Using drought to diet, but do it responsibly

Overweight pony or horse? This drought is your ally, not an excuse to feed more. Your horse's health relies on smart restraint from you, not emotional generosity in the form of hay (and therefore additional unwanted calories).

Using drought to support a healthy diet can be a blessing. Drought isn’t just a hassle, it can be a useful tool to help horses and ponies who need time in calorie deficit for their improved health.

With grass growth stunted by drought, many horse owners panic and load up on hay "just because." ... BUT we'll always be honest with you, that instinct may feel well thought, but it’s often wrong. ESPECIALLY when your horse is already carrying excess weight.

Blue Chip Low Calorie Feed Balancer - For Weight Loss

Your heart vs your horse’s health

Watching your horse nibble a bare paddock can feel heartless. Many owners fear their horse is starving, and act emotionally by feeding hay. BUT STOP, in reality:

• Horses thrive on 1.5  to 2 % of body weight/day in forage
• For a 500 kg horse, that’s 7.5 to 10 kg in TOTAL
• This is NOT unlimited hay or grass
  
• Allowing slight weight loss during drought is healthy not harmful
• Treat drought periods as you would a winter weight loss period
• We often don't get this benefit during the grazing season, utilise it positively
• Ensure forage provision never drops below 1 % bodyweight/day

But what about ulcers?

• Horses are trickle feeders, evolved to graze for 16 to 18 hours per day
• This allows for up to 4 to 6 hours a day WITHOUT access to forage while maintaining healthy digestion
• CHECK DROPPINGS - Know your horses normal, 8-12 droppings/day is healthy
• It might look like there's no grass in your field BUT if your horses droppings are normal in number and appearance then they are getting forage provision
  

Be a responsible owner and don't ignore the reality for your horse as an individual. It is proven that owners underestimate body condition and over 40% miss obvious obesity signs.

FAT is NOT "CUTE". "CHUNKY" is UNHEALTY. "HE CARRIES HIS WEIGHT WELL", NO he doesn't, being overweight causes negative impacts on heart health, respiration, heat regulation, joint mobility, hoof health, and even more!

Slow, fibrous forage helps support healthy digestion and mimics natural grazing. This isn't achieved by carrying a couple of slices of hay to the field for your horse to stand still and consume in 30 minutes. 

Field enrichment is key, try some ideas such as:

• Slow feeders - such as providing their feed balancer in a treat ball
• Straw mixed with low calorie and/or soaked hay at a 25/75% ratio
• Hay/soaked hay and straw mix placed in smaller holed haynets
• Hay/soaked hay and straw mix placed at various points around the field to encourage movement
• Check that total forage provision is only 1.5 to 2 % of bodyweight/day
  

Tough Love - if your horse is overweight:

• Resist automatic topping-up of forage
• Treat your horse as an individual, don’t follow the herd
• A calculated deficit can save health, not endanger it
• Speak to us, we can help - Only 25 % of owners seek professional guidance
• Monitor weight weekly on a weigh tape to track gains and losses
• Body Condition Score regularly (weekly/fortnightly ideally)
• Educate your friends - share useful blogs and content
• Normalise that lean is healthy and that having an overweight equine is not
• If your horse carries extra weight, don’t drown it in hay out of guilt
• Respect their biology - controlled forage, slow feeding, expert guidance
• Turn temporary grass scarcity into long-term health gain

Limit grass, YES! Limit calories, YES! BUT provide suitable levels of forage (don't overfeed) plus a full vitamin, mineral and micronutrient provision.

By feeding a balancer you ensure your horse or pony obtains all they need WITHOUT the addition of excessive calories, starch or sugar. 

ALL Blue Chip balancers are molasses free and INCREDIBLY low in starch and sugar. It's such an easy way to ensure a balanced diet, and Low Calorie even helps assist further with healthy weight loss. 

FINAL FACTS on The UK Obesity Epidemic in horses - Why weight matters

A 2015 British Veterinary Journal study reported that OVER 31% of UK horses are obese (Body Condition Score ≥ 5/6 on a 6-point scale). 

In leisure horses an astounding 45 to 60 % are overweight or obese, yet owners still often misjudge body condition.

Obesity increases risks of heart issues, respiratory strain, joint pain, laminitis, insulin resistance, metabolic issues, arthritis and so much more.

We are always here to help, call us, email or chat on social.