A little advice please. . .weight wise. . .

[Flint12]

In a week my lad is going on a little holiday. . .just for a week and will be at grass 24/7.

About 3 weeks ago i swapped him to turn out over night. . . and now he is sporting a lovely round belly. . .

I am just a bit worried that this week of he is going to have will make him balloon!

He is at the moment on medium work 6 days a week. . .a mixture of lessons, jumping, hard flatwork sessions and hacking. .

He is also being fed one scoop hifi original and quarter scop topline nuts. . .and has two titchy haynets for the day . . .

Just after a bit of advice for wat i should do to stop or prevent him getting a huge belly. . .

Thanks

 

[dwi]

Will he still have the haynets out at grass?

I'd be tempted to swap the hifi to lite and to cut out the topline cubes altogether if he's looking tubby

 

[Flint12]

No he will be on grass. . . .24/7. . . he will be checked twice a day otherwise he wont come in for about 6 days if it all works out.

hmmm i dont know. . . The thing stopping me cutting his hard feed out is that he is doing quite a bit of work. . . but i know it would make sense if he is looking tubby. . . .will probably swap him on to hifi light. . .

Thanks

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

If he is going to be out 24/7 doing no work - I would give him no extra feed at all. It is just not necessary - you feed according to work - so no work = no feed.

 

[Flint12]

Ye that is what i was going to do. . .i think i got a bit confuzzled lol. . .

He will just be on grass nothing else for the week, i think i was jabbering on about somthing else. . .in my own little world you see

Thanks for your advice

 

[brighteyes]

If the grass is lush and he isn't used to it, perhaps see if the grazing can be restricted in some way - perhaps with some electric fencing or if possible a muzzle, if there is some supervision?

I admit I am terrified of grass and laminitis and the effects of sudden changes in routine/work/feed

Be careful bringing him back into the sort of work he seems to be getting atm after his holiday.

 

[Flint12]

I was thinking about restriction of grass. . .but im on a pretty big yard. . .and he is known for jumping out of paddocks. . .

I agree about being worried about it all! he needs a break and i have exams but i dont want anything to go wrong so am just checking what i could do to stop me worrying lol

What would you say about a muzzle?

 

[brighteyes]

Jumping in and out of paddocks will keep him fairly fit

No, I shouldn't joke about it.

Muzzles work, but I have two who tolerate them and one who is very claustrophobic, so won't. Introducing them can be traumatic if the wearer thinks they can't possibly eat with one on, rubbing occurs and the owner is overcome with guilt when watching the pitiful faces they pull before they have sussed out how to manoeuvre grass in through the hole in the bottom. Once they get the hang of it, they can fairly crack on with munching. . Not for a last minute plan, really. And they do need watching in case the muzzle is 'removed' or gets caught up, though most do have velcro safety breaking points.

It's to be applauded you have come on asking for advice and trying to make exam time worry free. Hmmmmm. That's a very tall order indeed, never mind mixing horses in with it!

Is there anyone at all who could be persuaded to bring him in during the day, or even make some dent in his 24/7 grass consuming mission?

Good luck with all of it.

 

[Flint12]

I dont really want to use one but im just thinking of options really. . .

I know it wont be worry free, but i think it would do him the world to have a bit of time to relax as well as making it slightly easier for me.

Im sure i could find someone to bring him in etc. . .the only thing being is that i hate dumping him on people. . .he can be hard to lead sometimes and i dont want anything to happen. . .have to have a think about it all. . . hmmm

Thanks

 

[kellyeaton]

strip graze him and cut all hard feed out!