Overweight equines are at a greater risk of developing conditions such as equine metabolic syndrome, laminitis, and insulin resistance. | Photo: iStock

While some horses struggle to keep weight on no matter what feed and forage you put in front of them, others seem to gain weight just by looking at green grass. Feeding and managing these “easy keepers” can be a challenge. Overweight equines are at a greater risk of developing conditions such as equine metabolic syndrome, laminitis, and insulin resistance.

We’ve combed through our archives and compiled several resources available for free on TheHorse.com about managing easy keepers. You can find more information on our “nutrition” topic page or by searching for “easy keepers” on TheHorse.com.

ARTICLE: 5 Tips for Feeding Easy Keepers To the person just dipping their toes into the sometimes complex and often expensive world of horse-keeping, having an “easy keeper” might sound like a dream. But the owner managing these equids that maintain or gain weight on minimal food rations knows there’s nothing easy about it. Read