Welcome to the Slimmers’ Club
If your horse or pony is prone to piling on the pounds, you’re not alone. The SPILLERS Slimmers’ Club was created to help owners like you tackle equine obesity with practical tools, expert advice and a supportive community.
Here, you’ll find everything you need to get started — from understanding what “overweight” really looks like, to safe grazing management and the science of balancing a low-calorie diet.
Together, we’re working towards SPILLERS’ mission to end equine obesity by 2035.
Join Our Facebook Community
Caring for a good doer can feel like a balancing act — but you don’t have to do it alone.
Our private SPILLERS Slimmers’ Club Facebook group brings together thousands of horse owners who share advice, experiences, and encouragement on every step of the weight-loss journey.
It’s a safe, friendly space where you can:
✅ Ask questions and get expert answers from our SPILLERS nutrition specialists
✅ Share progress photos and celebrate success stories
✅ Find practical tips from owners managing similar horses
✅ Take part in polls, challenges and exclusive giveaways
With over 13,500 members already onboard, there’s never been a better time to join.
Every post, photo and update helps to create lasting change for horses across the UK.
👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/spillersslimmers
(New members are always welcome!)
The Slimmers’ Hub
Each section below explores a key topic to help you make confident, informed choices for your horse.
Is Your Horse Overweight?
Learn how to recognise when “a bit round” becomes a health concern, understand breed bias and emotional denial, and see how to use tools like body condition scoring and the Body Condition Index for a truly objective assessment.
Body Condition Scoring
Master the art of assessing fat by eye and touch. This guide walks you through the 1–9 scale, how to stay consistent, and how to tell the difference between fat and muscle.
Risks of Obesity
Obesity isn’t just a cosmetic issue — it increases the risk of laminitis, insulin dysregulation, colic, respiratory strain, joint damage and even reduced fertility. Learn why keeping your horse at a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for their welfare.
Cutting Calories
Weight loss is simple in theory but tricky in practice. Discover how to set realistic goals, manage forage safely, avoid over-rugging, and cut calories — not nutrients — to achieve long lasting results.
Grazing: Friend or Foe?
Understand how much your horse really eats at grass, what affects sugar levels, and why even winter pasture can pack a calorie punch. Learn practical ways to restrict intake safely and reduce laminitis risk.
Grazing Management
Explore systems that work — from strip grazing and track systems to grass-free turnout. Includes research-based advice, welfare considerations and creative ideas to keep horses active and content while managing grass intake.
Grazing Muzzles
A well-fitted muzzle can reduce grass intake by up to 80% without restricting freedom or social time. This section includes plenty of tips to help keep your horse happy.
Forage Management
From hay to haylage and straw, learn how to choose the right forage, calculate feeding amounts, understand dry matter and make your horses forage last longer.
The Science of Hay Soaking
Soaking hay can reduce sugar content — but not always as much as you think. Understand how soaking works, how long to soak in different weather, and why feeding a balancer is essential for horses on soaked forage.
Balanced Diets for Good Doers
Discover how to meet your horse’s vitamin, mineral and amino acid requirements while keeping calories in check. Learn why balancers are essential, what “lite” really means, and how to choose the right one for your horse.
Enrichment
Keeping good doers happy on restricted diets means thinking beyond feed. Enrichment helps reduce stress, boredom and frustration, all of which can influence weight and behaviour.
Lacking Energy
Many owners of “good doers” worry that cutting calories leaves their horse dull or lacking sparkle. In this final section, we separate myth from reality.
Personalised Support When You Need It
Our nutrition specialists are available to offer tailored advice, ensuring you get the most from your horse’s diet.
