Managing horse body condition through winter is a critical welfare challenge, as underweight horses face cold stress and health risks while overweight horses face laminitis and metabolic complications.
Winter body condition management is a direct welfare responsibility of horse owners. Horses that enter winter in poor condition and receive insufficient supplementary forage experience prolonged cold stress, muscle protein catabolism, and impaired immune function. The welfare impacts of chronic winter undernutrition include vulnerability to infectious disease, poor coat condition, and reduced ability to engage in normal social and movement behaviours due to energy conservation. Conversely, horses that enter winter overweight face elevated laminitis risk as spring grass arrives. Autumn body condition assessment and a winter feeding plan developed with veterinary or nutritional guidance is the most effective welfare prevention measure.