TWO LIFESTYLE AREAS TO REASSESS

1 PHYSICAL/MENTAL WELLBEING

■ As much turnout as possible — grass intake needs to be regulated by type of field, size of field, number of horses grazing and use of grazing muzzles.

■ Turnout with other horses — interaction between horses increases the amount they move when turned out.

■ Use a track system — any field can be adapted to encourage greater movement. There are some fabulous guides to this available (see ‘Further reading’, below).

■ Ride as frequently as you can

— consider sharing your horse if you struggle to find the time yourself.

■ Vary the type of exercise — schooling, jumping, hacking, in-hand.

■ Vary the terrain — arena, grass, road, hill work, water.

■ Avoid rugging or use the lightest rug possible — this will encourage movement and your horse will expend excess calories to keep himself warm.

■ Toys and feeders — safe toys and trickle-feeders, such as treat balls, can be used to increase movement and create mental stimulation in order to access food.

■ Forage feeding — where there is a need to supplement the diet with hay or concentrate feed, this can be done in a way that increases movement; for example, dividing up rations and locating them in different parts of the field.

2 DIET

■ Make forage and a balancer the priority — only feed hard/concentrate feed if forage intake is at a maximum/ad lib and more energy is required in order for your horse to carry out the work he does.

■ Slow the rate of feeding — where forage intake needs to be limited, try to slow the rate of feeding by using tricklefeeding nets and grazing muzzles. Strip grazing (when done correctly) and track systems can slow grass intake.