Every farrier knows a few: those cresty-necked, peach-rumped pasture potatoes whose spines disappear into dimpled grooves along their backs, even though their owners swear they feed them nothing.

Lots of breeds — Morgans, Canadians, Haflingers and virtually all of the pony breeds — have a tendency to be easy keepers. They can be a challenge for your hoof-care clients to properly maintain.

Horses are nomadic grazing animals, designed to take in forage at an almost-constant rate for up to 16 hours a day. So what we interpret as greed is simply a natural and constant hunger, which is genetically programmed into all equines. But some horses are better at satisfying their hunger than others.

The easy keepers are also programmed to make more efficient use of their food than others. Having originated under harsh, inhospitable conditions, their DNA is still telling them that the food supply might run out at any moment, so their metabolisms store calories and energy as if an Ice Age might be imminent.

We all like to see horses in good flesh, but too much of a good thing is neither attractive nor healthy. Feeding an easy keeper requires a delicate balance since it can be difficult to ensure a good nutrient profile in a restricted diet. However, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that many easy keepers are in fact struggling with metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance.

Overweight Concerns

An overweight horse is problematic for several reasons. Not only are they less efficient athletes, with lowered…