Managing Equine Obesity - Balancing Diet, Enrichment, Behaviour & Welfare

Managing obesity in an animal evolved to spend most of their day foraging presents significant challenges to horse owners. While dietary restriction is a primary method to encourage weight loss, it often overlooks the behavioural needs of the horse, risking negative consequences from hunger, reduced behavioural expression and frustration.

This webinar will discuss relevant research and practical approaches to managing the overweight horse, focusing on strategies that address both nutritional requirements and behavioural welfare. By integrating physical health with psychological wellbeing, we can promote sustainable weight management and enhance overall quality of life.

Rosa looked at:

  • What your horse needs from their diet - physiological and behavioural perspectives

  • The welfare implications of restricted feeding, and how to avoid them

  • The pros and cons of haynets, slow feeders and grazing muzzles

  • Practical feeding strategies for ethical weight management - through balancing dietary requirements, promoting species-appropriate behaviours, and providing enrichment opportunities


After the presentation, Rosa answered questions from the audience.

This webinar is aimed at horse owners, trainers, students, and equine professionals.

Once enrolled, you have 60 days to watch this recording.

Who is this course for?

  • HORSE OWNERS

  • EQUINE STUDENTS

  • EQUINE PROFESSIONALS

Continuing Professional Development (CPD/CEU)

  • Course Contents

    1 x webinar recording and 1 x CPD/CEU quiz

  • Course Duration

    1.5 Hours

  • Certificate of Completion

    You can download a personalised CPD/CEU certificate after watching the webinar and completing the quiz.

  • BHS

    This course has been approved for 1.5 CPD points for BHS Accredited Professional Coaches by the British Horse Society. Upon course completion APCs can log their points by completing the CPD Feedback form on the BHS website.

  • IAABC

    This course has been approved for 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) by the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC). You will need to request an IAABC CEU certificate directly from us, so please get in touch once you have completed the course and quiz.

  • IAAT

    Understand Horses is a trusted partner of the International Association of Animal Therapists, offering external CPD courses for its members.

  • KPA

    This course has been approved for 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) by the Karen Pryor Association (KPA). Once you have completed the course you can contact us for an event code, then email both code and CEU certificate to the KPA.

Managing Equine Obesity - Balancing Diet, Enrichment, Behaviour & Welfare

Your Instructor

ROSA VERWIJS

Rosa is an IAABC Certified Horse Behaviour Consultant and registered with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council as an Accredited Animal Behaviourist. She is also a Senior Lecturer in Equine Behaviour and Nutrition at Writtle University College in Essex, where she leads the BSc (Hons) Equine Behavioural Science degree. Rosa has experience working on studs and in racing, and now focuses her time on lecturing, behavioural research and consulting to try and promote a better understanding of natural equine behaviour and encourage horse owners and trainers to use more science-based, ethical training practices.

COURSE PRICE

Archived webinar recording