WHAT DOES AN OBESE HORSE LOOK LIKE?

This is the biggest hurdle we face as, over time, horse owners have become ever more accustomed to seeing overweight horses as ‘normal’ and, as a result, many don’t realise that their horse is in danger.

Horses carry their fat in variable places, just like humans. The obvious fat pads are in the crest and on the shoulders and rump, but fat can also be stored over the ribs and at the top of the tail, among other areas, and in varying proportions depending on the individual. Intra-abdominal fat is the most difficult to assess as it sits around the internal organs. This ‘hidden’ fat can be quite significant and so it should be considered when assessing your horse.