The toolkit aims to simplify the fat-scoring process.
World Horse Welfare has announced new resources for horse owners to help monitor their horses’ weight.
Launching at the upcoming Badminton Horse Trials, the new #feelforfat resources have been designed in response to feedback about the realities of fat scoring horses.
Sam Chubbock, head of UK support at World Horse Welfare, said: “Equine weight management can be a sensitive issue, fraught with worries about associated health risks.
“Our new #FeelForFat resources are aimed at helping horse owners to feel more confident in assessing their horses’ weight. They reflect feedback from some recent fat scoring surveys and workshops, which suggested making the process clearer.”
While fat scoring is a valuable tool for horse owners, research shows that many people struggle to accurately fat score their own horse.
To further explore this issue, staff at WHW were asked to complete a survey examining the motivations and barriers to fat scoring, and then participate in a series of fat scoring workshops.
The results were used to update the charity’s existing weight management resources and incorporate a new way of presenting each of the scored body areas.
Instead of using a traditional whole-body diagram per score, the new resources simplify the fat scoring process by covering each area of the body scored separately. E.g. Neck and shoulder, back and barrel and hindquarters.
Visitors to Badminton will be able to try out the new resources for themselves upon a life-sized model of a horse named ‘Freddie’. There will be also representatives from WHW on the stand to answer any questions horse owners may have, or provide advice.
Image (C) Shutterstock.
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