Obesity and laminitis: looking beyond lockdown

Life has returned to normal to a greater or lesser extent and most equine practices seem to be busier than ever. During lockdown there were concerns that there would be widespread abandonment of horses which thankfully does not appear to have happened. Further job losses and an economic recession may yet adversely affect equine welfare if owners are unable to afford the costs of feeding and caring for their horses. However, it is likely that the excesses of domestication will continue to be a greater threat to equine welfare than neglect. The perpetual tendency to overfeed our horses coupled with a year of reduced activity increases the risk of metabolic changes that in turn increases the risk of laminitis next year, if not before. Many horses had a summer of increased turn-out and reduced exercise, and have gained weight as a result (Figure 1).

Obesity and laminitis are already considered the greatest threat to equine welfare in the UK, with around half the horses in the UK being overweight or obese (Rendle et al, 2018). In the natural situation it is normal for horses and ponies to gain weight through the summer and lose in over the winter. This year, the extra weight gained over the summer may require some extra effort in ensuring weight is lost over the winter. Most horses will be stabled for a greater proportion of the day through the winter, giving owners a better opportunity to control and limit feed intake. This will ensure horses are lean going into next spring when sugar intake from grazing, and consequently laminitis risk, increases.