The bigger picture

Fit not Fat

FOR ANY HORSE, carrying additional weight is never a good thing. It brings with it an increased risk of health conditions such as laminitis, orthopaedic diseases or infertility. It also means general poor health and performance. It is our responsibility as owners to tackle the obesity epidemic currently threatening our horses, but it’s not necessarily easy to put together a weight loss plan, or even to avoid weight gain in the first place. The plethora of information available surrounding equine obesity can be overwhelming, and a daunting prospect for many horse owners. Yet with up to a massive 70% of equines considered overweight or obese in the UK, now is the time to take action, and get your horse’s management correct.

MEET THE EXPERT

CHARLOTTE WILKINSON BSc (Hons), ANutr, is a Formulations and Technical Support Manager at Dodson & Horrell. She has been part of the D&H team for four years and is heavily involved in developing the company’s feed products and ranges.

Initial steps: a good score

The first thing to do — which is often overlooked