Belly help?

[vikkiandmonica]

My 16.2hh gelding has a huge belly on him, almost pregnant looking

. He isn't fat, as his ribs are visible (hard to keep weight onin winter), 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

 

[spacefaer]

how old is he? Older horses tend to drop through their back and get a saggy belly as they get older and their level of fitness decreases

I would also have him tested for worm burden as even though you can worm regularly and correctly, a horse can still build up a population of drug resistent worms. Best way is to get your vet to do a blood test but you can do a basic faecal worm count initially

If he's not wormy, then you need to do work with him to strengthen his core muscles - he's a bit like a woman who'se just given birth!

You need to increase his schooling so his topline muscles carry him, rather than sagging in the middle and then you need to get him fitter - the thing that'll shift the belly is fast work

 

[vikkiandmonica]

Ok, thanks. He's only 10, and I don't think he has worms, as he is not in extremely poor condition, and done of the other horses have worms that are in his field, but I may consider getting a worm count done. At the minute he is just coming back into work after the snow, but I am working towards getting him back into full work, so I can increase his schooling then