Look to Exercise for Equine Weight Loss

Most weight-loss plans designed for horses center around pasture restriction and decreasing the amount of feed offered. Recent data in other animal species show that adding exercise to a weight-loss program not only decreases body weight but also improves insulin sensitivity. In short, exercise helps control circulating blood sugar levels in response to a “normal” amount of insulin.

“A slew of health concerns exist for overweight horses, including the fact that horses with excess condition are at risk of developing insulin dysregulation and equine metabolic syndrome, both of which put horses at risk of developing laminitis,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D. a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research.

To determine the impact of exercise on obese horses, researchers from North Carolina State University’s Department of Animal Science recruited 10 obese horses and either restricted their diet or exposed them to daily exercise (walk/trot combination). Both treatments were equivalent in terms of the energy (number of calories) that was restricted through the diet or expended during exercise. After 4 weeks, the researchers found:

• Both the diet and exercise groups had similar decreases in certain body measurements, including weight, girth-to-height ratio, and cresty neck score;
• Horses in the exercise group had significantly greater losses in neck circumference; and
• Exercised horses also had a tendency to have improvements in insulin-to-glucose and insulin sensitivity index (both measures of insulin dysregulation) as well as improved leptin concentrations. Leptin is a hormone released by fat tissue that can negatively impact insulin sensitivity.

“In addition to working with a Kentucky Equine Research nutritionist, our company offers several products to support horses with insulin dysregulation and equine metabolic syndrome,” Crandell said.

Examples provided by Crandell include the Kentucky Equine Research supplement Micro-Max. This product is designed as a low-intake, concentrated source of vitamins and minerals for mature horses, particularly those on diets composed entirely of forage or forage and small amounts of concentrate. Australian owners should look for Gold Pellet, Nutrequin, and Perform.

EO-3, a fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids, also supports the well-being of easy keepers, as it improves glucose tolerance and reduces body-wide inflammation.

*Moore, J.L., P.D. Siciliano, S.E. Pratt-Phillips. 2019. Effects of diet versus exercise on morphometric measurements, blood hormone concentrations, and oral sugar test response in obese horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 78:38-45.