Weight Loss Management in Client-Owned Horses

• Obesity in horses may lead to an increased risk of insulin resistance and laminitis.
• Client-owned horses were prescribed new diets to provide 10% to 20% restriction of energy intake.
• Dietary restriction of client-owned horses resulted in a 6% BW reduction.
• Horses with compliant owners had a greatest decrease in BW and BCS.

The present study was designed to determine whether a reduction in body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) could be achieved through 10% to 20% energy restriction in privately owned and managed horses, similar to previously published research in a controlled research setting. Twenty-four, overweight, client-owned/managed horses were identified for use in the study. At the initial (September 2012) and final evaluations (May 2013), health records, diet evaluation, estimated BW, fasting glucose and insulin (INS) concentrations, BCS, cresty neck score (CNS), and morphometric measurements were obtained from 24 client-owned horses and four control horses. At the conclusion of the trial period (26 ± 4 weeks), changes in BW, BCS, CNS, morphometric measurement, and INS were analyzed using paired t tests. Correlations between changes in BW (%initial) and ΔBCS were evaluated. Overall decreases (P < .01) were observed in BW (31.48 kg; 95% CI: 24.07–38.89 kg), BCS (1.4/9; 95% CI: 1.01–1.80), CNS (0.96; 95% CI: 0.64–1.30), and INS (9.132 μU/mL; 95% CI: 5.741–12.520). Changes in BW (%initial) and ΔBCS were moderately correlated (r = 0.53). Horses with more compliant owners had a greater mean decrease in BW and BCS (P < .01) than those of noncompliant owners. Likewise, horses with no pasture access had a greater mean decrease in BW and BCS (P < .01) than continuously grazing horses. The results suggest that 10% to 20% restriction of energy intake can be implemented in client-owned horses, resulting in a decrease in BW, BCS, and INS, if the owner reduces feed and pasture intake.