05/09/2025
Very sensible advice
Effective Exercise Routines for Overweight Horses
Helping an overweight horse safely return to a healthy weight and fitness level requires a thoughtful, gradual approach.
Diet and exercise go hand in hand when it comes to weight loss. It has been proven by a few studies that overweight horses need to be ridden 5 x a week for a minimum of 30 minutes each day (providing your horse is well and sound to be ridden)
During this exercise they must get their heartrates up, if they are just ‘plodding’ along they will not use up much energy. Using apps such as EquiLab are great for tracking exactly how long you spend in each gait. Often the reality is much less time than we think!
Some horses may be suffering from laminitis / injuries and are not able to be worked. They can still lose weight without exercise, exercise just helps to speed up the process.
Here's a breakdown of some effective exercise routines, how to build them up gradually, helpful techniques, and how to tailor them to individual needs.
1. Walking:
The most foundational and safest exercise. It helps build fitness without over-stressing joints or hooves.
• Start with 15-30 minutes of hand-walking or riding at a walk, 5-6 days per week.
• Ideal for horses with joint issues or laminitis history.
2. Groundwork / In-hand work:
Use tools like a rope halter or long lines to encourage movement.
• Backing up, circles, lateral work.
• Helps build muscle tone and engage the core.
3. Hill Work:
Once your horse builds some fitness, walking up hills helps burn calories and develop hindquarter strength.
• Start with short slopes and gradually increase duration and steepness.
4. Pole Work / Cavaletti (at a walk initially):
Encourages more mindful movement and builds balance and strength.
• Use 3-4 poles spaced for the walk, increasing difficulty slowly.
5. Lunging (with caution):
Can help elevate heart rate and improve cardiovascular fitness, but avoid tight circles, especially in heavy horses.
• Use large circles, keep sessions short (5-10 minutes at first).
6. Light Riding (as fitness improves):
Introduce short sessions at the walk and trot, increasing duration and intensity as tolerated.
How to Build a Safe and Gradual Exercise Plan
Week 1-2:
• Focus: Walking (in-hand or under saddle), 20-30 min/day.
• Flat surfaces only. Rest day 1-2x/week.
Week 3-4:
• Increase walk duration to 30-45 minutes.
• Add gentle hill work and basic pole work.
Week 5-6:
• Introduce short trot intervals (e.g. 1 min trot, 2-3 min walk).
• Include more engaging groundwork.
Week 7-8 and beyond:
• Build up to 45-60 minutes of mixed walking/trotting.
• Gradually reduce walking time between trot intervals.
Always:
• Monitor for signs of soreness, fatigue, or heat in legs/hooves.
• Adjust based on how the horse is coping, not just a calendar.
Helpful Tips & Training Techniques
• Use a heart rate monitor or take pulse post-exercise to check how hard they’re working.
• Positive reinforcement for participation and calm behavior (especially for groundwork).
• Vary terrain when possible - grass, gravel, slight inclines.
• Track progress (weight, body condition score, fitness improvements).
Tailoring the Plan by Horse Type
Young Horses (Under 5):
• Limit sessions to short duration. Focus on light groundwork and confidence-building.
• Avoid repetitive or high-impact work.
Senior Horses (15+):
• Prioritise joint health. Use more walking, less impact.
• Soft surfaces, gentle hills, and pole work to maintain mobility.
Drafts or Heavy Breeds:
• Often prone to joint strain and overheating.
• Keep workouts shorter, lower intensity, and avoid deep footing.
Ponies / Easy Keepers:
• Often need strict dietary control alongside exercise.
• Very responsive to short, consistent workouts (even 15 mins/day can help).
Performance Horses (Coming Off Layoff):
• May regain fitness faster.
• Still need slow ramp-up to avoid injury.
Top Tips
• Partner exercise with diet management: reducing sugar/starch, feeding soaked hay, see our other posts with feeding tips.
• Involve your vet or a nutritionist - especially if metabolic conditions like EMS or laminitis are suspected.
• Hoof care is critical - an overweight horse with sore feet will struggle to move comfortably.
You are NOT going to see improvements over night. Or even in a week. It takes months to effectively lose weight. Try not to feel disheartened and keep going, you will get there
