In many stables, the terms “good doer” or “easy keeper” are used with relief. They describe a horse that maintains weight easily, appears to need little feed, and seems straightforward to manage.

But these labels can be misleading. What is often praised as efficiency may actually reflect a horse living close to – or beyond – their metabolic comfort zone. Without careful management, so-called easy keepers are at higher risk of long-term health and welfare problems.

Understanding what these terms really mean – and what they don’t – is essential for keeping horses genuinely healthy, not just outwardly well-covered.

What Do We Mean by “Good Doer” or “Easy Keeper”?

These labels are commonly used for horses that:

• Gain or maintain weight easily, even on small amounts of feed
• Require little or no hard feed
• Appear to cope on pasture alone

They are often contrasted with “poor doers”, who struggle to maintain condition.
The issue is not the observation itself, but how quickly it becomes a fixed identity. Once a horse is labelled an easy keeper, management decisions are often simplified – sometimes at the expense of the horse’s underlying physiology.

Why the Label Can Be Misleading

Horses evolved to survive in environments where food availability fluctuated. Many breeds, particularly ponies and native types, developed highly efficient metabolisms that allowed them to store energy during times of abundance and survive periods of scarcity.

Modern management looks very different.

In today’s environment of:

• Improved pasture – modern grasses are selectively bred for productivity, often containing higher levels of sugars and digestible energy than the sparse, fibrous plants horses evolved to graze
• Reduced movement – smaller paddocks, stable time, and limited turnout mean many horses walk only a fraction of the distance they would naturally cover
• Constant forage availability – uninterrupted access to grass or hay removes natural fasting periods that once helped regulate metabolism

this natural efficiency can become a liability.

A horse that gains weight easily may not be thriving. Instead, they may be:

• Experiencing ongoing metabolic stress
• Developing insulin dysregulation (difficulty regulating blood sugar effectively)
• Carrying excess fat that strains joints, hooves, and internal organs

When this is framed as being a “good doer”, early warning signs can be overlooked.

Common Management Practices That Aren’t Ideal

Many well-intentioned strategies are frequently applied to easy keepers, but can unintentionally compromise welfare.

Severe Feed Restriction

To control weight, forage is often heavily restricted.

However, horses are designed to eat small amounts frequently. Long gaps without fibre can:

• Disrupt gut function
• Increase the risk of gastric ulcers
• Lead to frustration, stress, and abnormal behaviours

Weight management should never come at the cost of digestive or mental health.

Assuming “Grass Only” Is Safe

Grass is often viewed as a natural and harmless feed.

In reality, pasture – particularly improved or well-managed pasture – can be:

• High in sugars and starches
• A major contributor to obesity and laminitis
• Highly variable depending on season, weather, and time of day

For metabolically sensitive horses, grass intake often matters more than hard feed.

Normalising Subtle Warning Signs

Easy keepers are frequently described as “just a bit chunky” or “solid”, while early indicators of metabolic strain are missed, such as:

• A firm or enlarged crest along the neck
• Fat pads behind the shoulders or around the tail head
• Reduced willingness to move freely
• Intermittent foot soreness or shortened stride

These are not cosmetic traits. They are physical signs that the body is under strain.

Why This Matters for Welfare

Excess body fat and metabolic dysregulation are strongly linked to:

• Laminitis
• Degenerative joint disease
• Reduced comfort and mobility
• Shortened working and active lifespan

A horse can look well-fed and still be uncomfortable. Welfare is not defined by roundness – it is defined by how well the body is functioning.

Rethinking the “Easy Keeper”

Instead of asking “How little can this horse have?”, a more useful question is:

“What does this horse need to remain metabolically healthy?”

This shift moves management away from restriction and toward balance, predictability, and individualised care.

Practical, Welfare-Focused Steps You Can Take

1. Assess Body Condition Objectively

Use a recognised body condition scoring system and assess with your hands, not just your eyes. Fat distribution is often more important than overall weight.

2. Manage Forage Quality, Not Just Quantity

• Source lower-sugar hay where possible
• Consider soaking hay to reduce soluble sugars when appropriate
• Avoid long fasting periods

Consistency and fibre intake are key to gut and metabolic health.

3. Be Intentional With Pasture Access

Tools such as:

• Track systems
• Strip grazing
• Time-limited turnout

allow horses to move and socialise while reducing excessive intake.

4. Prioritise Regular Movement

Appropriate, consistent exercise improves:

• Insulin sensitivity
• Joint and hoof health
• Overall comfort and mental wellbeing

Movement is one of the most effective management tools available.

• Age
• Season
• Workload
• Health status

Ongoing observation matters more than any single category.

Moving Beyond the Myth

The idea of the “easy keeper” can feel reassuring. But labels can obscure what is actually happening inside the horse’s body.

When we look beyond the shorthand and respond to the individual in front of us, we prevent avoidable disease, reduce suffering, and support long-term welfare.

A horse that holds weight easily isn’t just convenient.
It’s information – and it’s our responsibility to respond appropriately.

References

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• Dugdale, A. H. A., Curtis, G. C., Harris, P. A., & Argo, C. M. G. (2010). Assessment of body condition and fat distribution in horses. Veterinary Journal, 185(3), 316–321.
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• McGowan, C. M., Frost, R., Pfeiffer, D. U., Neiger, R., & Eppink, L. (2004). Serum insulin concentrations in horses with laminitis. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 18(5), 711–715.
• Pollitt, C. C. (2004). Equine laminitis: A revised pathophysiology. Proceedings of the Australian Equine Veterinary Association, Bain-Fallon Memorial Lectures.
• Pratt-Phillips, S. E., & Lawrence, L. M. (2014). Nutrition and metabolic responses of horses. In Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition (Saunders Elsevier).
• van Eps, A. W., & Pollitt, C. C. (2006). Equine laminitis induced by oligofructose. Equine Veterinary Journal, 38(3), 203–208.