Big belly???

italylyns

italylyns

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My 16HH 13yo ID is on his recommended feed/amount as advised from spillers and is ridden nearly always 5/6 days a week for 1-2 hours but he looks out of shape to me!!

He was ill after xmas but recovered quickly and never dropped too much weight but he looks like he has a big round belly and sometimes he still looks ribby dispite the big belly.

He has had a problem with pinworms which dispite lots of worming and vet strength solutions up his bottom (dont ask!!!) he still has them but i have been informed they do not affect him internally.

Is he just out of shape and in need of being schooled etc to bring a decent shape to him??
 
can you post his weight and a pic ? First guess is that you nee to get those worms out, as they will cause bloating and discomfort - can't your vet recommend something ( maybe pramox ?).
 
My boy has a big belly. He has had it for the 9 years he has owned me. He was 10 when I got him. Unless he is hunting fit it is always there. (Bit like mine). If it is a new look maybe the flush of grass has caused it. I would ask vets advice.

Jane
 
What consistency are his poos?? You definately need to look at the worming issue, but if you've discussed this with your vet and are up to date and they are happy, you could possibly look at giving him pink powder or yea-sacc, to aid digestion in the gut.
 
I would probably get a worm count done first off. And I would do a condition score, as this will give a more accurate idea of his overall, well, condition! If you haven't done one before, they are very easy to do:)http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/information/right_weight_advice

Like us, horses all store their fat reserves in different places, so it may just be the way he is. However it's best to eliminate worm infestation as a cause as this can cause real damage to your horse.
 
Had a worm count and it was clear i was told by the vet after worming him 3 times (weeks apart) with different wormers incase the worms were immune to one!

The vets have given me 2 separate syringes weeks apart now with a substance to kill the worms inside his anus (which is where the pinworms live) and there are still signs they are there. The vets have said they will not cause him problems but it is very frustrating as i have spent a small fortune and its not nice for him!

Maybe the pink powder is a good idea, he is on 2 feeds a day, Spillers conditioning fibre and spillers response slow release energy mix but no supplements.
It is definitley not the grass as the fields where we are are bald!
 
Poor lamb, it's no life being a horse and having syringes shoved up your bottom left right and centre! He'll be walking around everywhere with his back pressed up to the wall:eek::p:D

The only other thing I might suggest is looking again at his feed - if the recommended amounts on horse feed are anything like those on dog food, they may be a bit over-generous in their allowances? Maybe try upping his forage and gradually reducing his feed, and see if that has an effect on his shape?:confused:
 
I have spoken to spillers and what he has is what they feel he should be getting.
Its strange that although his belly is big, he can still look ribby??!!

He is o.k in himself and doesnt look THAT bad. I will try and get a pic on here!!
 
My cob gets very bloated and carries all his weight in his gassy tum. He is muzzled which helps him as he bloats up when he has too much grass, but he's heavier than your boy , adding mint and yea-sacc to his feed can help.
 
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