AQHA Magazine March / April 2022 | Page 44

PG . 42
AQHA HORSE HEALTH

BODY WEIGHT BODY CONDITION

BODY WEIGHT , BODY CONDITION , BODY COMPOSITION – FAT OR FIT ? AND HOW TO KEEP BODYWEIGHT OFF EASY KEEPERS ©
ARTICLE BY : DR JENNIFER STEWART BVSC BSC PHD EQUINE VETERINARIAN AND CONSULTANT NUTRITIONIST CEO JENQUINE
To ‘ EAT LIKE A HORSE ’ means to have a very big appetite ! Horses eat large amounts of food and they like to eat all the time . Horses are also not particularly concerned about their weight . But , being overweight is as problematic for horses as it is for humans and the underlying causes are often the same — too many calories and not enough exercise . Left unchecked , excess weight can lead to some serious veterinary conditions . Horse obesity is a major health and welfare issue . Regardless of their age , horses that are overweight are at higher risk of overheating and poor performance , laminitis , tendon and joint issues .
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION - WWW . AQHA . COM . AU