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Blue Cross links rugs in winter with equine obesity
UK-based charity, The Blue Cross, has challenged the use of rugs on horses during the winter months. It says their routine application is unnecessary and may lead to obesity.
"Wild horses naturally lose weight in the winter but domesticated horses can do the opposite, often through the overuse of rugs, stabling and hard feed," says Rosie Mogford, equine welfare education officer for The Blue Cross. "By managing the natural process of weight loss in the winter, there will be less need to restrict feed and grazing come spring - making for a happier horse."
The Blue Cross 'Fat Horse Slim' campaign was launched earlier this year when the charity revealed that 40% of all horses and ponies taken in by its equine centres in 2008 were overweight. It suggests the following ideas to help prevent the development of obesity during the winter:
- With good shelter and somewhere well drained to stand, many horses should be able to stay out day and night to use extra energy, especially if they do little or no work.
- British winters are rarely cold enough to cause adversity. With regular monitoring it is easy to ensure that the horse's health is not put in danger by losing too much weight. A good doer will easily put the weight back on if he loses a bit too much in a cold snap.
- If your horse isn't being ridden and has shelter, he shouldn't need a rug. Horses will burn off fat to keep warm just as nature intended and still eat hay and grass.
- It is worse for horses to be over-heated in rugs than to be cold. Also, rugs can fit poorly, rub, rip, they need more maintenance and you always need a spare.
- Thoroughbreds and old horses may need to be rugged, stabled or have extra feed - but be careful they do not gain extra weight each year. An old horse should not carry too many extra kilos.
- Remember that very cold weather in the winter and very dry weather in the summer will stop the grass growing and the older or underweight horse will need extra nutrition.
- As soon as the grass starts to grow in the spring and when it has a second flush in the autumn, those prone to laminitis should be taken off the grass; and most native ponies and cobs will need to have their grazing restricted.
Commenting from a nutritional angle, Katie Williams, head of nutrition at Dengie Horse Feeds, adds: "Feeding plenty of fibre in the winter is important not only for maintaining normal gut function but also for keeping the horse warm. When fibre is broken down, heat is produced - literally providing central heating for the horse."
For a 'Fat Horse Slim' weight management pack, visit the website or call 0845 230 1672. Each pack includes a 28-page Blue Cross guide, a Shires weigh tape, calculator, body condition score guide, wall chart for recording weight changes over time, and vouchers for free and discounted Shires and Dengie products.
Published: 14 Sep 2009
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