for a short time, for instance, when treating certain colic cases. Otherwise never reduce rations by more than 10 per cent within a week

·         Weight reduction must be gradual to avoid metabolic disturbances. Hyperlipaemia, a serious disorder of fat metabolism, is triggered by cutting the feed too drastically or by a period of starvation. It is particularly common in fat ponies and Shetlands.

·         If you are not sure, always ask for professional advice from Bell Equine and/or a specialist nutritionist. There are some horses and ponies with medical conditions such as equine metabolic syndrome that make losing weight a particular challenge. For more facts on pasture, fructans and feeding the insulin-resistant horse, see www.safergrass.org

·         Measure any feed to be given accurately (this means by weight, not volume) to determine appropriate rations

·         Give feeds that are low in fat, since fat is an energy-dense nutrient source, which will obviously increase weight. Most, if not all, feed should be forage-based and any extra food should be low in energy and high in fibre.

·         If a horse is only in light work, they may actually need nothing more than hay and grass, but make sure that the horse’s vitamin, mineral and protein requirements continue to be met.

·         Plenty of fresh water will help the horse’s digestive and other systems to function efficiently. A change to a higher-fibre diet can cause impactions and colic, especially if water intake is inadequate.

·         Horses naturally graze and eat almost continuously when at grass. Limiting access to high calorie lush grass is an important way of preventing weight gain. Turning out in a sparse ‘starvation’ paddock can be beneficial as it is more like the natural mountain and moorland environment of many British native ponies.

·         When animals are stabled, increase eating time by using double or treble haynets, one inside the other, or use haylage nets with small holes to reduce the amount pulled out with each bite. When seriously restricting feed intake, as with a laminitic pony, we sometimes suggest scattering the hay in amongst non-edible bedding, so they have to hunt for it and takes longer to eat it.

·         Choose your forage with care. Hay will be better than haylage to encourage weight loss and the type of hay is important too. Use less nutritious hay, e.g. hay made from older plants (i.e. late cut) will have increased fibre content, a lower percentage of leaves and is less easily digestible and not as fattening.  Consider soaking hay to leach out soluble carbohydrates, particularly when dieting a fat pony.

·          Feed an overweight horse separately, so he cannot steal the other horses’ feed.

·         Balance the horse’s diet against age and level of activity. Never feed more than a horse needs for the level of work he is doing.

·         Increase the time and intensity of exercise as the horse’s fitness improves. The more work a horse does, the more he will lose weight. Never feed more in anticipation of increased work.

If you want more information on how to determine you horse’s body condition, there is a free chart on body condition scoring available to download at The Horse Nutrition Poster