A recent study found that horse owners don’t always know how a healthy horse looks and some aren’t willing to change their beliefs. Advising them on accurate body condition scoring and explaining potential health concerns may help owners with obese horses make management changes, advises Lydia Gray.
Overweight horses are at higher risk of laminitis than horses with an ideal body condition score, and horses that are overweight are more likely to have metabolic issues, like PPID which can also cause laminitis.
Source: American Farrier’s Journal, January 9, 2026. Link.
Cultural norms and show ring standards often favor ‘plump’ horses. Because overweight horses have been normalized, lean and athletic horses can be perceived as underweight.”
Also see: Search Results for: equine body condition, AHD Archives. Link.