PG . 46
AQHA HORSE HEALTH
7 . Be patient - it may take several months to arrive at your target weight and condition score . After some initial improvements , your horse may plateau , so revisit the feeding and exercise programs to make additional changes .
8 . Think about calories first : A mature horse will lose weight and condition when the number of calories it consumes is less than the number of calories it uses . It isn ’ t healthy to starve a horse into weight loss . Although overweight horses are at risk for numerous health problems , they can also face health problems from losing body weight too quickly . The right combination of diet and exercise is needed .
9 . Understand where calories come from : The horse consumes calories from its pasture , hay and concentrate feed ( such as a sweet feed ). Most people underestimate the importance of hay and pasture in the horse ’ s diet . If hay and pasture are good quality and abundant , they can contribute the majority of the calories that a horse needs !
10 . Dealing with feeding-time frenzy : Some horses become extremely agitated when other horses get concentrate and they don ’ t . Feed a fat horse a small amount ( 150 - 300grams ) of a low sugar , high-protein , high mineral feed ( such as Jenquine all-4-feet ®) at at the same time the other horses get their regular concentrate . This could be less palatable than sugary sweet concentrates , and it may take the horse a few days to adapt , but most horses eventually do !
5 . Don ’ t let your horse become fat . If your horse gains weight easily , act early to keep a healthy weight . Obesity is a cause and an effect of insulin resistance . Keep horses at a healthy weight a BCS < 6 and a CNS < 3 . A horse with a lower BCS score can still have a cresty neck , an indication of insulin troubles . Your vet can perform tests to diagnose this .
6 . Feed hay with low levels of sugars Oat and grass hays have more sugar than lucerne , clover hay has lots of sugar . Soaking hays before feeding and replacing some hay with beet pulp , straw and soy hulls , using nibble nets and slow feeders all help reduce sugar intake . Start with hay at 1.5 % of bodyweight , reducing to 1.25 % if necessary .
11 . Find ways to help your horse burn more calories : Putting a young active horse with a sedentary fat horse may stimulate him to move around more . Turning stabled horses into dry lots for several hours a day can increase their activity . In a paddock , put hay and water away from fence lines , gates , resting places ( and each other ) to encourage movement .
12 . Exercise : Restricting calories and increasing exercise is key to weight loss . Neither done alone is as effective as a combination of the two . Before starting an ambitious exercise program , have a veterinarian and a farrier evaluate your horse to make certain there is no underlying disease or lameness . If your horse is sound and gets the ‘ all clear ’, you can start with lunging 10 minutes a day at a trot for a week , then increase to 15 minutes .
DISCLAIMER : © Jenquine © February 2022 All content provided in this editorial is for general use and information only and does not constitute advice or a veterinary opinion . It is not intended as specific medical advice or opinion and should not be relied on in place of consultation with your equine veterinarian .
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