HEALTHY BODY CONDITION
IN SHOW HORSES
T
he Horse Trust’s Healthy Body Condition campaign in showing was well received in 2019 and 2021, and some of the most prestigious shows in the country are keen to take part in the initiative in 2022 at both affiliated and unaffiliated levels. The programme is supported by evidence obtained at the University of Liverpool by Behaviour Change Scientist Dr Tamzin Furtado who developed the programme in partnership with The Horse Trust. The aim is to raise awareness of healthy equine body condition in showing, to provide guidance and to encourage owners, riders, and producers to recognise the health and welfare benefits of maintaining a healthy body condition. Tamzin Furtado, says, “Horses who are overweight or cresty are often celebrated for their condition - and we want to slightly challenge that, by celebrating horses in ideal body condition.” Selected show classes in participating shows throughout the year were assessed for body condition by a vet and the horses who have the healthiest body condition were awarded one of the Horse Trust’s coveted green and gold rosettes. David Ingle, Director of Showing at the Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead and former Chairman of The Showing Council, said, “Showing is keen to become more educational and we are in an era of great improvement in equine welfare, with increasing scrutiny under social license. This initiative helps to shine a light on this important aspect of showing.” Loraine Homer’s 5-year-old bay mare Ballinclare took the award for healthiest body condition at the Royal International Horse Show 2021 having won the large intermediate show riding type class and championship, ridden by 19-year-old Alice
Ballinclare & Alice Homer presented rosette at the RIHS by Dr Tamzin Furtado
Homer. The mare was also third in the large hack class. When asked about Ballinclare’s routine, Alice said, “She pretty much lives out and loves food, so she often comes in at the end of Winter with a bit of a tummy. But I think it’s the thoroughbred in her which helps her condition. We spend most of the time keeping the weight off her as I think they look classier and much better fit.” The British Equine Veterinary Association considers equine obesity to be one of the highest-ranking equine health risks today. The Horse Trust is working with several organisations in the horse world to come up with practical solutions to enable human behaviour around equine obesity to be changed for the better. Jan Rogers of The Horse Trust says, “We all get very upset by seeing photos of underweight horses in the media, but in reality, far more horses are obese than are underweight. This is very worrying for vets who are finding that they must treat these horses with serious health conditions like Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Laminitis.” Keep an eye out for information on the Horse Trust’s social media platforms for #TheWeighToWin on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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