| Despite the credit crunch, it's more likely | | | | problem, and could cause others. Horses need a |
| nowadays that horses are adversely affected by | | | | slow trickle of food because of the way their |
| obesity rather than malnourishment. Are we killing | | | | stomachs work, so simply cutting down might |
| our horses with kindness? Obesity isn't always | | | | leave their stomachs empty for long periods of |
| seen as obesity, or even as a problem, but it can | | | | time, and lead to gastric ulcers and colic. |
| be one of the most potentially serious threats to | | | | It's better to feed low-calorie fibre, perhaps |
| its health that a horse can have. It's been | | | | putting forage in several small holed hay nets |
| recognised for a long while that fat horses are | | | | around the stable so the horse has to move |
| more prone to laminitis, but besides this, they | | | | around. Since feeding restricted amounts of food |
| could get heart disease, arthritis and lung | | | | will also restrict the intake of essential nutrients, |
| problems. Obesity increases the amount of fat in | | | | it's important to find a mix that will give these |
| the liver which can eventually cause inflammation | | | | nutrients without adding too many calories. A way |
| and cirrhosis or even permanent liver damage. | | | | to make a small amount of food last longer is to |
| Colic and obesity kill more horses than any other | | | | put some very large smooth stones in the |
| equine disease in the UK - yet obesity is | | | | bottom of the food so your horse has to move |
| something which is preventable and treatable. | | | | them around to get to the feed underneath. Soak |
| So what can you do to help an overweight | | | | hay for 12 hours or so to reduce the amount of |
| horse? | | | | calories in it. This might sound like a bit of a bind, |
| First of all you need to recognise that he is | | | | but if you soak it when you turn out in the |
| overweight. While weight gain in humans might be | | | | morning, at least the job will be done for the day. |
| frowned on, in a horse it's seen as 'looking well' | | | | You can cut down on calories by using shavings |
| and not as a problem. But if other people begin to | | | | or woodchip instead of straw for bedding, as a lot |
| tell you that your horse is fat, he probably is! | | | | of horses will eat the bedding. It might be better |
| As in humans, exercise is good for horses as long | | | | to restrict the amount of grazing, getting your |
| as you don't overdo it to begin with. If you don't | | | | horse in at night, especially if the grazing they |
| always have time to ride, you could lunge. If you | | | | have access to is very rich. |
| are seriously short of time, think about a horse | | | | So, once you know that there's a problem, it's |
| share so your horse has a rider more often. | | | | fairly easy to take steps to help a horse that's a |
| Simply restricting the amount of food you give to | | | | bit over weight to lead a lighter and healthier life. |
| your horse to slim him down won't solve the | | | | |