Borderline Laminitis - But can't be worked!! Help!!!!

Absolutely agree with you mrsbloggett - any horse or pony needs less than 2% of its body weight per day in order to lose weight unless it is a very poor-doer for some reason. Most people have absolutely no idea what a scoop of their feed weighs or their haynet. They just feed by the scoop or slice without a second thought, and think that what they are doing is right. It really is a much more scientific thing than that. They also feed their horses like they would themselves - two nice big bucket feeds every day. I've seen people feeding 12.2hh ponies doing an hours riding a day, more than I was giving my 15.1hh hard working mare who can worry herself thin. I care for a 44 year old pony who came to me weighing 550lbs and looking like an anatomy lesson. Within 3 months she was up to 700lbs. These days she is only 620lbs, and I'm not wildly happy about that, despite my best efforts, but she is stable at that weight and I think her age has just finally caught up with her. I spend alot of time thinking about her diet and trying different products even though she doesn't belong to me.
 
Haven't read all the post, but just to say if you are giving soaked hay, that will possibly account for the difference in water consumption, as he will be ingesting a larger volume of water with the hay. Also the grass is probably coming through a little, which also contains a higher water content this time of year.

But if you are concerned, just keep an eye on him for dehydration - if you pinch his skin and it stays in a pinch for a second or two, that can tell you he is dehydrated.

Maybe he is just too lazy to walk as often as before now the water is further away!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top