Scoop & Scale: An Equine Podcast (Mostly) About Nutrition
Ep. 69: Managing Overweight Horses Through Diet, Forage, and Exercise
Feb 16, 2026
Season 3
Episode 69
Dr. Clair Thunes and Jill Jackson
In this episode we discuss a challenge many horse owners face: fat or overweight horses. From disciplines where a “round” horse is seen as ideal to the health risks of carrying extra weight, we cover why managing body condition matters.
Our guest, Madeline Boast, MSc, PAS, equine nutritionist and founder of Balanced Bay Nutrition, shares her research on safe weight loss programs for horses and explains how diet, exercise, and metabolic health work together to support long-term wellbeing.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why overweight horses are so common, especially easy keepers
- How to check body condition and spot risky fat deposits
- Safe ways to help horses lose weight with diet and exercise
- How fat affects inflammation, laminitis, and metabolic health
- Tips for forage management, slow feeders, and practical weight control
To learn more about Madeline and Balanced Bay Nutrition you can visit her website here https://balancedbaynutrition.com/
Here is an episode to Ep. 38: Body Weight, Condition Scoring and Equine Nutrition https://scoopandscale.com/ep-38-body-weight-condition-scoring-and-equine-nutrition/
Do you have questions about feeding your horse? Contact us at info@scoopandscale.com
Thanks for riding along with us!