Weight management strategies for overweight horses 

When implementing weight management strategies for overweight horses it’s important to consider: 

• That horses have a behavioural and physiological need to chew and require a high fibre, forage-based diet 
• Movement is essential for weight loss, so restrictive management practices need to be balanced with plenty of opportunities for movement, exercise and socialisation with other horses  
• If you are on a livery yard or rented yard, you may require permission from the yard or landowner to try some of the strategies we outline below 
• Infrastructure or surface changes may require planning permission from your local authority 

Environmental management strategies 

Strip grazing 

Strip grazing involves setting up a fence – usually electric fencing with plastic fence posts – across the horses’ field. The aim is to move the fence ‘back’ on to fresh grass each day to restrict the amount of grass the horses are consuming. Ideally, a second strip of fence should be used to follow the horses so that the grass behind can re-grow and the horse’s intake is not increased by eating the new grass shoots in the area they have cleared. The space between the two fences should be big enough for all the horses in the area to have access to the grass, play and free exercise, avoiding conflict over resources.  

Strip grazing is usually implemented over spring and summer. As the weather gets warmer and biting insects may be present during these times, it’s important to ensure that horses are not shut off from their water source or appropriate shelter. When planning your strip grazing consider whether you will need to use additional water buckets and whether there is enough natural shelter (trees and hedges) if access to a man-made shelter is cut off.  

How much you move the fence each day will depend on the number of horses in the area, the amount and type of grass the horses have access to and whether you are planning to graze the area bare.  

Use of dry lots/surfaced pens 

Dry lots can be areas of paddocks that have been grazed bare or areas that have been cleared of grass and surfaced using hardcore, arena surface or woodchip. These areas should be big enough to allow for at least 2 horses to be in them together and for forage to be provided in ways that mimic foraging and grazing.  

Movement is key for weight loss, so rather than feeding stations where the horses’ daily ration of hay (ideally soaked to remove excess sugars) is in one location, try and spread the horses’ hay out using a number of small-holed hay nets or slow- release hay feeders. This encourages movement and increases foraging time – both of which help fulfil the horses’ biological and behavioural needs.  

Please be aware that changing an area from grass to a surface such hardcore or concrete may require the landowner and/or local authority permission.  

Track Systems 

Tracks can be set up around the perimeters of fields and can be grass/bare earth or surfaced. They need to be wide enough for horses to pass each other in both directions with ease, have wide corners so horses can balance on turns, and have resources (such as hay) spread out over the distance of the track to encourage movement. Similar to the dry lots, try and avoid feed using one feeding station, but spread their forage out over the distance of the track using small-holed hay nets. Consider having their hay on a separate side to the water to encourage movement between resources. Ensure there is enough resources for the number of horses on the track, this includes availability of shelter.  

Depending on the type and needs of the horses, some may be able to graze on the grass in the centre of the track or alternatively, this could be strip grazed, left to become standing hay or cut as a hay crop. Using weight management strategies such as strip grazing and a track in combination can help manage your land and add diversity to your horse’s day. For example, they could be on track overnight, allowed to strip graze for a few hours per day and then put back onto the track in the afternoon. It’s all about finding what works for your horses, the land and for you. 

As for dry lots, please be aware that changing an area from grass to a surface such as hardcore or concrete may require the landowner and/or local authority permission. 

Overseeding/reseeding 

In the UK, many yards are set up on old dairy pastures. The grass (perennial ryegrass) on these pastures is designed for high production dairy cows – e.g., turning sugars and protein into milk. Horses have a very different dietary need. They need coarse, high fibre grasses. Where possible, consider overseeding (seeding over an existing established grass) or reseeding (rotovating and sowing from scratch) with grasses such as timothy grass, cocksfoot or meadow fescues. 

Alternatively, you can find many premixed meadow grass mixes that do not contain ryegrass that will increase the biodiversity of your pasture as well as being a more suitable alternative to ryegrass. Depending on the degree of weight loss needed, you may still need to strip graze or use a track to restrict grass intake even with these higher fibre grasses.  

Exercising for weight loss 

When designing an exercise plan for an overweight horse, you need to think about gradual steps you can take to increase their exercise. Remember, we are not only targeting the fat we see deposited over the horse’s body, but also the fat around the horse’s internal organs. Overweight horses are also more likely to have arthritic changes which also need to be factored into an exercise programme. Low intensity walk work can be a great way to help burn extra calories, without overloading your horse’s joints.  

Stretching 

Stretching can be a gentle way to start a low intensity exercise programme. Stretches will allow you to assess your horse’s current range of motion and flexibility, as well as show you how and where their fat pads may be influencing their movement.  Adding simple stretches into your horse’s daily routine can be a good way of increasing low level activity. We recommend working with a veterinary physiotherapist to help design a programme of stretches that meet the needs of your horse. Holding stretches can burn calories, so it’s important to make sure your horse is stretching correctly. Having a veterinary physiotherapist observe you can be helpful.  

The Wonders of Walking 

Whether your horse is a non-ridden companion or can be ridden, increasing their time spent walking can really help their weight loss journey. Walking can be incorporated into your horse’s routine via hand walking, walking under saddle, long reining and riding and leading. Each will have its own benefits and limitations depending on your circumstances but using more than one method can help keep your horse interested and motivated in the activity. 

Hill work 

If your land or local area has hills, they are a great, free asset to help burn fat and build fitness, especially if your horse is limited to walk work. Horses find it harder to walk up hill than trot or canter. Also consider the speed at which you come down the hill – aim for a collected walk, to really engage the horse’s core and ask them to balance.  

Pole work 

Walking your horse over ground poles or slightly raised poles (cavalettis) is another useful low intensity exercise tool. Walking over poles has been shown to be beneficial for engaging horses’ core muscles as well as improving the range of motion of their joints. There are a variety of pole work layouts to try, but it is essential to start simple and gradually increase the complexity, so your horse is not over challenged physically, but also mentally able to cope with what you are asking them to do.  

Loose schooling 

Loose schooling can be a great way to start introducing trot and canter work into your horse’s exercise plan, especially if they have limited turnout and therefore limited ability to freely exercise (e.g., play and canter around the field). When loose schooling, it’s important to make sure your horse is responsive to your voice commands and that you’re confident sharing the space with a loose horse that may be quite excited to be free! 

Where possible, try and work the horse evenly in both directions, moving them around the school and changing direction using your body positioning, arm cues and where necessary a schooling whip used in accordance with learning theory.  

High intensity workouts 

Once your horse has started to lose weight, their fitness has improved and if they are ridden, you may wish to start including some higher intensity exercise. This can include speed work e.g., galloping or interval training. We would highly recommend working with an experience coached and/or rider to help you plan this type of exercise regime. 

For horses that are ‘good doers’ it’s important to remember that they ideally need to be in a calorie deficit (e.g., use more calories than they are eating) to help with weight loss. If you start increasing the intensity of their exercise, try and fight the urge to add additional unnecessary calories to their diet. Their diet should remain forage based and be balanced for vitamins, minerals and protein that is commonly deficient if UK grass and conserved forage (hay and haylage).