WEIGHT

As important as it is for a horse to receive adequate nutrition throughout his life, it’s also important to keep him from getting fat. “If you want your horse to live a long time, don’t let him get too heavy at any point in his life,” says Robertson.

Obesity doesn’t stress a horse’s cardiac system as it can in people, but it presents another risk that is just as deadly. “Horses who are overweight, and especially those who stay that way, are at an increased risk of developing laminitis and founder,” says Judd.

Potentially devastating inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the hooves, laminitis is often triggered---through a variety of mechanisms---by diets that are too rich. Founder is an internal deformity of the foot that occurs when weakened laminae can no longer support the coffin bone, allowing it to