best weight management

[dwi]

Daisy is currently being ridden 6 days a week, a mixture of schooling, long hacks and the odd jump but she isn't losing any weight. She is out during the day in a small starvation paddock with minimal grass and in at night.

Which of the three options below do you think would be best weight wise?

1. In at night, out during the day

2. Out at night, in during the day, would give her a bit longer out but presumably she would eat less

2. Out 24/7 she'd presumably eat less in the starvation paddock than she would when I bring her in because then I give her hay or am I looking at this wrong?

Advice please

 

[catembi]

At least if she's out, she'll be moving around more & burning up some calories?

 

[suzyseymour]

If you are trying to keep weight off her keep her in in the day out at night. As the grass is worse in the day, can't remember what it is that its got more of but increases the risk of laminitis. For my mare who has had lami in the past I put a muzzel on her for some of the day. When there is a lot of grass or shes a bit heavy I put it on for 12-14hrs, when less risk, reduce the time she is wearing to eg 8hrs.

 

[touchstone]

The grass is higher in sugars during the day, so although they can eat just as much at night, it tends to be safer grazing.

Soaking her hay can reduce the calorie content quite drastically, but remember to add a good broad spectrum supplement, as she will probably be deficient in some minerals and vitamins with a restricted diet.

Reducing food intake too drastically can make them store more fat, as the body tries to hang on to whatever calories it gets rather than using them, so never feed less than 1% of her bodyweight and make sure she has plenty of fibre so she doesn't feel hungry.

Keeping her moving as much as possible is a good idea, and muzzles are useful for this, also running a strip of bare grazing around the perimeter of the field has worked well for me.

Some people also add magnesium to the diet as it helps the horse to use up fat pads.

Good luck!