Understanding the concept of weight management requires an understanding of energy. Very often horse owners confuse the term “energy” with “spirit” or “activity level.” As it relates to nutrition, however, energy refers to calories, which are units of energy (described further below). And with respect to weight management, if any animal takes in more calories than it expends, it will gain weight (mostly as fat); if it expends more calories than it takes in, it will lose weight.

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