What do you do if you put your horse on a very strict diet to control
his weight but he is not getting any thinner? You swear he is getting
fat on air, but more than likely your horse has found a way to get
around your efforts. Your horse is probably sneaking treats when you
are not looking!
Horse Diet Busters
If you think your horse can't possibly be sneaking treats, consider
some of these diet-busters:
Short Dead Grass
While the short dead grass in the turnout paddock looks like it can't
possibly have any calories, the grass roots may actually be loaded
with sugar. When grass is stressed by drought or frost it produces
extra sugar, especially near the roots.
Acorns and Mesquite Beans
The fall is a hard time to control weight on a pasture pony because
nature tries to provide a bounty of high-calorie foods to fatten up
the wildlife for winter. Many times owners tell me that they have oak
trees, but they never see the horses eating acorns. Trust me, the
horses are munching on acorns or the ground would be covered with
them. Squirrels can only eat so many. Your horse is probably snacking
when you are not looking or late at night.
Weeds
Those scrubby-looking flowers and leafy weeds can be high in calories.
Many weeds like dandelion and thistle are very tasty to horses, and
even though they are average in sugar content the calories can add up
if your horse eats a lot of them.
Feed Supplements
Corn syrup or dextrose may be added to formulated supplements to make
them taste better. Read the labels. Food-based supplements such as
aloe and slippery elm are both high in carbohydrates, so when these
products are needed cut back slightly on other feeds.
Treats
If your horse constantly begs for horse treats, learn to look the
other way. Horse treats are the equine equivalent of cookies and
candy, and should be strictly off limits for overweight horses. Offer
your horse a carrot or special low-carb treat instead.
Feeding the Overweight Horse
Is your horse still overweight despite the fact that he is definitely
not finding any extra treats, is getting some kind of exercise, and is
being fed between 1 and 1.5% of his body weight? If so, you will need
to consider hormone imbalances. A cresty neck or extra fat around the
shoulders and tail head can be indicators of insulin resistance. These
horses need very tightly controlled diets and mineral balancing to
control insulin levels.
Never feed any horse less than 1% of his body weight. If you horse
acts hungry all the time there is a good chance he is not getting all
the nutrients he needs. He will need fewer calories, but more
nutrient-dense food such as alfalfa or blue green algae. Fat is also a
necessary part of every horse's diet, but most vegetable oils have
only empty calories. Chia seeds are a great source of fat for the
overweight horse. They provide a wonderful balance of fatty acids and
have a good mineral profile for the horse. A quarter cup a day of
these seeds will be plenty for most horses.
For a horse dieting can be just as frustrating as it is for people.
After all they love to eat just like we do. Extra exercise will work
off calories so you can feed some occasional treats or skip the diet
for a day. An hour of steady exercise will even keep insulin levels
under control for 24 hours. If you don't have time to ride, consider
leasing your horse out to someone who can work him or set up his
paddock so he has to cover plenty of ground to get to salt and water.
Good luck and don't give up!
Resources for Owners of Insulin-Resistant, Cushings, and
Laminitis Horses
If your horse isn't just on a diet but actually has
insulin-resistance, Cushings, or laminitis, then you will probably
need to buy special feed and supplements designed especially for your
horse. You may also want to consider different ways to manage your
horse, such as structuring your paddock differently, so that your
horse remains happy, even on a special or limited diet.
Here are some resources that may help you and your horse with
insulin-resistance, Cushings, or laminitis:
Articles about these conditions
Ebook on these conditions
Special products for these conditions
About the Author
Madalyn Ward, DVM, owns Bear Creek Veterinary Clinic in Austin, Texas. She is certified in Veterinary Homeopathy and Equine Osteopathy. Memberships include American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Texas Veterinay Medical Association and the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy. She has authored several books and publishes the monthly newsletter, “Holistic Horsekeeping.”
Contact
Madalyn Ward DVM
11608 FM 1826
Austin, TX 78737
303-575-1170
www.holistichorsekeeping.com
www.horseharmony.com
www.horseharmonytest.com
www.yourhorsebook.com
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