Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for the overall well-being and performance of horses. Equine obesity is an increasingly recognized problem, especially in developed countries. Overweight and obese conditions can lead to various health issues, including equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and laminitis. This article explores the effectiveness of weight loss supplements and strategies for managing weight in horses, with a focus on safety and long-term health.
Understanding Equine Weight Management
The primary treatments for overweight horses include diet modifications and incorporating exercise routines, with the most effective solution being a combination of both. It is essential to recognize that obesity is a health problem in many horses worldwide, particularly in first-world countries. A healthy body condition score (BCS) for horses is generally accepted as between 4 and 6, depending on factors such as the horse’s workload, the time of year, and the owner’s goals. Common signs of obesity include fatty deposits on the horse’s neck and tail head. When evaluating BCS, it's important to avoid focusing on the belly, as this can vary with bloating and forage intake and is an unreliable location for fat evaluation.
The Role of Diet in Weight Loss
One of the biggest offenders in an obese horse’s diet is pasture. Factors such as type of grass, weather conditions, and stage of maturity can affect the carbohydrate content of pasture and elevate glucose and insulin concentrations. The fructan sugar found in grasses has been suggested as a contributing cause of pasture-associated laminitis, and research has shown that horses can consume substantial amounts of fructan grass via daily grazing.
Pasture Management
Turning at-risk horses out only during early-morning hours, on cloudy days, and in well-managed, shady paddocks, or using a grazing muzzle, can help control carbohydrate intake, but putting metabolic horses out on unrestricted pasture is risky. Close the bottom hole of the muzzle even further using Gorilla tape so the horse has more difficulty obtaining blades of grass but retain enough of an opening for him to drink and for water to drain out the bottom of the muzzle.
Hay Selection and Management
Metabolic horses not on pasture need to meet their roughage requirement through hay. In general, the minimum amount of hay offered should be 1.2 percent of body weight, split into multiple meals. Usually moderate-quality grass hay is recommended as legume hays, like alfalfa, tend to have higher calorie contents and may be consumed more quickly, which can be a problem for hungry horses needing to lose weight. Also, research shows that alfalfa hay is associated with higher glucose levels after consumption versus grass hay.
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The maximum amount of soluble carbohydrates in hay that is suitable for a metabolic horse has been recommended to be less than 10 percent NSC (NSC = sugars starch fructan). However, due to variability in hay, digestibility, and individual animal response, it is less about an exact number and more about taking multiple steps to reduce NSC intake in susceptible horses. Soaking grass hays can reduce additional water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) levels (30 minutes in hot water, 60 minutes in cold water, completely submerged with water drained before feeding).
Balancing the Diet
Due to the restricted amount of forage in the diet, along with most forages’ inherent nutrient deficiencies, a mineral supplement, ration balancer, or low sugar/starch feed should be incorporated to balance the total ration. Horses with active laminitis that are very sensitive to dietary change can start on a mineral supplement such as Free Balance Mineral, fed according to recommendations (2 oz. per day for 1000 lb. horse). This will provide much-needed minerals to support the body and help repair tissue. From there, easy keeper horses do well on a ration balancer such as Enrich Plus®. With a feeding rate of 1 lb. per 1000 lb. body weight, it can be split into two small meals of 1.5 cups each.
For horses (and their owners) seemingly struggling with the small feeding rates of restricted hay and a ration balancer, a low-calorie, extruded feed such as WellSolve W/C® (Weight Control) can be helpful. Reducing forage to 1% of his body weight, along with 0.35% of his body weight in W/C (3.5 lbs. for 1000 lb. horse) can provide larger concentrate meals to the horse, while also extending meal time. The glucose/insulin response to W/C is very low and overweight horses on a weight loss program lost an average of more than 50 lbs. in 90 days on W/C without exercise. These horses also had improvements in cortisol, leptin, and insulin response to glucose infusion. Further weight loss was seen (more than 90 lbs.) when horses were exercised. Another option is WellSolve L/S®, shown to have a very low glucose and insulin response to feeding in research trials. Additional studies demonstrated the benefit of providing mini-meals (approximately 2 lbs.
Meeting Nutritional Needs
The restricted amount of forage in the diet, along with the nutrient deficiencies of most forages, should prompt use of a mineral supplement, ration balancer, or low sugar/starch feed. It is crucial to continue meeting equine nutritional and forage requirements to prevent ulcers and maintain overall health but avoid feeding horses excess energy.
Exercise as a Weight Loss Tool
If horses are able to exercise, you can help your horse meet its weight loss goals. Exercise can improve weight, cardiovascular function, gut health, and blood pressure. In many cases, horses of any age become fat because they are offered too many calories with too little exercise. In other cases, the horse might have a metabolic issue, such as PPID or equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), that makes him or her overly efficient at using calories provided by concentrate feeds or other supplements.
Read also: Comprehensive Horse Diet Guide
Weight Loss Supplements: A Closer Look
When shopping for weight gain supplements for horses, prioritize fat and protein as safer energy sources instead. Formula 707 Lifecare® Weight Gain supports healthy weight gain through fat as well as essential amino acids, which are key to building muscle. There are many additional supplements that can be fed to metabolic horses, from magnesium to chromium to psyllium and more. They may help, but good data showing their effectiveness is lacking. The takeaway is that supplements may have a place, but as a support, not a standalone solution.
Platinum Performance® Products
Several Platinum Performance® products are designed to support horse health and may indirectly aid in weight management:
- Platinum Performance® DJ: Combines support for healthy digestion and joint function with premium wellness ingredients. This veterinary-developed formula combines the benefits from Platinum Performance® Equine with probiotics and yeast extracts that support intestinal integrity and immune health.
- Platinum Performance® GI: Provides a gastrointestinal-focused approach to total horse health. Gut health is not only important for proper digestion but also has far-reaching implications on immune health and comprehensive wellness.
- Platinum Performance® Equine: A comprehensive omega-3 formula designed to transform equine health at the cellular level.
- Healthy Weight: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Healthy Weight supports skin, coat, gastric, and muscle health. For horses that need to gain weight, Healthy Weight provides calories in addition to forage. It is made from flax oil, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which makes it a healthy alternative to corn oil.
Other Supplements
- Formula 707 Lifecare® Calming: Relies on magnesium and thiamine (vitamin B1) to help regulate an overactive or stressed nervous system.
- Elevate® maintenance powder: A veterinarian favorite for long-term vitamin E supplementation.
- Tribute® Tough as Nails: A horse hoof supplement that contains biotin (vitamin B7), the single most important vitamin for hoof health.
- Farnam Horseshoer's Secret® Hoof Health: A nutrient-rich formula containing biotin, key amino acids lysine and methionine, and important minerals and fatty acids.
- UltraCruz® Antioxidant Formula Immune Support: Relies on antioxidants to regulate damaging free radicals and promote cellular health.
- Omega Horseshine®: Supports a soft, healthy, shiny coat through supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids.
- The Missing Link® Well Blend Senior Powder: Provides anti-inflammatory, digestive support, and joint support for senior horses.
Clenbuterol: Use and Risks
Clenbuterol is a substance best known for its use in treating asthma and encouraging weight loss. Clenbuterol hydrochloride is a β2-adrenergic agonist that is used in horses as a short-term bronchodilator. In the short-term, it is typically employed in the management of airway obstruction (eg, severe equine asthma [SEA], formerly known as recurrent airway obstruction [RAO]). It is also used in the treatment of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, also known as "heaves"). Clenbuterol is also occasionally used as a uterine relaxant for dystocia in equines. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a branded variety of clenbuterol syrup for use in horses. No other uses for clenbuterol were approved; all other uses in horses or other animals are extra-label, and the drug was not approved for use in humans.
Clenbuterol is a compound that belongs to a class of drugs called beta2-agonists. Drugs in this category can cause dilation of the bronchial muscles. Beta2-agonists are often used to treat asthma. Outside the United States, clenbuterol is available by prescription only for the treatment of asthma. It’s also sometimes prescribed for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Clenbuterol isn’t a steroid, but it has properties similar to anabolic steroids, such as promoting an increase in muscle mass. Due to these properties, clenbuterol has been used in livestock to increase the amount of lean muscle.
Read also: Benefits of Horse Diet Balancers
Use as a Weight Loss Supplement
In addition to being used to treat asthma, clenbuterol has become popular as a weight loss supplement. That’s because of its effect on muscle growth and fat reduction. Clenbuterol has also been observed to both increase muscle mass and reduce body fat. Additionally, it remains in the body with an active effect for about 6 days after consumption (detectable traces can remain longer). Because of these properties, it’s often used as a weight loss supplement or to enhance athletic performance.
People taking clenbuterol for weight loss or performance enhancement often use anabolic steroids or growth hormones as well. Studies on the efficacy of clenbuterol as a weight loss or performance enhancer in humans are quite limited, although many studies have been performed in animals and livestock: Researchers have observed that clenbuterol stimulates muscle growth and repair while preventing atrophy in mice and rats. Studies in livestock have indicated that the increase in muscle growth occurs at the expense of fat tissue. This is part of a process referred to as repartitioning. A study in horses found that long-term administration of high doses of clenbuterol increased the expression of genes related to various muscle components and fat metabolism.
Dosage and Administration
When clenbuterol is taken to control asthma symptoms, the recommended dosage is between 0.02 and 0.03 milligrams per day. The medication comes in tablet or inhaler form for asthma treatment. Like many bronchodilators used for asthma treatment, you should use it as needed - up to the recommended dosage as opposed to regular daily use.
Clenbuterol used for weight loss or performance enhancement can be acquired as a tablet, liquid, or injection. People using clenbuterol for this purpose typically use between 0.06 and 0.12 milligrams per day, which is higher than the recommended dosage for asthma treatment.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Clenbuterol isn’t approved by the FDA for use in humans. Outside the United States, it can be used to treat asthma or COPD. The drug is often used off-label for weight loss or to enhance athletic performance. Clenbuterol is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List. Professional athletes testing positive for this drug can be disqualified from participating in competitive sports.
Risks and Side Effects
Clenbuterol can have negative side effects when overused or misused. Clenbuterol is known to cause symptoms such as rapid heart rate (tachycardia), palpitations, tremors, anxiety, lowered blood potassium (hypokalemia), and elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Because clenbuterol has a long half-life in the body, toxic symptoms can last from 1 to 8 days. After snorting or injecting heroin contaminated with clenbuterol, some patients have reported painful muscle spasms, agitation, and overactive reflexes. In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 26 cases of clenbuterol poisoning among heroin users. They were hospitalized with symptoms such as rapid heart rate, palpitations, hypokalemia, chest pain, and agitation and received intravenous fluids, potassium, and medications to slow down the heart.
Additional Considerations for Weight Management
Regular Monitoring
Once weight loss has begun, it is important to monitor your horse closely via BCS and weight tape and make adjustments as necessary to the program. Ideally, horses should stabilize at a BCS between 4 and 5, with more sensitive, chronically laminitic horses maintained toward a 4. Once horses reach a healthier BCS, the ration can be altered for weight maintenance. Usually, just increasing the forage portion of the ration to 1.5 to 2 percent of body weight daily will stop weight loss.
Addressing Underlying Issues
In every case, obesity is dangerous to horse health, so efforts need to be made to curtail a horse’s caloric intake. A fat horse should not be turned out on pasture, or at the very least, he should wear a grazing muzzle. Eliminate grain, complete feed, and fat supplements from the diet except when necessary to provide a ration balancer for vitamins, minerals, and protein. Weight loss objectives take time and are best if done gradually over months. Target a weight loss of 1% of a horse’s weight goal each week. For example, if your horse should weigh 1,000 pounds, then each week, you’ll want him to lose 10 pounds. If he is 100 pounds overweight, it’ll take 10 weeks to reach the desired weight. Feed no more hay than 1.5% of the target body weight; i.e., a 1,000-pound horse is fed 15 pounds of hay per day, split into several feedings. To reach this target weight, reduce his original ration by 10% every week. Use a scale to weigh the hay. Monitor your horse’s weight with a weight tape and body condition scoring every 2-4 weeks.
The Importance of Professional Guidance
Whether your horse has been diagnosed with EMS or is simply obese to begin with, the first step is to reduce body weight. The hallmarks of an effective weight-loss program are calorie control and/or reduction, reducing glucose and insulin response to consuming a meal, and if possible, exercise. Work with your veterinarian or nutrition specialist to determine the weight-loss regimen appropriate for your horse.
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