Another weight thread, sorry. Retired fatty.

[ForeverBroke_]

Hello,

I'm looking for advice on how to shift some lb's off of my retired 16hh ConnieXTB.

He's been retired for approaching a year now, and has always been quite a good doer but work usually keeps him at a good weight. Since knowing he was being retired, over winter he was deliberatley kept down a rug and has been on a 'diet,' so to speak ever since christmas.

He now is on a sparse field (which is sectioned off in half with plans to strip graze) and has been having approx 6lb of soaked hay overnight in a trickle net and a token gesture of fast fibre with some Slimeline/Bute for the sake of having a bowl. He never has anything extra like apples/carrots. But he's STILL too fat. I've since started to soak his hay now for 24 hours.

He wont abide a muzzle, I've tried numerous times and he either manages to pull it off himself of torment my other horse in trying to rub it off. He's mastered the art of pulling it off within half an hour now. My main issue is that I can't really limit his TO (in terms of hours) due to the on going issues he has in his legs.

Any extra tips/hints much appreciated!!

 

[tallyho!]

No life for a retired horse is it.... Can you not lunge him for exercise?

 

[nikicb]

What a nightmare. I have a 6 yo Connie x ISH and if he wasn't in work he would be an absolute porker. Why is he retired? Can you walk him out in hand (a good march rather than an amble) or lead him from another while you ride?

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Initially bilateral high ringbone infront, and since August/September he's been turned away following issues with his hind suspensories!

I'm thinking walking him out in hand is possibly about the only thing I've got left to try!!

 

[LynH]

I have a non ridden companion on loan so have the issue of keeping her weight down. I have a retired TB who isn't overweight but does get a grass belly. I have my three all in a small area of the field and the two fatties are muzzled 24/7 ATM. As soon as this is grazed down, should only take a few days they will stay unmuzzled in the short area and then I will strip graze and muzzle during the day until the strip is grazed down. I didn't muzzle last year and found strip grazing worked pretty well. It's so hard when you have old stiff horses who need to be out as much as possible but can't exercise them to keep the weight down.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Instead of strip grazing can up put up a track round the edge of the field (perhaps get others to eat it down 1st), then stick him in there, so he walks more. The trouble with a patch/strip grazing is they don't move much.

 

[nikicb]

Initially bilateral high ringbone infront, and since August/September he's been turned away following issues with his hind suspensories!

I'm thinking walking him out in hand is possibly about the only thing I've got left to try!!

I'm sure he would enjoy it. I sometimes take our pretty much retired sec A for a walk as he doesn't get out much these days (no riders as he's a little *** off the lead rein, so self inflicted) and he loves it.

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Instead of strip grazing can up put up a track round the edge of the field (perhaps get others to eat it down 1st), then stick him in there, so he walks more. The trouble with a patch/strip grazing is they don't move much.

I've been thinking of setting up a bit of a 'race track' system round the outside, but I've just been putting it off as would possibly mean that my other horse would be without shade during the summer. That said I've got so much fencing from where I've constructed pens/strip grazing/you name it I've made it anyway!

 

[piebaldsparkle]

I've been thinking of setting up a bit of a 'race track' system round the outside, but I've just been putting it off as would possibly mean that my other horse would be without shade during the summer. That said I've got so much fencing from where I've constructed pens/strip grazing/you name it I've made it anyway!

Put them both in the track when really hot, then let the non-fatty have the middle on cooler days/mornings/evening.

 

[tallyho!]

I've been thinking of setting up a bit of a 'race track' system round the outside, but I've just been putting it off as would possibly mean that my other horse would be without shade during the summer. That said I've got so much fencing from where I've constructed pens/strip grazing/you name it I've made it anyway!

Good idea!!! It doesn't have to be a complete circle, so your other horse can still get shade...

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Good idea!!! It doesn't have to be a complete circle, so your other horse can still get shade...

Think I've just visioned an idea on how to possibly make it work! Thank god its sunny down here, fencing/knot un-tying is so much more tolerable in good weather!!

Thanks all!