Inducing weight loss in native ponies: is straw a viable alternative to hay?

For horses with metabolic syndrome getting them down to a healthy weight and reduce the incidence of founder is a real problem. Reduce forage too much and you run into behavioral problems. This paper suggests that one solution is combining straw with hay can be effective without deleterious effects. I would note that both vitamins and protein will need to be supplemented to meet the horses basic nutritional needs. If you decide to go this route be sure to get the help of a equine nutritionist to be sure your horse gets a balanced diet.
DrO

Vet Rec. 2020 May 3.
Inducing weight loss in native ponies: is straw a viable alternative to hay?
Dosi MCM1, Kirton R2, Hallsworth S2, Keen JA3, Morgan RA4,5.

Author information:
1. Equine Hospital, The University of Edinburgh Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, Roslin, Midlothian, UK mdosi@ed.ac.uk.
2. Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Norwich, UK.
3. Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
4. Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
5. Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:

Obesity is a growing problem in UK equine population. Achieving weight loss in obese horses and ponies at risk of laminitis is an important but often challenging objective.
METHODS:

We hypothesised that supplementing poor winter pasture with a mix of barley straw and hay (50:50) rather than hay alone (group B) would lead to weight loss in grazing equids over winter. For this purpose, a group of 40 horses were fed either the straw mix (group A) or hay alone (group B) over winter.
RESULTS:

Over the study period, all animals in group A (n=25) lost weight with a mean weight change of -27±17 kg, while in group B (n=15) only 3 out of 15 lost weight (20 per cent), and overall, group B gained weight (+6±18 kg).
CONCLUSIONS:

This study suggests that straw is a cost-effective and low-energy roughage, which may be a useful alternative to hay alone when trying to induce weight loss in grazing equids over winter. There were no episodes of colic or laminitis during the study period in either group.