Altered perceptions
We chatted to Dr Sue Dyson, a leading vet in equine orthopaedic care, about why horses are getting bigger, and she was over the moon that we’re tackling the problem head on.
“It seems that the most common issue is the owner’s perception of what big looks like,” she explains. “Horses in perfect condition are often mistaken for underweight and fed accordingly, turning perfect into obese.”
This statement is backed up by a recent study that tested the ability of owners and professionals to recognise obesity. Of the 539 respondents, only 11% correctly identified all the obese horses, while most classed horses in ideal body condition as underweight.
“In human studies, it seems that exposure to obesity has led to an upward shift in what we perceive to be normal, and subsequently we’ve lost sight of what appropriate looks like in both ourselves and our animals,” says Sue. “When you add in the fact that many competition horses (particularly in dressage and showing) are overweight, you can see how the crisis is spiraling. Owners see this and assume it’s normal for them to look like that. It’s ridiculous that some judges place show horses that are clearly overweight. The riders shouldn’t be rewarded for mismanagement.”
The way we feed our horses contributes too. “Not checking ingredients, not weighing anything and using scoops and slices of hay as a measure instead, is piling on the pounds — as is not monitoring the horse’s condition regularly,” adds Sue. “The feed companies all promote correct feeding, but it seems there’s still a lack of knowledge about the topic.” Owners have brought their horses to Sue’s clinic worried about abnormal swellings which, in fact, were fat deposits. It shows that there is still a way to go with education. Remember horses don’t choose their own feed; it’s down to us to get it right. It’s time to take responsibility for them to become and stay slim and healthy. Join us on our journey.