Education Boosts Uptake Of Balanced Diets For Weight Watchers
6 days ago 
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Recent insights highlight how the SPILLERS™ Slimmers’ Club is successfully educating owners on the crucial role of balancers for safe weight management
Educational initiatives, such as the innovative SPILLERS Slimmers’ Club, are leading the way in improving education around best management strategies for good doers and those at risk of laminitis. A vital part of this educational push is ensuring that overweight horses and ponies still receive a balanced diet when calories are cut back.
Data comparisons from a weight management survey in the summer of 2025 and a SPILLERS Slimmers’ Club poll in June 2026 have revealed that these educational efforts are working. UK horse owners are showing a shift in feeding habits. In 2025 20% of owners reported feeding no supplements or balancers at all. By 2026 that number dropped sharply to just 5% indicating that owners now better understand the nutritional needs of weight watching equines.
Obesity is regarded by the UK’s veterinary sector as one of the gravest welfare concerns facing equines in the UK today. Excess weight dramatically increases the risk of severe, potentially fatal conditions, most notably laminitis.
Up to 70% of the UK’s equine population is classified as overweight and in need of a weight management programme to help them slim down. Balancers are worth their weight in gold in such circumstances. A good balancer provides optimum levels of vitamins, macro and micro minerals and amino acids to balance the base diet, with minimal calories and starch. This makes them ideal for horses and ponies that keep their weight on a forage-only diet or those needing less than the recommended amount of compound feed.
“Balancers offer excellent support alongside careful weight management strategies, helping keep horses slimmer and healthier, and they are also cost-effective, so it’s great news to see more and more horse owners are embracing the benefits.” said Vanessa Allen, Nutritional Content Manager at Mars Horsecare, home of the SPILLERS brand.
“By helping owners understand the need to supplement their horses’ diets with vitamins and minerals, together with management and exercise, initiatives like our SPILLERS’ Slimmers’ Club are ensuring that UK horses and ponies can slim down safely without nutritional compromise.”
SPILLERS balancers offer premium nutrition at everyday value, providing balanced feeds tailored to every horse’s needs. To find out more contact the SPILLERS Care-Line on + 44 (0)1908 226626 or visit www.spillers-feeds.com.
Join 14,500 people in the SPILLERS™ Slimmers' Club on Facebook for practical support and camaraderie during your horse’s weight loss journey.
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