COLUMBIA, Missouri: It's a lovely spring morning in a quiet country town. While the weather is a bit nippy, it's otherwise just right to let the horses out of the barn for some much-needed exercise.
The ranch-hands take bits and bridles and start saddling up the horses. However they can't help but notice that the cinches are a lot tighter this time around. Why? Well, to be blunt, our horses are getting fatter.
Maybe it shouldn't be such a surprise, following the release of the first diet pills for dogs, people spoiling their pets, and the latest figures on pet obesity.
It seems our modern-day equines need to horse around some more, at least according to researchers published in industry journal Horsetalk.
Philip Johnson, professor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the University of Missouri- Columbia, says that "there is a striking parallelism between humans and horses when it comes to obesity," and adds that "some of the very same problems humans encounter with obesity may also occur in horses."
Like many of their owners, it seems that horses are naturally just big couch potatoes- (or "paddock potatoes", according to Horsetalk). And just like us, our equine friends have a genuine need to get their daily exercise (such as helping to round up cattle, or training for a race) or they will continue to pack on the pounds.
"Horses need to be exercised daily in meaningful ways," Johnson said. He recommends to owners to "push their horses for a more strenuous exercise." Apparently, it's not enough to just ride your horse for 20 minutes twice a week.
And again, just as with their human owners (or friends, if you will), an obese horse is at a much greater risk of a wide range of medical problems and conditions. Researchers believe fat horses risk suffering from nasties such as heart disease, diabetes, joint problems, hyperlipemia and endocrine problems including insulin resistance.
One particularly debilitating condition in extreme equine obesity is laminitis, which often affects a horse's front hooves. The sheer weight of a fat horse's body sometimes forces the entire bony column in the horse's 'foot' to sink within the bottom of the hoof capsule, creating a great deal of discomfort (or even pain) for the horse. In the worst cases of laminitis, the horse has to be put down.
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“An obese horse is at a much greater risk of a wide range of medical problems and conditions... such as heart disease, diabetes, joint problems, hyperlipemia and endocrine problems including insulin resistance.”
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Making things harder for horses to drop those pesky inches is the fact that some owners don't see equine obesity as a problem at all - these owners actually like to see their horses plump and well-fed (as opposed to being lean and "sickly"), thus purposely overfeeding their equine pets with inappropriately-rich foods. As if this isn't bad enough, some horse owners even feed their horses the wrong type of grass (genetically altered) - the kind meant for quickly fattening up domestic food animals like cows and sheep.
Maybe this shouldn't be such a surprise - dog owners are already flocking to give their canines doggy beer and canine ice creams. Why should horse owners be different?
Horses, like many other animals such as bears, are designed to build up fat reserves to help see themselves through winter, then to lose all that extra weight by running around when spring comes.
Several groups are trying to raise awareness of this growing issue. In response to a drastic increase in reports of laminitis in the United Kingdom, the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) launched "Right Weight Road Shows", a series of events meant to educate horse owners to the health risks associated with horse obesity, according to magazine Horse and Hound UK.
More than just diet and exercise, proper equine care must be enhanced with a better understanding of horse obesity, and changing our view of healthy horses.
"The type of horse considered suitable to win a show class today is, in fact, obese," says Robert Eustace FRCVS, founder of the Laminitis Trust. "This 'ideal' then filters down the line."
Horses would eat anything you give them. If you don't control it and just put their food in sight at all times, they would not stop eating. But if you feed them in proper portions, there's less risk for them being obese. Of course, exercise goes without saying. Horses are made to help in the barn or made to do some work. They are not like dogs who would run around on their own if you put them in a huge space. Horses stay put and not exercise unless somebody controls them.
You know what- even as kids- we were taught that fat horses were the way to go- coz it means they're well-fed with a lot of energy to burn. Which is alright as long as you keep them exercised. But, yes, there are a LOT of fat horses out there- and it's true, look at all the parades and horse-shows and everything. I was only recently told by our vet that we need to keep our horses trim- and I have to admit, I'm having a hard time because I'd like my horses to always have a bag of oats to munch on, or maybe some apples.
I had to put down one of our horses a few months ago because of laminitis. Our vet said that the horse must have eaten some frosted grass- no idea how it caused the poor horse so much pain, but we had to put her to sleep.
if its bad for people its definitely even worse for animals. im actually not surprised. ive seen a lot of obese dogs and cats in my neighborhood alone. what makes other pets like horses any different? its just sad that people even think that fattening up their pets are a pretty sight. cant imagine having my pet put to sleep because of my own doing. i myself make sure that my horse maintain a specific weight and she is fed properly.
You know maybe Pet Shed can do a special about this. I'm sure there's something like an ideal body weight range for certain kinds of horses- as consideration taking body types, maybe the species of horse, age, etc. Look, I don't even know what MY ideal body weight is. I need someone to tell me I'm getting way to chunky. So I guess we need someone like that for the horses too.
Looks like we have it all- fat cats, fat dogs, fat horses... sadly, we're passing on our own images to our animals. Not entirely a bad thing- as long as you visit your vets and make the best effort to keep them healthy, it will be all good.
We live in a country where obesity is a big problem. It's too bad that this problem is even being passed on to our animals. It's the owner's doing. If you don't control what your horses eat, they would just eat anything! Horses can't say, "I'll eat this for next time. I'm on a diet. I'm getting fat."
It never crossed my mind that horses can be fat too. Horses are made to work. When they work, they get a lil exercise. Maybe some people out there keep their horses as pets so they don't get around and work. but all the horses i've seen so far work! There are diet pills for dogs. Are there weight controllers for this big ones?
I'm a bit confused. How can horses be obese? They eat grass and grains I mean it's worse than being on Atkins. How can they get fat from that? If I were on a diet of grains and veggies I'd probably lose 10lbs my first week.
Tashika: You have no idea how many horses out there are kept under very appalling conditions. compared to dogs and cats, they are rather high-maintenance animals- you need to spend time with them, you need to get them to run or trot a few hours a day, you have to clean them and their stalls, and spend a little bit more time with them after all is done. Horses are magnificent creatures, but we have to do our part to take care of them too.
I know some people who never let their horses out to run around. They are overfed & kept in their stalls. Over the years each horse died of laminitis due to no exercise whatsoever. These were well groomed Quarterhorses who never got to go outside on their 2 acres that was always kept beautifully mowed. Their vet even tried to tell them why their horses were lame but they knew better & refused to listen. They said their horses didn't like to go out. This was pure neglect on the owners part. Everyone hears about starvation but here is the other side of the coin!
why isnt anyone complaining about overweight cats?
no animal deserves to be overfed especially beautiful animals like horses. they are running animals and it would be a shame if they cant even run around because of being overweight.
I've seen fat horses. Not a pretty sight to look at. Chubby dogs and cats can pass off as a bit cute, but a fat horse? man, you've gotta feel sorry for those creatures! you'd immediately hate the owners for neglecting these big ones.
I personally feel so sorry for fat horses. horses are bred to work. They have so much power inside them but they cannot use it. What a waste if they are overfed and cannot do the work they are destined to do.
not only horses are getting obese. other pets like dogs and cats are also getting too heavy for their own good. people should really start to take this seriously.
i heard about this dog obesity pill. i hope they can also design one for horses who are obese. every time i see a horse suffering from being over weight, i feel so sorry for them.
it's a sad fact but admittedly many pet owners have a tendency to over feed their pets and this leads to pet obesity. people should really control themselves and not give in especially when their pets beg for some food or treats. in the end, it's for their benefit.
I didn't know that grass nowadays contains fats...seriously it's kinda different to look at a fat horse simply because horses are naturally active.
I definitely agree with Judith, well having pets is binded with a responsibility.A responsibilty not just to nourished them with food but provide them the right amount food and with valuable nutritional content....