The podcast discusses the issue of equine obesity, its detrimental effects on horse health, and ways to manage it. It highlights how
overweight horses often face shorter lifespans and lower quality of life, emphasizing the need for responsible feeding practices.
Dr. Mortensen gives a retrospective on the life and work of Dr. Don Henneke, a pioneer in equine nutrition who introduced the Henneke body condition scoring system. It encourages listeners to rely on this system to help maintain their horses' health.

The podcast further explores psychological aspects of horse overfeeding, explains the significance of diet evaluation, and provides strategies for managing overweight horses such as cutting down commercial feeds, increasing forage-based diets, and limiting pasture access. The speaker asks listeners to
analyze their horses' diet and apply the knowledge shared in the podcast.
Link to Body Condition Scoring Article HERE
Link to Diet Evaluation HERE
Podcast Timeline
00:00 Introduction and Importance of Horse Health
01:35 The Legend of the Horse Industry
04:20 The Impact of Obesity on Horses
05:32 Understanding the Psychology Behind Horse Obesity
06:55 The Complexity of Horse Nutrition
07:56 The Obesity Epidemic in Horses
13:13 The Henneke Body Condition Scoring System
23:20 The Impact of Body Condition on Horse Reproduction
26:10 Global Obesity Epidemic in Horses
29:24 Understanding Horse Weight Fluctuations
30:30 The Psychology of Horse Owners and Weight Management
31:53 The Impact of Overfeeding and Misconceptions
32:29 The Cost of Overfeeding and the Need for Education
34:22 The Consequences of Ignoring Weight Issues
35:08 The Importance of Body Condition Scoring
39:17 Strategies for Weight Reduction and Diet Management
46:07 The Role of Supplements in Horse Diets
49:05 The Importance of Community and Sharing Knowledge
50:00 Conclusion: The Need for Change in Horse Weight
Management
Visit https://madbarn.com/mad-about-horses/ to learn more about the Mad About Horses podcast.
 ---------------------------------

Mad Barn Academy is dedicated to supporting horse owners, handlers and practitioners through research, training and education.
Visit us to learn more at ⁠⁠https://madbarn.com ⁠⁠
You can also find Mad Barn at: ⁠
Instagram ⁠⁠@madbarnequine⁠ ⁠⁠
Facebook ⁠⁠@madbarnequine⁠⁠
TikTok ⁠⁠@madbarnequine⁠⁠
⁠YouTube⁠⁠ @madbarn ⁠⁠
We would love to hear from you! Please send any questions or comments to ⁠podcast@madbarn.com