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How would you react to someone saying your horse is not just a bit chubby, but truly obese? Would you immediately delve into the five stages of grief, navigating swiftly from anger and denial to depression and acceptance?

If so, you are not alone. Studies show approximately one-fifth to one-half of horses should be categorized as obese. A recent study* of 96 horses conducted by a group of researchers from the United Kingdom confirmed the epidemic of equine obesity, finding 35% of the research group had a body condition score of greater than 7 out of 9.

How serious is this? The researchers noted that obesity could be considered “the most important welfare issue affecting equines in Western countries.”

What’s wrong with a pudgy pony or a husky horse? For starters, obese horses are at risk for insulin resistance. This condition occurs when the horse’s body fails to respond to the hormone insulin as it normally would, resulting in increased levels of insulin in the bloodstream. As a result, more sugar remains in circulation rather than being taken up by cells and used for energy. Over time, the high insulin and sugar levels negatively impact the horse’s overall health.

Overweight and obese horses are also at risk for laminitis and osteoarthritis. Both conditions are potentially life-threatening, can be a source of chronic pain, and limit the use of the horse, even if the horse is only used recreationally. Being overweight can also contribute to injuries.

According to the UK researchers, one conceivable explanation for the high rate of equine obesity is that “owner perception of body condition has been skewed upwards due to the high prevalence of overweight and obese horses/ponies.”

This clearly puts the onus on horse owners to recognize and appropriately manage their horses’ weights to maximize health.

*Giles, S.L., S.A. Rands, C.J. Nicol, et al. 2014. Obesity prevalence and associated risk factors in outdoor living domestic horses and ponies. PeerJ 2:e299.

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