An overweight horse is not a healthy horse.
It is just as dangerous for a horse to be overweight as it is to be underweight. Horses evolved to live on sparse tough grass and to be able to run fast on specially designed legs. A horse carrying too much weight can experience:
- Pain and inflammation such as arthritis.
- An increased risk of secondary disease and organ failure such as laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome
- Poor quality of life
- A shortened life span
All good horse owners ensure their horse stays within a sensible weight range, providing suitable food and plenty of exercise. Allowing a horse or pony to become overweight is just as cruel as not feeding them enough.
Laminitis is a disease affecting the feet of hooved animals. Severe cases with outwardly visible clinical signs is also know as founder. Progression of the disease can lead to perforation of the coffin bone through the sole of the hoof, requiring aggressive treatment or euthanasia.
Get in touch if you’re unsure about your horses health, we’re here to help you.
The Project Hope Horse Welfare Guide to Managing the Overweight Horse.
Dr Lesley A Hawson
BVSc,PHDEq.Science