It is well known that many horses will happily eat beyond the caloric requirements to maintain a moderate body condition. Combining improved forages with calorically dense grains and little exercise is a recipe for disaster, but not uncommon for many horses.
Our horse’s ancestors were designed to meet their nutrient requirements by moving and eating continuously on low calorie forage. It is easy to see the mismatch in most modern management systems.
Achieving weight loss in horses can be difficult at best. Simply withholding grain or concentrate is often not enough. Reducing their forage intake, whether pasture or hay, can result in a bored, frustrated horse whose digestive tract then goes haywire. So, what do we do?
Caloric restriction, not nutrient restriction.
Ideally, more mature, less calorically dense hays would be selected. This is often a frustrating task for the horse owner as most hay producers attempt to produce the highest quality, most nutritious hay harvested at the ideal stage of maturity. If you can find hay that may be more mature, or less calorically dense, it is often low in other important nutrients. Owners may need to add a more nutrient dense feed, such as ration balancers or similar supplements, to provide the needed protein, vitamins and minerals without the extra calories.
Which hay?
In general, warm season grasses which are prevalent in Oklahoma will be lower in caloric density compared to cool season grasses or legumes. However, nutrient density of warm season grasses, such as Bermuda, will vary with hay producer inputs. Avoid high calorie legumes as the primary forage, but supplementing some alfalfa for protein may be appropriate.
Know your weight
Restricting the horse to consuming a portion of its body weight in consideration of the energy density of the forage is key. Many owners traditionally feed by offering flakes of hay, but this can provide a wide range of feeding weights. Investing in a scale to weigh each meal will allow owners to properly monitor the horse’s intake. Further, regularly performing body weight estimations of the horse are a critical part of tracking the horse’s progress and providing feedback relative to the plan’s success.
In general, most owners can safely reduce a horse’s intake to 1.5% of its body weight. However, some horses may be weight loss resistant and require a more stringent plan. If feeding below 1.5% it is highly recommended to consult with a nutritionist, as well as someone versed in behavioral management practices.
No pasture for you!
One of the most difficult situations to manage weight loss in horses is if they are housed on pasture. Even restricting the time on turnout to pasture may be inadequate as horses may just learn to eat quicker in their allotted time. Grazing muzzles are a useful strategy to decrease pasture intake, but recognize that not all horses will tolerate muzzles, or may learn to eat around them.
Knowing your feed
A hay analysis is an important first step in managing the obese horse as it allows the owner to calculate exactly what feed restriction is needed. Additionally, many owners may not be able to source hay specifically for just obese horses. Soaking hay prior to feeding and draining the resultant liquor can reduce the amount of water soluble nutrients. Note that this will also result in leaching of other water soluble nutrients as well. Again, this is where a ration balancer can help fill the gaps.
Keep them busy
One of the largest pieces of the weight loss puzzle is keeping the horse busy and not frustrated by lack of access of forage. Using slow feeders, whether hay nets or grids can greatly extend feeding time. Even using multiple feeders spread throughout their enclosure can encourage some movement and “grazing” behavior. Other options include puzzle feeders for pellet dispensing; just be sure you count that as part of their calories for the day. Consider adding some other training, like groundwork, to keep their mind busy by learning novel tasks.
Weight loss in horses is difficult, but impossible. Weigh your feed and routinely monitor your horse’s BCS and weight. Aim for gradual weight loss and keep those horse’s happy!
