Tracking the Track: The Impact of Different Grazing Strategies on Managing Equine Obesity.

ABSTRACT: Horses evolved to live in herds, continuously moving and foraging. Domestic horses often have limited social contact and movement, with high calorific intake, contributing to obesity. "Track grazing" is an increasingly popular management system, but evidence of its impact on weight management, behaviour, and welfare is limited. Horses (n = 19) resident at HorseWorld (UK) were observed July to October 2023, monitoring bodyweight (kg), Body Conditions Score (BCS), hoof health, behaviour, and welfare indicators. Horses on track grazing systems lost significantly more bodyweight (kg) (F(1,15) = 8.752, p = 0.010) than their restricted grazing counterparts, although this was not supported by BCS findings which may be ineffective for subtle body weight changes. Horses on trac

SUBMITTER: Cameron L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11939410 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature