Essential Weight Control Tips For Field-Kept Horses

If you’re looking for essential weight control tips for your field-kept horse, then this article is for you.

Although turn-out is extremely important in a horse’s regime, struggling to control how much they eat whilst they are out can be problematic. Over-grazing can cause weight gain and a predisposition to laminitis, with owner’s often deciding the stable their horse to prevent these common problems. Weight control tips for field-kept horses are even more sought after, with some having nowhere to turn if they stumble across over-grazing issues.

With the grass growing at a prolific rate, we put together a few ways to controlling horse grass intake and weight, whilst they are out. Get your horses out and staying out all summer, with these essential tips on weight control for field-kept horses!

Monitor weight

A good practice for horse owners is the monitoring of horse weight. Making the effort to check for weight changes, just once per week, can alert to any abnormal changes in weight that have not been influenced by diet or exercise.

Weight monitoring can be done in a variety of ways, the most reliable being the use of a weigh-bridge. The industrial size scales can give an exact and accurate reading of how heavy your horse is, although they do come with their draw backs. Weigh bridges are not on every yard, so accessing one may be difficult with travel often required. More recently, weighbridges have been introduced in portable versions. However, they do come with a price tag of around £20 per horse and, therefore, are expensive to access regularly. However, they are ideal for establishing weight if you have never had your horse weighed before, or ahead of worming procedures.

Cheaper ways of assessing horse weight come in the form of a weight tape. Weight tapes are an easy to use, tape measure device. Placing the tape around the circumference of the horse’s body, at the girth and behind the wither, the tapes are perfect for a quick and easy reading of weight. The tapes aren’t as accurate weigh bridges but provide an indication of any weight gain and loss your horse might be experiencing.

Although, weight isn’t the only indicator that your horse is piling on the pounds! Checking body condition score may be crucial, as this is an indicator of fat percentage, whist weight accounts for muscle as well. Try assessing other horse’s body weight, as oppose to your own, as research suggests owner bias toward an ideal body condition. The ideal body condition is 3.

Restrict available grazing

It is not recommended to restrict grazing altogether, but restricting the amount horses can get their teeth stuck into is vital for weight control.

Restricting the amount grazed when your horse is out can be done in multiple ways. Firstly, try strip grazing. Strip grazing is sectioning a larger field into smaller sections, so horses don’t have free rein on how much they eat. The area should still be big enough to allow your horse to move comfortably, so make sure the width allows a good turning circle. Strip grazing can be gradually increased in size as your horse eats down the grass, or, with the grass growing at its current rate, you may find the area a perfect permeant feature.

With electric fencing come problems, though. Many horses don’t respect them, and owners commonly find their horses escaping in search of better grass or to see a friend. Try fencing with copper wiring for increased conductivity and a sharper current to prevent them from snapping and destroying the fence line.

Electric fence power can be sourced from mains electricity; however, most owners opt for battery packs. When using a battery pack, make sure to keep it charged, as low or no power could result in an escape. The Tractor Factory SHIRE Electric Fence Energiser powers up to 6 miles of fencing and is waterproof, so there’s no need to worry about rain damage, either!

As an extra precaution, try a grazing muzzle. If you decide to use a grazing muzzle, keep an eye out for any rubbing or discomfort. Also, consider your horse’s current ability to eat the grass. If they struggle with shorter grass due to age or dental condition, grazing muzzles are advised against. It is also advised to allow periods of the day without a grazing muzzle, as it can restrict social behaviour such as grooming.

Turnout without the worry of grass

If you are still worried your horse might eat a bit too much grass, try turning out in a starvation or sand paddock. A starvation or sand paddock is a turnout area with no or very little grass.

They should be supplemented by an additional supply of forage to maintain gut health. This way, you can easily monitor how much your horse is eating, too. We suggest trying a small holed haynet to make the forage supply last longer and reduce the risk of stomach ulcers and colic.

Conclusion

There are a number of readily available resources available to horse owners helping maximise the time their horse spends outdoors without having to worry about the amount of grass is consumed. From strip grazing to a sand paddock, make sure you research all available options for your horse this summer as it will undoubtedly help your horse live a better quality of life.

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