Dr. Thunes' pony started carrying extra body condition despite Arizona’s hot spring and summer weather. | Photo: Courtesy Dr. Clair Thunes

As an equine nutritionist I often find myself counseling owners on how to manage overweight horses. The advice comes quite easily, because weight loss results from consuming fewer calories than are being burned. Therefore, feed fewer calories, work the horse harder, or do both. What I learned recently is this is much harder than you might think.

About six weeks ago, my daughter’s large pony moved out of his stall to live 24/7 in a sparse grass pasture. Now I know that grass being short doesn’t mean there is nothing there. Plus, being a pony, he’s pretty motivated to make the most of even the shortest blades of grass. Because this pasture offers more what I would call “mental health” grazing than nutrition, he has continued to receive his regular morning and evening hay meals.

About a month ago I stood back and thought I could see some extra condition on his body. I ran my hand over him, and he definitely had a layer of fat over his ribs—nothing major, but fat nonetheless. His crest, which I always watch closely, had gained a little softness but not much more than normal. For his conformation type I actually thought he looked good but acknowledged he didn’t need to gain any more weight