I’m a very relatable horse owner. Just like an estimated 30-75% of owners (depending on which study you read), I have a fat horse in my paddock.
It’s easy to dismiss my overweight equine, Pip (pictured below), with language that minimises the problem. He’s a chunky monkey one minute and “Pippo the hippo” the next.
But waving away the problem with phrases like “he looks well” and “he’s in show condition” – which is a whole other kettle of fish – won’t do anything to make him healthier.
Yikes… this is the photo that prompted me to buy Pip’s muzzle last summer. Photo: Bethany Stone
Overweight horses are predisposed to conditions like laminitis, arthritis and certain types of colic. No one would willingly expose their horse to health problems, and I’m willing to bet that most owners of fat horses have the best intentions.
In fact, equestrians being unable to spot an overweight horse is a key factor many experts cite when asked why so many horses are fat. Others state that some owners may even misidentify a fat horse as a thin one.
Owners might be influenced by peers who criticise restricting their overweight horses’ diets.
Many horses are on lush paddocks, eat forage that oversupplies calories, and consume diet-balancing bucket meals that provide still more calories.
It appears we are a nation of horse feeders with sparing tolerance for equines on the leaner side. Turning the tide of opinion on equine body condition has so far been slow going. But what if equine weight loss were Instagrammable?
Grass restriction made trendy
Earlier this spring, equestrian product giant LeMieux, world-renowned for their saddlepad, boot and ear bonnet co-ords, released their first product aimed at slimming down fat horses – a grazing muzzle.
Launched in two colours, the muzzle has an eye-catching design and an affordable price point. Of course, Pip would only accept a style that was triple the price for his weight loss journey, so I’m not the proud owner of one. However, our own Georgia Guerin gave it our highest rating, so we can safely say it’s effective too.
LeMieux’s popularity means the brand is consistently releasing market must-haves, and if this muzzle is their latest trend, I think it’s only good news for equine obesity.
Horses get most of their calories from forage, so soaking hay and restricting grass intake is the way to get them in a deficit and cause them to lose weight. If an appealing new product encourages those who are on the fence about helping their horse lose weight to take action, then I think it can only be a good thing, however fashionable.
Naturally, a sea-change in feeding practices is going to take more than a “viral” product, and I do think the lesson of safe forage restriction is more important than a trending muzzle.
I expect there may be some individuals out there who think impressionable children may use the LeMieux grazing muzzle on their poor ponies who are healthy – or even thin – for the sake of fashion. Personally, I don’t think this could ever be true.
There’s hardly enough of an appetite for restricting grass intake of obese horses, let alone poor doers.
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Grazing muzzle cut off laminitic pony after his first night out in the field
The owner hopes publicising the incident may help educate members of the public
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