Belly help?

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vikkiandmonica

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My 16.2hh gelding has a huge belly on him, almost pregnant looking
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. He isn't fat, as his ribs are visible (hard to keep weight on), but he always has this belly. He was wormed fairly recently, so don't think this is the problem. He is a windsucker however, but when he got his vaccinations a few months back, when he was slightly fat, the vet said his belly was just him being fat. However, now he is much skinnier, it is still there?

If anyone could help me figure out how to shift this belly, it would be much appreciated
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I don't know if this will help or not, but my 16hh Spanish 3 year old was like this last winter but not this winter.

This year he has had a lot more hay and (of course due to snow) very little grass to pick at. His daily feed is 1 scoop alpha oil chaff and some Baileys lo-cal.

He did get a bloated belly during last summer when the grass was limited and very poor and he was carrying more fat so he didn't get any hay. I've concluded that unlike my ponies he doesn't do well on poor quality or limited forage.
 
Thanks Tallante, that's interesting. He does get quite a lot of hay each night, and is then turned out in the day time, so not sure if this is the case with him.

Chumsmum, he's only 10, and was in full work (ridden at least 5 times a week) before the snow, and he is now being brought back into work. I will be gradually increasing his exercise until he is hacked daily up to an hour with cantering etc. and schooling and jumping some days.

Thanks again!
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Has he been wormed for tapes? Also was his worm dose correct ie. not too low or didn't get some of it??
Also does he cat stretch? Thinking of possible ulcers.

Mta... [ QUOTE ]

I've concluded that unlike my ponies he doesn't do well on poor quality or limited forage.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I'd give hay so he has a constant supply. It may be worth giving a good feed balancer (if he doesn't get one already) such as Top spec comprehensive too, expensive but worth it. Mind you it's only a mug a day for a 16hh so goes a long way.
 
Thanks for the post. Yep, was wormed properly and got full dose, spat a little out, so got another half a wormer, so pretty sure it isn't worms. I am thinking of swapping his hay for haylage, as the hay he is on is fairly poor quality. The feed balancer also sounds good, so may look in to it. We have some Bailey's Stud Balancer at home, don't know if that would do the same job as the Topspec?
 
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