| Hazards of Obesity
Evaluating Body Condition
Condition Scores
What's Ideal
Weight Reduction
Help for Hay Bellies
Maintaining Proper Weight
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Feeding is one of the most rewarding chores of horse ownership. But many horses, 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 Back to Top
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) A-the amount of flesh or fat covering along the neck, Bthe 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.”
CONDITION SCORES Back to Top
Score of 1-Poor: The horse is emaciated. The spinous processes (backbone), ribs, tailhead, and hooks and pins, all project prominently. The bone structures of the withers, shoulders, and neck, are easily noticeable, and no fat can be felt anywhere.
Score of 2-Very Thin: The spinous processes are prominent. The ribs, tailhead, and pelvic bones stand out; and bone structures of the withers, neck, and shoulders are faintly discernable.
Score of 3-Thin: The spinous processes stand out, but fat covers them to midpoint. Very slight fat cover can be felt over the ribs, but the spinous processes and ribs are easily discernible. The tailhead is prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be seen. Hook bones are visible, but appear rounded. Pin bones cannot be seen. The withers, shoulders, and neck are accentuated.
Score of 4-Moderately Thin: The horse has a negative crease along its back, and the outline of the ribs can just be seen. Fat can be felt around the tailhead. The hook bones cannot be seen; and the withers, neck, and shoulders do not look obviously thin.
Score of 5-Moderate: The back is level. Ribs cannot be seen, but can be easily felt. Fat around the tailhead feels slightly spongy. The withers look rounded, and the shoulder and neck blend smoothly into the body.
Score of 6-Moderately Fleshy: There may be a slight crease down the back. Fat around the tailhead feels soft, and fat over the ribs feels spongy. There are small deposits along the sides of the withers, behind the shoulders, and along the sides of the neck.
Score of 7-Fleshy: There may be a crease down the back. Individual ribs can be felt, but there is noticeable fat between the ribs. Fat around the tailhead is soft. Fat is noticeable in the withers, the neck, and behind the shoulders.
Score of 8-Fat: The horse has a crease down the back. Spaces between ribs are so filled with fat that the ribs are difficult to feel. The area along the withers is filled with fat, and fat around the tailhead feels very soft. The space behind the shoulders is filled in flush, and some fat is deposited along the inner buttocks.
Score of 9-Extremely Fat: The crease down the back is very obvious. Fat appears in patches over the ribs; and there is bulging fat around the tailhead, withers, shoulders, and neck. Fat along the inner buttocks may cause buttocks to rub together, and the flank is filled in flush.
WHAT’S IDEAL Back to Top
For most horses, body condition scores in the “Moderate” to “Moderately Fleshy” range, (scores of 5 or 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 or 9 are definite candidates for a weight reduction plan.
WEIGHT REDUCTION Back to Top
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 a way that will not stress the horse. Changes in both exercise and nutrition should be gradual.
By increasing the amount of exercise, you can revup 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 that does not 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 percent over a 7 to 10-day period.
• Track your horse’s progress 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 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 are met. A supplement may be added to the ration to compensate for lower quality, less nutrient dense feeds.
HELP FOR HAY BELLIES Back to Top
A “hay belly” may or may not be associated with true obesity. Many horses, 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 Back to Top
Once your horse has reached its 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 affect a horse’s health, keep a good line of communication with your veterinarian. Schedule regular check-ups, especially during the weight reduction process.
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Bayer Corporation, Animal Health,