A study conducted by staff and student researchers at Hartpury University alongside HorseWorld and Welfare Aware, has demonstrated the effectiveness of track grazing systems in managing equine obesity.
The new research offers fresh insight into how different grazing strategies can help tackle equine obesity – an issue of growing concern among UK horse owners. Conducted by researchers looking to bridge the gap between pasture management and horse health, the study evaluates how modifying grazing practices can aid in managing body condition, particularly in horses prone to weight gain or metabolic disorders.
Equine obesity continues to be a significant welfare issue across the UK, with up to 50% of leisure horses estimated to be overweight. This condition increases the risk of laminitis, insulin dysregulation, and other metabolic issues. With unrestricted access to lush pastures being a major contributing factor, the researchers set out to assess how grazing management techniques can be used to limit calorie intake without compromising welfare.
Nineteen horses of mixed breeds, resident at HorseWorld, based in Bristol, were observed from July to October 2023, monitoring bodyweight (in kg), body conditions score (BCS), hoof health, behaviour, and welfare indicators. All horses were prone to weight gain and were assessed by a veterinary surgeon and HorseWorld staff.
Over the three-month research period, horses on track grazing systems lost significantly more bodyweight (kg), on average 3.4% of their initial bodyweight and their BCS reduced by 0.5 in 25%, compared to those on the traditional paddock grazing system who actually gained on average 1.5% of their bodyweight and an increase of BCS by 0.5 in 40% of the horses over the three-month period of data collection.
Farrier assessments were also completed throughout the data collection period, and it was found that 68% of horses on the track system increased hoof health score and the remainder maintained their score.
This study has shown that introducing a track grazing system can be effective in helping equine weight management and those prone to weight gain, particularly when increased exercise is not appropriate due to age or injury, compared to traditional restricted grazing systems, without impacting behaviour, social interactions, hoof health, or welfare.
The study, published in a special edition (Recent Advances in Equine Behaviour and Welfare) of the open access journal Animals, highlights the benefits of track grazing systems in reducing bodyweight in horses prone to weight gain, while maintaining their overall health and welfare.