Am I doing the right thing? (exercising, and dieting)

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kandm

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At the moment I am helping YO (also a close friend) to get their little welsh sec a (11.3hh) pony to get fit and healthy. He is over weight.

He is getting lunged as often as he can, normally atleast 5times aweek. And I have started taking him out for 30mins inhand walks, these inhand walks are Uphill and we walk at a fast pace, and have a trot atleast 3times during the walk. Will this build up muscle and burn off as much as lunging? Is it good that i am walking him out?
He is having a normal sized scope of laminitic chaf, with some carrots or apple (his owner buys his feed) everynight, and in the morning. He either gets no hay at night, or a small amount in 2haynets. He is put in his stable at about 5ish everynight and let back out at 8ish in the morning. He does have quite abit of grazing, but not too much.

Are we doing the right thing for him?
Would you recommend changing anything?
Please all your advice would be great
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I think you are doing pretty much the right thing. although I would cut out the second feed and maybe soak the hay, if you don't already.
 
He does get soaked hay when he gets it
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And also the only reason why he gets a morning feed is because Tilly gets one, and he'll steal hers otherwise.
YO doesnt have time to wait around for Tilly to eat, so can't tie Asbo up (Asbo is her pony) while she eats- if that makes sense
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My main concern is that if he is in from 5pm to 8am, then he MUST have some hay. It really is not right for him not to have ANY hay overnight, which sounds like is what happens sometimes from your posts.
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By all means, soak the hay to smithereens to reduce the calories value, and put it in two small holed haynets to slow down his intake, but it really is not kind or good for his digestive system to leave him all night without any hay whatsoever. Preferably put a tiny net in around 5pm, then get someone to put another one in much later in the evening.
 
The walking will be excellent for him (better than trotting or cantering) Lungeing might be quite a strain on his joints if he's overweight.

He may need more hay, rather than less, when he's in. If he's not getting enough his body will cling on to his fat more as it will go in to starvation mode. If you can soak it for 24 hours nearly all the calories will have gone and it'll just be fibre, which will keep his digestion and his metabolism going, and help him to lose weight.

Also, make sure he's getting all his vits and mins.
 
Sounds ok!Does need the hay especially if he is in and cannot forage!Just keep your eye on him and as workload increases maybe add a vitamin supplement rather than more feed
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Hill work will be better for muscle tone!!Roadwork good for leg strengthening!
Walking as said above is great for losing weight,faster work is more cardiovascular!
 
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My main concern is that if he is in from 5pm to 8am, then he MUST have some hay. It really is not right for him not to have ANY hay overnight, which sounds like is what happens sometimes from your posts.
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By all means, soak the hay to smithereens to reduce the calories value, and put it in two small holed haynets to slow down his intake, but it really is not kind or good for his digestive system to leave him all night without any hay whatsoever. Preferably put a tiny net in around 5pm, then get someone to put another one in much later in the evening.

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Ok will do
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It's only been over the past 2weeks that he hasn't had any (ir was to see how he reacted, and i must say his poos have been alot more pebbly(sp)), before he did have a biscuit in 2haynets
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I will revert back to the hay
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Pebbly poos mean he's not getting enough roughage to keep his gut flowing normally. He really must have something to nibble on - perhaps mix straw in with the hay to give him the essential roughage. Please don't starve him overnight
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Good for you trying to help return him to a normal, safe weight. I wish you lived nearer to us as we have some super ponies you could help ride
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He MUST have access to hay over night. If you leave a horse with nothing, or too little food you run the risk of the following...

Laminitis
Colic
Ulcers
Disruption of gut flora
Developing stable vices

People have campaigned for years to ensure that horses on their way to slaughter abroad are not left without feed for more than 12 hours. Ironic isn't it that so many of our beloved horses are left with nothing over night! It is a welfare issue on so many levels.

You might suggest muzzling or using a mizer net to turn down the flow of feed to a trickle.

As far as exercise goes...

Lunging any horse puts strain on the joints. Lunging an over weight or unmuscled horse puts even more stress on the joints.

Why not break the pony to drive, it is perfect exercise!
Or ride and lead it.
 
Does the pony lead from another horse? We used to keep our little sec A's weight down by taking him out on road exercise with the horses that were on fittening work. It worked a treat for him although he got very fit by the end of the season!!
 
I would -
Muzzle or restrict grazing when out
Feed well soaked hay at night (never leave him without something to nibble on)

Lots of exercise, definately keep walking him out, will be excellent for him.
 
Its sad but true that a lot of horses are left in with no hay for long periods of time.

I know of someone who does it to their horses, and they wonder why their horses keep getting gut related problems
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