A survey of UK horse owners about equine weight management strategies has shown that while many owners understand the causes of excess weight, they are struggling to find workable solutions. The survey is part of the SPILLERS brand’s ongoing educational and practical work, to help combat equine obesity in the UK.
According to the survey, more than 74 percent of leisure horses may be overweight, increasing the risk of serious conditions such as laminitis, insulin dysregulation and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). The purpose of the survey was to gain a better insight into how owners manage their horses’ weight, with the intention of identifying how they can be better supported, to help protect their horses from weight-associated health and welfare risks.
The survey was conducted by the SPILLERS brand during the summer of 2025 and received a total of 1,519 responses. The majority of horses in the survey were aged between 11 to 20 years.
Prevalence of EMS/PPID/laminitis: 20 percent of respondents’ horses were affected by EMS/PPID/laminitis.
Perceived causes of weight issues: The biggest cause of weight issues was listed as lack of exercise (38 percent) with excess calories/overfeeding close behind (37 percent). Age and health conditions was the third most popular perceived cause category (24 percent).
Forage management trends: Survey respondents demonstrated a good knowledge of strategies to help manage their horse or pony’s weight. The most popular was stabling for part of the day or overnight (19 percent). Small-holed haynets were also a popular option (18 percent), while soaking hay and strip grazing were slightly less widespread (14 percent and 12 percent).
Muzzle use: While grazing muzzles have been shown to reduce grass intake by around 80 percent, they were not a popular solution for respondents, with only 7 percent currently using a muzzle to help manage their horse’s weight. More than half of respondents had collectively either never considered using a muzzle (32 percent) or had considered it but not used one (20 percent). Of those who had tried a grazing muzzle around half had found it successful while the remainder had had limited success.
Replacing some forage with straw: less than half of respondents were aware that straw can be fed as a partial forage replacer, but had not yet tried it (24 percent) or were already feeding straw as a partial forage replacer (18 percent).
Barriers faced by owners: practical barriers to weight management included lack of time to exercise (22 percent), difficulty controlling calorie intake (21 percent) and the horse or pony always being hungry (21 percent).
Weight monitoring: most owners relied on less precise methods of weight monitoring with 30 percent monitoring by eye/from photos and only 13 percent using a weighbridge. However more than half (57 percent) monitored their horse daily or weekly.
Emotional strain: respondents described feelings of guilt, frustration and worry in relation managing their horse’s weight – showing that weight management is about more than just feed.
Owners also highlighted the features they value most in feed: low calorie, high-fibre products that deliver balanced nutrition. This aligns directly with the SPILLERS range, including SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF Molasses Free, SPILLERS Fibre Lite Molasses Free, and the SPILLERS Lite and Lean Balancer, which survey responses positioned as the “owner’s choice” for weight management.
SPILLERS Slimmers’ Club – a free online community launched to support owners of overweight horses – also featured strongly in the results. Members rated its contribution towards tackling obesity at an average of 7.34 out of 10, with many crediting the group for helping them switch feeds and feel less alone in their journey. The club now boasts over 13,500 members, with SPILLERS aiming for 15,000 by the end of the year.
“This survey has delivered valuable insights, directly from horse owners, about their current equine weight management practices,” said Bella Fricker, project lead at Mars Horsecare, home of the SPILLERS brand. “While owners seem to be very motivated, they are somewhat overwhelmed by the barriers they face or lack confidence to make the management changes they need to support weight loss. The survey results have shone the spotlight on the areas where we can provide further practical educational support for horse owners. We aim to be partners in care to help make change happen and banish equine obesity for good.”
You can find out more about the SPILLERS range of low calorie feeds here.
