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‘Fat doesn’t equal fit’: how the show ring is shaping up with tackling overweight horses

Obesity in horses may be on many welfare radars, but the problem is not going away fast. We take stock of what measures are in place within the showing sphere, how well they are working and what more needs to be done, in this exclusive investigation for H&H subscribers

  • The glossy coats and gleaming tack of the show ring can often disguise a troubling truth: obesity in show horses remains a significant and ongoing welfare concern.

    But as the industry becomes more educated and proactive, there are encouraging signs of change. Judges, producers, and vets are joining forces to reshape what “show condition” really means, prioritising fitness over fat.

    The influence of the judge’s eye

    Showing judges have long shaped what competitors view as “ideal condition”. For years, a little extra coverage was wrongly equated with good-doing, prosperity, or knowledgeable feeding.

    Today’s leading judges are trained to assess body condition more critically, with most of the societies incorporating talks and advice about healthy body scoring into their annual conferences. Overweight horses are being dropped down the line, and, importantly, owners are being told why.

    Dr Lucy Penrose, a veterinary surgeon who also sits on the British Show Horse Association judging panel, believes this shift is gathering pace.

    “We’re not where we need to be yet, but attitudes are changing towards obesity in show horses,” she says.

    “It’s becoming more common to see horses dropped in the line-up for being obese. We’re beginning to judge it like any other conformation fault”

    Yet the task isn’t always simple.

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