Is my horse too fat?

other nutrients vital for tissue health. Inflammation results along with degradation of the tissue and in turn the structural integrity of the laminae deteriorates.
In a healthy hoof the laminae support the pedal bone and therefore the horses bodyweight. However in laminitic cases this can rotate downwards causing severe pain when mobilising. In severe cases protrusion through the hoof is even possible. The pain associated is severe. The classic stance of the laminitic is one who leans back onto their hind hooves in order to take the weight off painful front hooves. However laminitis can affect all or any of the four feet.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of laminitis as it alters the metabolism of the laminae leading to mechanical failure.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis refers to the degradation of the cartilage covering the bone ends within synovial joints. As this cartilage roughens and wears away pain and inflammation within the joint ensues. Carrying excess weight as with obesity puts additional pressure on these joints exacerbating the pain. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the simplest and most beneficial things owners can do for an arthritic animal.
Heart disease
A recent study found that obesity causes some marked changes to the equine heart similar in some ways to that on the human heart. One example of many is that obese horses were found to have fat tissue infiltrating the heart muscle. It is easy to see how this might reduce muscle contractility within the heart and therefore the efficiency of circulating blood around the body. The study concluded that the effects of obesity on the horses heart are likely not only to diminish the horses ability to exercise but may shorten their lifespan as well.
Insulin resistance
Insulin is required to help transport glucose from the blood into tissues. It is then utilised for energy. Insulin resistant horses usually produce excess insulin in response to the ingestion of glucose. Obesity is a predisposing factor for the latter. A vicious cycle develops as they become increasingly desensitised to insulin and therefore the body demands more and more insulin to be produced. This disruption in the processing of glucose renders a horse hyperglycaemic. This raised blood glucose affects bloodflow and we already know that reduced circulation predisposes a horse to laminitis.
Identifying obesity in horses
Body condition scoring
These systems of body condition assessment are visual and although a little subjective are perhaps the most helpful tool we have currently. The