Is My Horse Overweight? - What the Experts Say

Are you wondering if your horse is overweight? Understanding your horse's body condition is key to keeping them healthy long-term. Overweight horses are more prone to health issues, especially over time. A healthy horse should have visible or palpable ribs, minimal crest fat, no fat pads on ribs or shoulders, and no significant indentation along the spine. Learn how to manage your horse's diet and exercise to keep them at optimal weight and health.

What is a Body Condition Score?

Body condition score (BCS) is the most commonly used measurement for equine nutritionists and veterinarians. This scoring symptom takes measurements at the neck, withers, behind the shoulder, along the back, ribs, and tail head to give an overall view of the horse's weight. This method does not provide a weight in pounds but rather a score between 1-9. Horses graded between 4-6 are considered at an ideal body weight. Horses under four are considered underweight, while over seven are overweight or obese. You can find extensive charts for BCS online to help guide your scoring. While BCS is a suitable method if you understand the scoring, there is a margin of error if you are not used to gauging the fat deposits in the six key areas.

Different Methods to Calculate Your Horse's Body Condition Score

If you need more confidence about gauging fat deposits for body condition scoring, several other methods exist to understand your horse's weight better.

Girth-to-height ratio

The girth-to-height ratio uses the overall height and girth to estimate fat deposits. This method is similar to body condition scoring but removes the variability. First, measure the circumference just behind the withers and height of your horse. Then, divide the circumference by the height. Overweight or obese horses will have a ratio equal to or greater than 1.26, and overweight ponies will have a ratio of over 1.33.

Weight Tapes

Weight tapes help remove the calculation used in a girth-to-height ratio. These tapes are available at most tack stores. Place the tape around the girth area, just behind the withers, to measure. The resulting measurement will give you a close approximation of your horse's weight.

Risks for Overweight Horses

Like people, several issues can result or be exacerbated if your horse is fat.

Increased Strain on Joints and Muscles

Many horse owners with obese horses notice an increase in lameness, joint disease, ligament injuries, and hoof problems. This is due to the increase in load carried by the joints. Horses are designed with thin legs meant to run and move quickly, not to carry excess weight.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome & Laminitis

"Equine diabetes" or equine metabolic syndrome causes a disruption between insulin and glucose as they process through the body. As a result, your horse will become insulin-resistant. Insulin resistance can quickly trigger laminitis in many horses.

Laminitis is one of the most common issues seen in obese horses. Unfortunately, when not caught early, it can be fatal. Laminitis is the inflammation of the connective tissue, laminae, which supports the bones in the hoof. When laminae become inflamed, they cannot effectively hold the bones in place. This can cause a rotation downward in the pedal bone. In severe cases, the pedal bone will protrude through the bottom of the hoof. When laminitis is caught early enough, supportive shoeing and diet changes can help keep your horse comfortable. Rotation of the pedal bone cannot be corrected.

Overheating

Horses carrying excessive fat will have difficulty controlling their body temperature. Excessive fat traps heat, causing organs to overheat. This can be very challenging to manage in hot climates and can quickly result in dehydration.

Getting to a Healthy Weight

After you've determined your horse is overweight, it is time to put together a plan to get them back to a healthy weight. Reducing calorie intake and increasing exercise can have a major impact. Similar to a person, this process takes time. If it is rushed, it can result in other issues, such as overloading the cardiovascular system or reducing muscle. Create a plan that considers your horse's current lifestyle and builds up to longer/more challenging rides.  Remember as always, to consult your horse’s health care team including your veterinarian for best practices as you seek to establish a more balanced lifestyle for your equine partner. 

Nutrition

A general guideline for horses of average weight is to feed 2% of their body weight daily. This percentage includes hay, grain, supplements, and grass. If your horse is overweight, you should reduce its intake to 1.5% of its body weight.

As grazing animals, horses should receive most of their calories from hay or grass. However, different hay or grass will have different nutritional values. For example, alfalfa is very high in protein, while Bermuda grass is very low in protein. Grass will always have a higher number of calories and sugar compared to hay. While you cannot weigh the amount of grass your horse eats daily, you can limit their intake by reducing time on green pastures or using a grazing muzzle.

Grain is usually easy to remove or reduce in your horse's diet. However, if your horse needs the vitamins and minerals in the grain, you don't want to eliminate it entirely. Ration balancers are a great option for obese horses. These grains are meant to be fed in small quantities and provide all the necessary vitamins and trace minerals. Most commercial grain companies offer ration balancers, making them easily accessible for most horse owners.

Exercise

Exercise helps reduce body fat, increase muscle, and strengthen bones. Most overweight or obese horses are out of shape, so you need to increase their workouts slowly. Start with a 5-6 day workout plan. Depending on your horse's condition and your preference, you can play on the ground or ride. Start by walking with a few increments of slow trot over 30 minutes. Repeat this a few times per week. Increase the duration and intensity as your horse becomes more fit.  

The Parelli 7 Games On Line and at Liberty are a great way to incorporate more movement on the ground and increase your horse’s mental, emotional and physical health.  The 7 Games are a balance of bonding and yielding exercises that are good for any horse and a key component to building a healthy, life long relationship with your horse.  Click here to learn more and get started having fun, increasing movement and growing your relationship with your horse today!