|
Overweight Horse
Feeding is one of the most rewarding chores of horse ownership. But many
horse, given the opportunity, will eat far more than they need, tipping the
scale into an unhealthy balance. No matter how much your horse enjoys
eating, you do it a disservice by overfeeding. Excess pounds put a strain
on virtually every body system. A far kinder strategy is to supply food
and exercise in proper amounts to keep your horse fit and healthy.
Maintaining the ideal weight is not always easy however. Some
horses are what we call easy keepers. They require minimal calories to
maintain optimal body condition. Ponies, in particular, seem to store
excess energy as fat. Many adult horses too - especially those in their
middle years - begin to retain unneeded weight due to reduced activity and a
slow-down in metabolism. When weight gain becomes extreme, we classify the
horse as obese.
HAZARDS OF OBESITY
Excess weight and over-nutrition have a number of potentially negative effects,
including:
Increased stress on the heart and lungs
Greater risk of laminitis or founder
Increased risk of developmental orthopedic (bone and joint) problems in young, growing horses
More strain on feet, joints and limbs
Worsened symptoms of arthritis
Less efficient cooling of body temperatures
Fat build-up around key organs which interferes with normal function
Reduced reproductive efficiency
Greater lethargy and more easily fatigued
EVALUATING BODY CONDITION
When it comes to a horse's ideal body condition, beauty is often in the eye of
the beholder. For example, a competitive endurance horse is usually leaner
than a show-fit halter horse. Because fitness is subjective, equine
health care professionals utilize a Body Condition Scoring system to talk in
relative terms. The horse's physical condition is rated on visual
appraisal and palpation (feel) of six key conformation points: (See
illustration) of flesh or fat covering along the neck,
B - the withers, C - down the crease of the back, D - at the
tailhead, E - ribs, F - and behind the shoulder at the girth.
Scores range from 1-9, from poor to extremely fat.
The Ideal Body Condition Score is between 5 and 6-1/2
1. Poor
Animal extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae (hip
joints), and ischia (lower pelvic bones) projecting prominently; bone structure
of withers, shoulders, and neck easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt.
2. Very Thin
Animal emaciated; slight fat covering over base of spinous processes, transverse
processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead,
tuber coxae (hip joints) and ischia (lower pelvic bones) prominent; withers,
shoulders, and neck structure faintly discernable.
3. Thin
Fat buildup about halfway on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be
felt; slight fat cover over ribs; spinous processes and ribs easily discernable;
tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be identified visually;
tuber coxae (hip joints), appear rounded but easily discernable;
tuber ischia (lower pelvic bones) not distinguishable; withers, shoulders and
neck accentuated.
4. Moderately Thin
Slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; tailhead prominence
depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it; tuber coxae (hip joints) not
discernable; withers, shoulders and neck not obviously thin.
5. Moderate
Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually distinguishable but easily
felt; fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy; withers appear rounded over
spinous processes; shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body.
6. Moderately Fleshy
May have slight crease down back; fat over ribs spongy; fat around tailhead
soft; fat beginning to be deposited along the side of withers, behind shoulders,
and along sides of neck.
7. Fleshy
May have slight crease down back; individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable
filling between ribs with fat; fat around tailhead soft; fat deposited along
withers, behind shoulders, and along neck.
8. Fat
Crease down back; difficult to feel ribs, fat around tailhead very soft; fat
area along withers filled with fat, area behind shoulder filled with fat,
noticeable thickening of neck; fat deposited along inner thighs.
9. Extremely Fat
Obvious crease down back; patchy fat appearing over ribs, bulging fat around
tailhead; along withers, behind shoulders and along neck, fat along inner thighs
may rub together; flank filled with fat.
WHAT'S IDEAL?
For most horses, body condition scores in the Moderate to Moderately Fleshy
range, (scores of 5 and 6) are ideal. However, keep in mind that the job
of your particular athlete also has a bearing on what weight is appropriate for
maximum performance. Polo, race and endurance horses might be perfectly
fit with body condition scores of 4 (moderately thin), while a body condition
score of 7 (fleshy) may be required for success in the show ring. However,
by feeding a horse to a level of 8, you are starting to push the limits of good
health. Horses with scores of 8 and 9 are definite candidates for a weight
reduction plan.
WEIGHT REDUCTION
You hold the keys to controlling your horse's weight. You'll need to
enforce sound nutrition management, become dedicated to a regular exercise
program, and use restraint when measuring the ration.
When implementing a weight loss program, it's important to do it in
such a way so as not to stress the horse. Changes in both exercise and
nutrition should be gradual.
By increasing the amount of exercise, you can rev-up the horse's
metabolic engine and burn more calories. By shifting to a lower-calorie
diet, you can create an energy deficit so that the horse begins to utilize its
fat reserves as fuel. However, even though the ration provides fewer
calories, it should be balanced so that it continues to provide all the
essential nutrients. Develop a program that will allow your horse to
reduce its weight without any negative side effects.
Here are some guidelines to get you started:
Be patient. Weight reduction should be a slow, steady process so as not to
stress the horse or create metabolic upsets.
Make changes in both the type and amount of feed gradually. Reduce rations
by no more than 10% over a 7 to 10 day period.
Track your horse's progress by using a weight tape. The tapes are
remarkably accurate and provide a good way to gauge weight loss. When the
horse's weight plateaus, gradually cut back its ration again.
Step up the horse's exercise regimen. Gradually build time and intensity
as the horse's fitness improves. Some horses are natural pasture potatoes.
Ride, longe, drive or work the horse on a treadmill rather than rely on free
choice exercise.
Provide plenty of clean, fresh water so the horse's digestive and other systems
function as efficiently as possible and rid the body of metabolic and other
wastes.
Select feeds that provide plenty of high quality fiber but are low in total
energy. Measure feeds by weight rather than by volume to determine
appropriate rations.
Select feeds that are lower in fat since fat is an energy-dense nutrient source.
Switch or reduce the amount of alfalfa hay fed. Replace with a mature
grass or oat hay to reduce caloric intake. This will also satisfy the
horse's need to chew, reduce boredom, and provide fill for its stomach.
Feed separate from other horses so the overweight horse doesn't have a chance to
eat his portion and his neighbor's too. In extreme cases of obesity,
caloric intake may also need to be controlled by limiting pasture intake.
Balance the horse's diet based on age and activity level. Make sure the
horse's vitamin, mineral and protein requirements continue to be met. A
supplement may be added to the ration to compensate for lower quality, less
nutrient dense feeds.
HELP FOR HAY BELLIES
A hay belly may or may not be associated with true obesity. Many horse,
especially the very young and old, may exhibit hay bellies without an associated
build-up of body fat. Hay bellies are a distension of the abdominal area
due to the volume of grass or hay the animal consumes. The belly expands
to handle the load.
To eliminate a hay belly, you need to reduce the total
volume of feed that passes through the system. A well-balanced complete feed may
be a good way to reduce total volume without adversely affecting the amount of
fiber and nutrients required for proper digestion and nutrition.
MAINTAINING PROPER WEIGHT
Once your horse has reached his ideal body condition, maintaining
the proper weight is a gentle balancing act. You will probably need to readjust
your horse's ration to stabilize its weight. Exercise will continue to be a key
component in keeping the horse fit. Because obesity can effect a horse's health,
keep a good line of communication open with your veterinarian. Schedule regular
check-ups, especially during the weight reduction process.
This information is provided by the American Association of Equine
Practitioners.
|