Study links strip grazing to poorer welfare signals in ponies

Restricted grazing systems used for weight control may not be equal from a welfare standpoint. In a 35-pony crossover study published in Equine Veterinary Journal, researchers found ponies on a track system moved more, traveled farther over 24 hours, and showed less overt agonistic behavior than when the same herds were managed with strip grazing. The paper, first accepted in August 2024 and later published in the journal’s May 2025 print issue, compared four weeks in each system and found no meaningful difference in grazing rhythm between the two approaches. The authors were affiliated with Redwings Horse Sanctuary, the University of Lincoln, the University of Cambridge, SRUC, and the University of Edinburgh. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For equine veterinarians and welfare-focused teams, the study adds evidence that weight-management plans for ponies should consider behavior and social dynamics, not just calorie restriction. Obesity remains a major equine welfare concern and is linked with equine metabolic syndrome and laminitis, but this work suggests strip grazing may increase conflict and reduce movement even when accessible grazing area is matched. That could influence how clinicians counsel yards and pet parents managing native breeds and other easy keepers at pasture. (pure.sruc.ac.uk)

What to watch: Longer-term studies will be important to determine whether the apparent welfare advantages of track systems translate into better metabolic, body condition, or laminitis-related outcomes over time. (rcvsknowledge.org)