Resource Library - Overweight Horses

Obesity is at epidemic proportions for horses nowadays. It may start with overfeeding combined with too little movement. But is can also be due to genetics, environmental toxins, and stress. 

Insulin resistance and overweight often go hand in hand. And the frightening this is, elevated insulin can lead to laminitis, which we want to avoid at all costs.

Body fat also causes another hormone, called leptin, to rise. Leptin is secreted by the adipose (fat) tissue; it tells the brain to stop eating. But when the brain becomes resistant to leptin, it doesn't get the message that the horse is no longer hungry.

Removing hay from the horse's diet will result in muscle loss, the likelihood of ulcer formation, and massive amounts of inflammation caused by stress and the oxidative reactions that occur within the body because of it. 

Instead of making things worse, the materials below focus on how to reverse insulin and leptin resistance when dealing with overweight horses. The goal is not just to lose weight, but to lose it properly with a healthier horse as the outcome. 

 

"Feed Your Horse Like A Horse" (starting at $57.95)

• Dr. Getty's comprehensive reference offering you information on a vast variety of topics. Obesity is discussed in detail in "Chapter 12 - Weight Management."  

Articles (Free)

• The Best and Safest Way to Help Your Horse Lose Weight
• Feeding Straw to the Insulin Resistant Horse May Be A Mistake
• Free Choice Forage Feeding - Beyond the Basics
• Lipoic Acid - Benefits Metabolic Syndrome in Two Ways
• Restricting Forage in Incredibly Stressful - Choose a different approach for weight loss
• The Secret to Healthy Horses? Keep it Simple!
• The Correct Way to Use Slow Feeders
• The Overweight Horse Who Won't Stop Eating - Leptin Resistance in the Key!
• Empty Fields Everywhere - Why Movement is So Important
• Do You Need to Analyze Your Hay?
• Obesity. The Real Cause. The Real Fix.
• Can the Damaged Insulin Resistant Horse be Fixed?
• Sugar Promotes Chronic Inflammation
• My Horse is Gaining Weight on Free-Choice Forage! Why Isn't it Working?
• Respect the Powder of the Horse's Instincts
• Pasture, for the Insulin Resistant Horse?
• Forage Deprivation Keeps Your Horse Fat - The Research
• Four Directions Amino Acids Can Take - The Importance of Feeding Several Protein Sources
• Chia Seeds - Nature's Tiny Miracle
• CBD for Horses - What You Can Expect
• Quality of Life for the Overweight, Insulin-Resistant Horse

Tips (Free)

• Rhodiola rosea Controls Cortisol
• Does that Hay Belly Really Mean Your Horse is Fat?
• Apple Peels for Weight Loss
• Easy Keeper? Think Psyllium.
• Add a Serving of Caution to that Tender Spring Grass
• Evaluating Your Horse's Weight

Research Reflections (Free)

Dr. Getty provides insights on relevant nutrition research and how it impacts your horses' health.

• Obese Horses Lose Weight on Free-Choice Hay
• Impact of DHA Supplementation on Inflammation Reduction in Metabolic Horses

Interview Podcasts (Free)

Listen to Dr. Juliet Getty, special guest on Jim Swanner's, "All About Horses" radio program or Monty Roberts' Horsemanship radio as she discusses the following topic(s). Recordings are each 30 minutes in length.

• "Slow Feeders - Their Benefits and Correct Usage" - Interview with Jim Swanner
• "Why Free-Choice Forage Feeding Should be the Only Choice for Your Horse" - Interview with Jim Swanner
• How to Respect the Power of the Horse's Instincts - Monty Roberts' Horsemanship Radio 

Forage for Thought Newsletter (Free)

To receive free bi-monthly articles and news to help meet your horse's nutritional needs, consider subscribing to Forage for Thought - Dr. Getty's email newsletter. You may opt-in here - and may unsubscribe at any time.