With near record levels of rain this summer, coupled with the mild weather, fields across the UK are full of spring-like lush green grass. With all this grass on offer weight management is a priority for owners to keep their equine friends fit, healthy and happy.
Weigh Tapes can be a really effective tool in monitoring our horses and ponies and helping maintain a healthy weight. Our Horse Insurance team spoke to members of the team over at Dengie Horse Feeds to find out more about using a weight tape and how this can help our horses and ponies to lead long and healthy lives.
Dengie’s Performance Horse Nutritionist, Claire Akers, M.Sc explains: “Regularly monitoring your horse’s body weight not only lets you keep a close eye on how your management regime is affecting your horse’s waistline, but it’s also important for other management factors such as supplying the correct quantity of wormer.”
“As long as the weigh tape is used consistently, regular weigh taping makes it much easier to notice whether your horse’s weight is steadily creeping up and therefore allows you to address the problem sooner rather than later, before it becomes an even bigger issue.”
Claire’s top points when monitoring your horse’s weight:
- Weigh tape at the same time of day by the same person and check the position of the weigh tape.
- Weigh Tape Fortnightly and use in conjunction with fat scoring on a monthly basis.
- Plot your progress on a graph to monitor progress.
To see Dengie’s video on how to correctly use a horse weight tape:
Weigh Taping is an effective tool and should be used in conjunction with Fat Scoring and recording progress. For Fat Scoring you have to get hands-on; if you’re unsure how to or need to refresh your skills, watch the video below to learn more.
If you’ve identified that your horse or pony is overweight what should you do?
Taking action is key. Below are five key areas to address:
- Restrict access to grazing – grass is usually the greatest source of energy and sugar in most diets
- Feed sufficient low-calorie forage – aim for 1.5% of bodyweight on a dry matter basis to maintain digestive health and satisfy your horse’s need to chew
- Use low-calorie fibre feeds – these can partially or fully replace forage and are useful for reducing calorie intake – learn more here
- Ensure a balanced diet is fed – restricted access to grass reduces calorie intake but also essential vitamins and minerals
- Monitor body fat – weigh tape every two weeks and body fat (condition) score every month and record the information so you can monitor changes and act on them
With thanks to the team at Dengie Horse Feeds for their invaluable advice on how to help us keep our horses a healthy weight.
About SEIB
SEIB Insurance Brokers are specialists in insurance for Horses, Horsebox Insurance and Horse Trailer Insurance. We are able to provide flexible policies to suit individual client needs and provide advice on what cover is needed
