Research collected by University of Guelph post doctoral scholar Megan Ross as part of her recent PhD work from the Atlantic Veterinary College and in collaboration with Dr. Katrina Merkies shines a light on the complex decisions horse owners face when managing equine weight.  Previous research shows that nearly 29% of Canadian horses are overweight or obese (Kosolofski et al., 2017; Mills et al. 2025), making this a significant welfare concern.  This study set out to explore the attitudes, beliefs, and barriers owners encounter when their horses are obese.

The Battle of the Bulge is Real

Excess weight in horses isn’t just a cosmetic issue—it can lead to serious health problems such as laminitis, osteoarthritis, and metabolic disorders. The study found that weight management is far from straightforward. Owners often feel torn between protecting their horse’s physical health and preserving their mental well-being.

“One of the biggest challenges is that horses thrive on social turnout and grazing, but lush pastures can lead to obesity,” says Ross. “Owners may struggle with the trade-off between keeping horses happy and keeping them healthy.”

The “Thelwell Factor” and Social Norms

“I think that is a great way to phrase it,” replies Ross when asked about the ‘Thelwell Factor’.  “Overweight horses have been normalized within certain equestrian disciplines and in the media.  When looking at racehorses or eventing horses or horses that are lean, some tend to think that they’re underweight even when they’re within a healthy weight range.”

The study revealed that cultural norms and even show-ring standards often favor horses that look ‘pleasantly plump.’  This societal pressure can make leaner horses appear underfed, discouraging owners from aiming for an ideal weight. Traditional practices and resistance to change also play a role, with many owners relying on inherited knowledge rather than evidence-based strategies.

Barriers to Change

Owners cited time constraints, cost, and facility limitations as major hurdles. Boarding managers, for example, noted the difficulty of tailoring feed for individual horses in large groups. Emotional factors were equally influential—many owners equated a heavier horse with better care, even when they knew a leaner body was healthier.

Ross elaborated on the emotional findings in the study.  “Owners often felt torn—knowing a leaner horse is healthier, yet struggling with the discomfort of seeing their horse look thin. Many keep horses on the heavier side as a sign of good care, and media images that reward overweight horses only reinforce this perception.”

Many horse owners were candid about their preference to have their horses slightly overweight going into winter, with the expectation they will lose weight in harsher conditions and emerge leaner come spring.  This belief poses yet another potential risk by owners who underestimate the health risks in overweight horses.  These miscalculations can easily lead to chronic health issues like laminitis and metabolic complications.

Horse owners in the study acknowledged that ‘traditional knowledge’ dominates the equine industry, making systemic change difficult.  Fear of judgement reinforcing the need for effective dissemination of evidence-based education.

Strategies and Struggles

Owners reported exploring a range of weight management strategies, including grazing muzzles and dry lots, but cited concerns about boredom, frustration, and overall welfare. Some participants worried about incorrect use of grazing muzzles or the lack of enrichment in dry lots, which can lead to stress.

Frustrated by strategies that weren’t working, one participant reported turning to UK resources and ultimately implementing a track system.  Track systems are an innovative approach designed to encourage horses to move more by mimicking how they would travel for resources in natural environments thereby providing both exercise and enrichment. This system has proven successful and is more broadly utilized in the UK, among other countries, while it is lesser known in Canada.

Interestingly, slow-feeding systems—which research shows can reduce stress and overeating—were rarely mentioned by interview participants, even though studies suggest horses prefer them over scheduled feeding.

Ross emphasizes that practical, welfare-friendly solutions are essential: strategies must balance physical health with mental well-being, and owners need support in finding approaches that fit their facilities, budgets, and values.

Next Steps: Collaboration for Change

Ross advocates for collaboration between equine science and social science to shift societal norms and improve knowledge transfer:
“We need to make healthy weight the new normal,” she says. “That means supporting owners through the discomfort of seeing horses that look leaner than they’re used to and helping them shift their paradigm. It starts with us—working with owners, industry, and researchers to create practical tools and supportive environments.”

Body Condition Scoring

While body condition scoring (BCS) wasn’t part of the survey questions for this study, it played a key role in selecting participants. As part of a separate study, a veterinarian assessed horses using the Henneke BCS system (Mills et al. 2025). Horse owners with horses classified as overweight or obese were purposively invited to take part in the interviews.

Literature cited in the final paper mention owners often misinterpret fat vs. muscle and struggle with BCS accuracy.  Possible future directions for BCS tools include creating a database of real horse images across breeds to improve scoring tools. More awareness of the body condition scoring systems and their practical implementation will support societal shifts toward recognizing, accepting and reducing judgement around horses within a healthy weight range.

Body condition scoring is an activity which requires much practice.  The Horse Portal.ca offers online courses in Body Condition Scoring as one method to help owners gain confidence in regularly assessing their horse’s condition so they can be proactive in weight management strategies. 

There is also a free interactive Body Condition Scoring tool!

References:

Mills M., Proudfoot K., Elsohaby I., Burns J., Ross M., McKenna S., Ritter C. and MacMillan K. (2025). The Effect of Benchmarking on Equine Management Practices and Horse Welfare on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Animal – Open Space. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anopes.2025.100093 

Ross, M., Proudfoot, K., Campbell Nishimura, E., Morabito, E., Merkies, K., Mitchell, J., & Ritter, C. (2024). ‘It’s more emotionally based’: Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management. Animal Welfare, 33, e14, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2024.9

Kosolofski, H. R., Gow, S. P., & Robinson, K. A. (2017). Brief communication: Communication brève. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 58

This article originally appeared on Equine Guelph, The University of Guelph and is published here with permission.

You can find more informative articles in our section on Health & Education.

While you're here, find some perfect items for your horse! Visit our curated Amazon Store.

Understanding Horse Behaviour and Stable Safety – A Course for Adults on TheHorsePortal.ca

You’re leading your horse to the paddock. It’s a quiet morning, birds chirping, nothing unusual in sight. Then bam !— your horse spooks sideways, nearly knocking you off your feet. You look around, baffled. What just happened?

If you’ve ever asked yourself that question, you’re not alone. And your horse isn’t trying to be difficult—they’re just being a horse.

Equine Guelph invites adult horse owners, riders, and caregivers to join the Horse Behaviour and Stable Safety course, a practical and eye-opening journey into the equine mind and the environments we share.

What’s Going On in Their Heads?

Through engaging online units, you’ll explore:

• Wild vs. Stabled Behaviour: Why your horse still thinks like a prey animal, and often runs first and asks questions later.
  
• How Horses See and Hear: Horses see the world through monocular and binocular vision, which means they have blind spots and a very different depth perception than humans. Combine that with their highly sensitive hearing, and you’ve got an animal that can detect a distant rustle long before you do—but might miss the halter you’re holding right under their nose. Understanding how horses perceive their environment helps you anticipate their reactions and avoid startling them.
  
• Herd Behaviour: Herd dynamics influence everything from where they stand in the paddock to how they respond to you. Horses rely on subtle body language and positioning to communicate dominance, submission, and safety. One horse can move another with the flick of an ear.  Learning how horses interact with each other helps you work with their instincts, not against them.
  
• Horse Handling: Safety around horses starts with awareness. Horses are large, reactive animals, and if you are giving cues from the wrong place at the wrong time it could land you in trouble.  Using techniques that align with their natural behaviour, you will learn how to approach, lead, and work around horses confidently and safely. When you understand their signals and respond appropriately, you build trust and reduce the risk for both of you.
  
• Rider/Helmet Safety: Protecting your body and brain
  
• Safe Trailering: To you, a trailer might mean adventure, but to your horse, it can look like a dark, narrow trap. As a prey animal, your horse is naturally cautious about confined spaces with limited escape routes. The sound of hooves on metal, the vibration of the floor, and the echo inside the trailer can all heighten anxiety. This course helps you understand those fears and teaches techniques to make loading more inviting—through calm handling, proper equipment, and thoughtful preparation. When trailering is approached with empathy and planning, it becomes safer and less stressful for everyone involved.
  
• Fire Safety: Prevention and emergency preparedness
  
• Barn and Paddock Safety: Spotting hazards before they become accidents
  
• Returning from Injury: Supporting recovery with patience and protocol

“As a person, looking to purchase our first horse, I can attest: nothing could prepare me better than series of on-line courses offered by the University of Guelph. The knowledge shared by instructors and on-line discussions with fellow students make me feel ready to take on a challenge and become a responsible owner of an equine.” Nadya Scharfenberg, Prospective Horse Owner (Holstein, ON)

With expert instruction, real-life examples, and interactive discussions, you’ll gain the tools to build safer, more trusting relationships with your horse.

View all the Online Courses that are offered.

Whether you are new to horses or have years of experience, this course will help you answer the question: “Why did my horse just do that?”—and more importantly, what to do next.

Our Partners: Esso, Kubota, System Equine, Ontario Equestrian

This article originally appeared on Equine Guelph, The University of Guelph and is published here with permission.

You can find more informative articles in our section on Health & Education.

While you're here, find some perfect items for your horse! Visit our curated Amazon Store.