28 September 2021

Redwings supports SPILLERS in new weight loss campaign

Redwings is teaming up with feed manufactory SPILLERS™ to invite owners of overweight horses and ponies to join their new SPILLERS Slimmers’ Club for support, advice and encouragement to help keep their horse or pony at a healthy weight.

Obesity is a major welfare issue for horses and ponies, not only because of the direct weight-associated effects, but also due to the increased risk it poses for certain clinical conditions, in particular laminitis.

Other health and welfare implications include increased joint strain, respiratory stress, heat intolerance, an increase in chronic low-grade inflammation in senior horses and reduced fertility.

The SPILLERS Slimmers’ Club provides horse owners with invaluable information and advice including weight loss tips, details of how to body condition score and use a weigh tape, diet plans and weight loss records.

Club members will also receive access to a dedicated Facebook group where they can share their horse’s progress and tips with other owners, as well as post questions for SPILLERS nutritionists to answer.

Nicola Knight, Head of Communications & Campaigns, said: “For almost 20 years we have worked closely with SPILLERS to help raise awareness and support horse owners on a range of health and wellbeing issues. The SPILLERS Slimmers campaign is just as close to our hearts as we see more and more equines arrive at the Sanctuary requiring veterinary attention for conditions that could have been prevented with proper weight management.

“With a herd of 1,500 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules, we also live the day-to-day challenges of pasture management and helping our residents maintain healthy weights throughout the changing seasons, whilst tending to their individual and specialist needs. We look forward to sharing our experiences through this latest exciting partnership with SPILLERS.”

Clare Barfoot RNutr, Marketing and Research and Development Director at Mars Horsecare UK, home of the SPILLERS brand, added: “Some horse and ponies simply appear to get fat on thin air. Reduced exercise and less rigorous management regimes due to COVID-19 restrictions haven’t helped and we are perhaps becoming guilty of normalising overweight horses. We all need to work together to tackle the problem, for the future health and welfare of our horses and we hope our SPILLERS Slimmers’ Club will help achieve exactly that.”

To support the Club, we will be helping to spread the word by sharing literature to Guardians rehoming one of our rescued ponies, as well as sharing tips and answering practical management questions on the SPILLERS Slimmers’ Facebook group.

To celebrate the campaign and our longstanding partnership, SPILLERS has also kindly donated £500 to the Sanctuary.

You can join the SPILLERS Slimmers’ Club by clicking here.