Watch Your Horse’s Weight

Some simple checks to ensure your horse is dropping the pounds where necessary…

Horses, it seems, are just like people, and attempts to lose some weight and stay healthy can come to a halt.

We often have the opposite problem here at Remus Horse Sanctuary, as our rescues often come to us in very poor condition, and in need of adding on several kilos.

However, if you are struggling to keep your own animal at a healthy weight, especially after the summer when they’ve been snacking on all that lovely grass, here are some useful tips:

• Up the energy: If horses are eating more calories than they are burning off they will gain weight. They either need to be ridden more, or their calorie intake needs to be reduced.
• Review their diet plan: Horses eat a lot of grass in summer, which can affect their calorie intake. You can also check the nutritional content of hay and haylage that they consume. Choose a forage source that is low in protein, sugar and digestible energy, with more non-digestible fibre. You’ll find lots of feed advice on the Dengie website.
• Use a supplement: If your horse has a forage-only diet, ensure they are getting a vitamin and mineral supplement. A balancer designed for good doers offers a low-calorie way to meet a horse’s daily vitamin and mineral requirements.
• Get advice: If you are at all unsure about your horse’s diet or weight loss progress, seek advice from the nutrition experts at your feed company.

For more detailed advice on helping your horse achieve their healthy weight head to: www.yourhorse.co.uk/fit-not-fat/stubborn-weight-loss.

Although our Open Days have now finished for the 2024 season, we have lots of other fundraising events planned for the remainder of the year, including our new wreath making workshop in December, and would love to see you there!