Obesity in horses is an ever increasing problem. In fact, anywhere between 50 and 80 per cent of horses in the UK are overweight.
Why does weight matter?
Obesity in horses can lead to problems including:
Laminitis
Insulin resistance
…and the resulting metabolic syndrome
Reduced fertility
Heat stress
Heart, lung and joint problems
Worsened arthritis
Lethargy
…and many more.
It is therefore essential that you keep an eye not only on your horse’s weight, but his body condition, too.
Condition scoring your horse
The easiest way to determine if your horse is within a healthy weight range is to look at him. Using the 1-9 condition scoring scale, you’ll be able to see how well or poorly conditioned he is.
How much do you know about stereotypies? This is the scientific term for any repetitive behaviour. In horses, the most common are crib-biting, windsucking, weaving and box walking. In May Horse&Rider, Dr Debbie Marsden shares her advice for dealing with stereotypic behaviours. Check out a sneak peek here. www.horseandrideruk.com/the-magazine/issues/may-2024/force-of-habit/... See MoreSee Less