Achieving weight loss without a "hangry" pony

[Bangagin]

Having lost my old mare earlier this year (who needed ad lib feeding) I now have a lovely cob who I need to get some weight off (my fault entirely as I wasn't switched on to her dietary requirements when she first arrived). She's been with me for 3 months.

For the last 3 weeks I have methodically weighed her hay (feeding about 1.75% of her bodyweight) and soaked it, and am feeding hay morning and evening in haylage nets. She also has a Shires soft mesh haynet with 1" holes but this is her least favourite net as it's harder work! I put in one section of dry hay and hang this from a beam so it swings to make it even harder to eat from, but I know she has something in it should she be desperate to eat. Some day this is eaten - some days she doesn't bother.

She's ridden 3 times a week - I can't exercise her more due to work commitments and a very poorly dog at the moment. We try to do as much trot as possible out hacking as part of our weight loss regime.

Other liveries tell me that there is "plenty for her to eat" in her paddock, but we're in East Anglia and have had no rain for weeks on end. The grass is totally scorched off, so there is barely anything to eat in the field. I fenced off a large square of field to reduce down her grazing area several weeks ago (when the ground was green and not like a savanna desert) and looking at it yesterday it's not grown at all, so I know there is not plenty on the ground for her to eat.

She has definitely lost a bit of weight - which is great. But is getting more "hangry" now that there's no grass to pick at. Watching her eat the soaked nets she pulls out quite big mouthfuls, so I know these aren't lasting her more than a couple of hours. She has a token high fibre feed once a day (to add her vitamin and mineral supplement to) and a treat ball with a handful of high fibre nuts because she loves this and it means she moves whilst she eats!

She's such a sweet mare with a lovely temperament but she is starting to get quite grumpy on her diet. How does everyone else restrict intake without frustrating their ponies, and avoid health problems such as colic or ulcers please? I've been considering giving her a bit more soaked hay whilst there is no grass, which will mean a slower weight loss but possibly a more content pony.

 

[Highmileagecob]

You are doing the right thing by working out the amount she should be having, then it's just a case of being creative with the delivery arrangements to keep her occupied. Does she have turnout? If she has individual turnout, you could put some of the ration in a hayball. Double net the rest, or use a hay pillow. Mixing her rations with straw might help. Are you absolutely sure that she is overweight, and not just cob shaped? If you stand back and look at my old boy, and mentally add six inches to each leg, he is a good shape for a 15hh cob. Unfortunately, he only has 14hh legs, so always looks a bit top heavy. He usually weighs around 480 - 500 on the horse weigh tape, and I have been happy to leave him at that.

 

[Bangagin]

You are doing the right thing by working out the amount she should be having, then it's just a case of being creative with the delivery arrangements to keep her occupied. Does she have turnout? If she has individual turnout, you could put some of the ration in a hayball. Double net the rest, or use a hay pillow. Mixing her rations with straw might help. Are you absolutely sure that she is overweight, and not just cob shaped? If you stand back and look at my old boy, and mentally add six inches to each leg, he is a good shape for a 15hh cob. Unfortunately, he only has 14hh legs, so always looks a bit top heavy. He usually weighs around 480 - 500 on the horse weigh tape, and I have been happy to leave him at that.

She's just shy of 14hh and on the weigh tape she's 438 currently. She has a huge belly which I am trying to reduce - we actually thought she was in foal (and when I posted pics on here others were convinced!). I just want her to get to the weight she was when I bought her. She's very sluggish at the moment and I'm convinced it's down to carrying the extra weight. Vet thought she should be 410kg so she hasn't got a huge way to go and I don't need to get it off her in a huge rush. She has individual turnout.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Straw chaff is often good for giving them something to eat that won't add weight.

 

[Caski]

Has she had foals previously?
Just wondering if she is a tad 'mummy tummy' shaped?
Not easy to get rid of I know, but just a thought.

 

[SEL]

Straw mixed in with the hay in her nets has worked brilliantly for my friends cob - 100kg off over a year without him becoming hangry

My little cob has had foals and definitely has a "mum tum" even in winter when we have ribs

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Oat straw, it's cheap and good for weight and provides them long stem fibre to much on too - a friend gives it to hers.
You can fill a trug with it, or mix it in with the hay

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have successfully fed plain oat straw chaff ad lib alongside a measured ration of hay to solve this problem. The mare, who was obese when I bought her, learnt self-regulation over a couple of years.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Our pasture is supporting too many horses, and looks like a bowling green. However, the horses are looking good and are obviously finding enough to eat. Don't under estimate a cob's ability to find food!

 

[P.forpony]

Another vote for straw, all of my beasts have ad lib forage even the chunky ones and I've had several come to me seriously over weight.
It is definitely possible to achieve weight loss without a hungry horse!
It's just about providing bulk without calories, and getting them moving as much as possible.
If you can fence off parts of your grazing it might be worth fencing it as a track. I do this for my shetty in the summer. He has a narrow strip fenced around the perimeter of the field so he's still out with the others, but does a lot of mileage going round the outside to keep up with everyone else!

 

[Bangagin]

Has she had foals previously?
Just wondering if she is a tad 'mummy tummy' shaped?
Not easy to get rid of I know, but just a thought.

Yes, she has had a foal previously, but she didn't have that "mummy tummy" when she arrived with me, so I know it's possible to slim her down somewhat. To be fair she did look a little poor when she first arrived as you could faintly see her ribs.

Another vote for straw, all of my beasts have ad lib forage even the chunky ones and I've had several come to me seriously over weight.
It is definitely possible to achieve weight loss without a hungry horse!
It's just about providing bulk without calories, and getting them moving as much as possible.
If you can fence off parts of your grazing it might be worth fencing it as a track. I do this for my shetty in the summer. He has a narrow strip fenced around the perimeter of the field so he's still out with the others, but does a lot of mileage going round the outside to keep up with everyone else!

Yes I have plans to create a small track but at the moment the ground is like concrete and it's impossible to move posts! We are due rain for most of the day tomorrowso as soon as I can do that the hay will be one end and the water the other!

For those of you recommending straw - is that actual oat straw, or oat straw chaff? Chaff would be easier to get hold of as my regular hay man doesn't provide straw.

 

[P.forpony]

Either will work, main differences are cost, volume, chew time and palatability.
Bags of chaff will be more expensive than bales of straw.
A bucket full of straw chaff will look like a lot but weigh very little.
Chaff will probably go down quicker than long stem straw but you can divide it up into several smaller buckets and place in different locations to get her moving between them.
Some horses are a bit fussy when first presented with long stem straw so chaff can be more appealing.

 

[Surbie]

She's just shy of 14hh and on the weigh tape she's 438 currently. She has a huge belly which I am trying to reduce - we actually thought she was in foal (and when I posted pics on here others were convinced!). I just want her to get to the weight she was when I bought her. She's very sluggish at the moment and I'm convinced it's down to carrying the extra weight. Vet thought she should be 410kg so she hasn't got a huge way to go and I don't need to get it off her in a huge rush. She has individual turnout.

If you need to think through weight and what she needs to lose, it might be worth getting her onto a weighbridge rather than relying on tapes which can be wildly inaccurate. Mine was under by 20% of my horse's weight, which also has an impact on how much under I'd been on things like wormer.

 

[Bangagin]

If you need to think through weight and what she needs to lose, it might be worth getting her onto a weighbridge rather than relying on tapes which can be wildly inaccurate. Mine was under by 20% of my horse's weight, which also has an impact on how much under I'd been on things like wormer.

Yes we are looking at getting a weighbridge out to the yard. There are several of us monitoring weight of horses and ponies!

Either will work, main differences are cost, volume, chew time and palatability.
Bags of chaff will be more expensive than bales of straw.
A bucket full of straw chaff will look like a lot but weigh very little.
Chaff will probably go down quicker than long stem straw but you can divide it up into several smaller buckets and place in different locations to get her moving between them.
Some horses are a bit fussy when first presented with long stem straw so chaff can be more appealing.

I've just put some feelers out for oat straw but it seems very difficult to source in small bales. It would be hard for me to store a round bale. So oat straw chaff would be easier to get hold of even though more expensive. Is there no risk of choke? I normally dampen all feeds well. (I'm a worrier!)

 

[P.forpony]

You could dampen it if you wanted to but I've never had a choke issue and that includes one rather prone to it.
I can't really see how there would be much more risk than with hay.
Also eating it dry will take longer and encourage salivation which is a gastric buffer so a plus point for happy tums.

 

[Bangagin]

You could dampen it if you wanted to but I've never had a choke issue and that includes one rather prone to it.
I can't really see how there would be much more risk than with hay.
Also eating it dry will take longer and encourage salivation which is a gastric buffer so a plus point for happy tums.

I soak her hay, but just thought she might try to eat the chaff faster than she eats hay when she does have it unsoaked. That's reassuring to hear that you've never had any issues.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

We have a hangry one here. Starts kicking the gate and generally being a twonk, though fine with others and humans, just has little tantrums of his own. So, he gets some straw along with his rations. We like to keep fibre going through the system and it keeps him happy.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I soak her hay, but just thought she might try to eat the chaff faster than she eats hay when she does have it unsoaked. That's reassuring to hear that you've never had any issues.

I very much doubt that she will eat plain oat straw chaff quickly. They usually just pick at it because it's not tasty.
Just be careful with Top Chop Zero, some horses think that is very tasty.

 

[rosie gall]

Yes, she has had a foal previously, but she didn't have that "mummy tummy" when she arrived with me, so I know it's possible to slim her down somewhat. To be fair she did look a little poor when she first arrived as you could faintly see her ribs.

Yes I have plans to create a small track but at the moment the ground is like concrete and it's impossible to move posts! We are due rain for most of the day tomorrowso as soon as I can do that the hay will be one end and the water the other!

For those of you recommending straw - is that actual oat straw, or oat straw chaff? Chaff would be easier to get hold of as my regular hay man doesn't provide straw.

Do be careful with straw it must be introduced gradually it can cause compaction. Soaked hay reduces sugars but they must have a vit balancer alongside. My Fell needed to lose 100kg!! It was tough. Top Spec have a brilliant help line - I couldn't have done it without them. Also Spillers Slimmers on Facebook a great support group.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would always prefer feeding chaff to long straw. My mare got colic from long straw but had no.oroblems with plain oat straw chaff

 

[Nasicus]

My number 1 tip: Count the poos! Or wheelbarrows worth!

I've had people concerned that my pony didn't have enough grazing, until I pointed out that she's still producing her usual amount of poo, one wheelbarrows worth a day.
And if it's coming out, it must be going in!

Plus getting creative with it. I put her hay ration into a shires haybag (so only one panel she can eat out of) and hung it from a tree branch. Made it last much longer than if it were a net or tied to a fence, or loose.

 

[Gloi]

Is she suitable for a sharer to hack out on the days you don’t ride?

 

[Goldenstar]

I don’t feed forage for fat horses based on percentage of body weight .
By far the most effective way of getting weight by restricting food is counting droppings .
I would forget the soaked hay and give top chop zero or similar instead .
You can put the chop straight on the ground in the paddock in dry weather .
if your horse is not losing weight it needs feeding less so I reduce what they get by counting the droppings and cutting back .
Sadly there’s no easy way of getting fat off horses doing very light work .
Make sure you are providing a little high quality protein everyday ( a suitable balancer is a good way to do this ) .

 

[Bangagin]

I very much doubt that she will eat plain oat straw chaff quickly. They usually just pick at it because it's not tasty.
Just be careful with Top Chop Zero, some horses think that is very tasty.

Well, not only does she tuck in to the oat straw chaff with relish, she flings the feed trough around her field shelter like crazy. I have actually cut down her ration of straw chaff as she was diving into it the minute she saw me dish it up (no matter how hard I tried to sneak it into her shelter whilst she was eating her hay).

Do be careful with straw it must be introduced gradually it can cause compaction. Soaked hay reduces sugars but they must have a vit balancer alongside. My Fell needed to lose 100kg!! It was tough. Top Spec have a brilliant help line - I couldn't have done it without them. Also Spillers Slimmers on Facebook a great support group.

Yes I've always fed her a vitamin and mineral supplement, so don't worry too much about soaking hay.

My number 1 tip: Count the poos! Or wheelbarrows worth!

I've had people concerned that my pony didn't have enough grazing, until I pointed out that she's still producing her usual amount of poo, one wheelbarrows worth a day.
And if it's coming out, it must be going in!

Plus getting creative with it. I put her hay ration into a shires haybag (so only one panel she can eat out of) and hung it from a tree branch. Made it last much longer than if it were a net or tied to a fence, or loose.

Yeah for sure! That's why I've cut the straw chaff right down - the amount of poo was starting to multiply! I use a Shires soft mesh net with small holes and hang it from the beam of her shelter, so it's more difficult for her to eat this when it swings about. I'm about to add some more hanging places like that to make eating more challenging for her.

Is she suitable for a sharer to hack out on the days you don’t ride?

If she was older and more established yes, but she's just turned 5 and quite green out and about, so if it wasn't someone I knew and trusted I would be wary of getting a sharer. She can also be a bit challenging re snacking en route and also opinionated with steering at times and I know how easy it is for bad habits to creep in with a different rider,

I don’t feed forage for fat horses based on percentage of body weight .
By far the most effective way of getting weight by restricting food is counting droppings .
I would forget the soaked hay and give top chop zero or similar instead .
You can put the chop straight on the ground in the paddock in dry weather .
if your horse is not losing weight it needs feeding less so I reduce what they get by counting the droppings and cutting back .
Sadly there’s no easy way of getting fat off horses doing very light work .
Make sure you are providing a little high quality protein everyday ( a suitable balancer is a good way to do this ) .

Well, contrary to this she has actually lost some weight so I am not too worried, particularly now that the temperatures have dropped here (was 6 degrees overnight). I don't want it to come off too quickly anyway. She's definitely looking better and is less hangry (although we had impressive bucking along the fence line this morning when it was chilly and she was keen for her hay!)

Thanks for the great advice everyone - it has really helped. I have a less grumpy pony who is starting to look much trimmer!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would ask your vet/physio's advice about the haynet. I would worry about the effect on her neck and poll muscles from pulling hay out of a moving target. But congratulations on the weight loss.