🐴 Is Your Horse Fat? 2025 Vet Advice for Equine Obesity and Laminitis Risk ⚖️

Equine obesity is a growing problem and, unfortunately, one that many horse owners don’t recognize. Dr. Duncan Houston shares essential tips for spotting weight issues, understanding the risks of overweight horses—especially laminitis—and how to take proactive steps to ensure your horse stays healthy and happy in 2025. 🐎❤️

🧐 Most Owners Underestimate Their Horse's Weight

A recent Swiss study published in The Horse found that over 27% of horses in the study were overweight, but not a single owner rated their horse as such. Using a 1-6 body condition scoring system (where 6 is obese), researchers and owners rated the same horses very differently. This shows a common disconnect: owners often don't see the weight gain.

🧍‍♀️Interestingly, the owner’s body weight had no correlation to their horse’s weight. Even thin people were keeping overweight horses—proving that misjudgment is common across the board.

📏 How to Tell If Your Horse is Overweight

Here are some key signs of obesity in horses:

• Ribs are difficult or impossible to feel
• Fat deposits behind the shoulders or over the ribs
• Cresty, thickened neck 🐴
• Soft, jiggly fat around the tail head
• Reduced stamina or heat intolerance during exercise

Not sure? Ask your vet to assess your horse’s body condition score (BCS) during a wellness exam—ideally twice per year. 📆

🔬 Breed Susceptibility: “Easy Keepers”

Some horse breeds are more efficient at using food, meaning they are genetically predisposed to gain weight easily. These “easy keepers” include many native pony breeds, draft crosses, and some quarter horses. 🧬

If your horse belongs to a breed that’s efficient at weight gain, you’ll need to be even more diligent with their feeding and exercise routines.

⚠️ The Hidden Danger: Laminitis

The most serious consequence of obesity is laminitis, a painful and potentially devastating foot condition. Laminitis occurs when inflammation damages the sensitive tissues within the hoof—often leading to rotation of the coffin bone (founder).

Overweight horses are at a much higher risk of laminitis, especially if fed diets high in nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs), such as grains, lush green grass, or rich hays. 🌾🔥

🥗 Feed Recommendations for Overweight Horses

Dr. Duncan Houston recommends the following dietary adjustments for overweight or at-risk horses in 2025:

• 🥕 Remove pasture access—especially during spring and fall when sugar levels spike
• 🌾 Eliminate all grains and sweet feeds
• 🍃 Feed only hay that is under 10% nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs)
• 🧪 Test hay for sugar/starch content before feeding—visual inspection is not enough
• 🧂 Provide daily salt and electrolyte balance to stimulate thirst and hydration

If hay analysis isn't available, consider soaking hay for 30 minutes before feeding to reduce soluble sugars. 💧

🏃‍♂️ The Role of Exercise

Exercise is vital! Not only does it help with weight loss, but it also improves metabolic health and increases insulin sensitivity.

Start with daily hand-walking, groundwork, or lunging sessions and slowly build duration. Turnout in a dry lot paddock (with a grazing muzzle if needed) also helps mimic natural movement. 🐎💨

📉 Weight Loss = Health Gain

Losing just 10-15% of body weight can dramatically reduce laminitis risk and improve your horse’s energy and attitude. Start small but be consistent. 🎯

📱 Vet-Approved Support from Ask A Vet

Need help creating a weight loss plan or testing your hay for NSCs? Dr. Duncan Houston and the team at Ask A Vet are here to help. Get nutrition consultations, lab support, and personalized diet planning by visiting AskAVet.com or downloading the Ask A Vet app today. 📲

2025 is the year to take control of your horse’s health—one scoop at a time! 🐴🥣