Bulld a brick wall... or hit my head off a brick wall?

Lintel

Lintel

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Trying to get on top of the giant Hipo's weight... exercise is limited unfortunately due to time.

Invested in muzzles- he rubs so hard he goes bald in places even with the sheepskin, or he just entirely removes it.

Made a track system- once all the "good" grass was eaten he has barged through and snapped the MAINS CONNECTED electric fence into the centre more times than I care to speak of and has now broken his 11th fence rail this MONTH by leaning and pushing against the winter grazing paddocks fence and bursting the rails.

- I put him in the hardstanding and once he decides he is hungry enough he will start chewing all the fence rails ... which the 2 year old coblet is now copying GREAT.

Can't keep him in anymore because of his RAO....

So do I -

A - bulld a brick wall
B - Hit my head off a brick wall

I'm really at a loss its becoming so so frustrating. Any suggestions before I carry out option B?
 
You say exercise is limited due to ( "your") time........... can you get some one else to exercise for you? It will help with the weight, alleviate his boredom and get him feeling more relaxed with life.
 
J&S said:
You say exercise is limited due to ( "your") time........... can you get some one else to exercise for you? It will help with the weight, alleviate his boredom and get him feeling more relaxed with life.
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Would love to but OH isn't keen at all on the idea of a "stranger" coming to the property as the boys are kept pretty much in our back garden and with the only real avaliable way to exercise on busy road hacking I would imagine it may put a lot of people off too. He has been getting hacked twice a week and lunged in the field for half an hour each night recently whilst the baby sleeps!

@rabatsa - we used to have mains along the top line of fence but replaced all the fence during the pandemic and never did replace the top strand, I think we shall have to do that but how effective it will be who knows!
 
I don't know you of course but just from reading posts I'd say neither you nor the horse are happy. He is hungry and bored. You are stressed about it, just when you've got so much else to think about & get used to. I'd guess the hacks you do have aren't enjoyable because they're a "job" & you're feeling guilty not to be doing more? Realistically you are unlikely to have more spare time or energy for the next few years.
1) Get OH to understand that something substantial needs to change over & above searching out new physical means to starve the horse. Can you afford to pay a professional to ride/lunge him? They would have insurance, references so OH might be more relaxed about them coming around. Would there be a sharer who can come evenings when OH is home?
2)Sounds like the horse is very steady (he hacks on a busy road when fresh). Can you find him working livery somewhere reputable? You get to go visit him for your twice a week rides in nicer hacking & as a break that you actually enjoy. He gets work and gets to play with a bigger herd.
Just thinking outside the box.
 
Is he getting enough forage to make him feel full, soaked hay / straw?
If its only short stressed grass he's eating lots of sugar but never feeling satisfied.
Mine are looking best ever this year on a bear ish grass track but then strip grazed into long dry grass
 
Can you split his hay allowance up into smaller nets that he can have several times a day so he's still always chewing? horses are meant to always be eating for their gut health.
 
Thanks all! @Goldie's mum - you are spot on he isn't happy nor am I at the moment.. I do not have the hours of time I had before to faff about, scratch his itches, go a leisurely stroll. We both enjoy the hacks we go on I would say but neither of us enjoy the nightly lunging, however due to the insane temperatures at the moment they have been the best form of exercise we can get, however I know this heat will not last! I really appreciate you thinking outside the box, I wouldn't do working livery as I would also have to find youngster livery and I adore having them at home but I definitely need to sit and have a chat with OH see if we can come to some sort of compromise.

There is plenty longer drier grass in the track at the moment but of course the grass in the winter grazing and the centre part is lush and that is what he is after- the b*gger!
 
I'm putting hay out and a friend is doing a hay / straw mix to preserve our winter fields and our fencing. I'm limited with ground and heat for exercise right now so I'm praying September is nice to us otherwise I need an ice cold winter to shift the blubber
 
You need a good electric fence system for most horses it does need to be mains I have a great solar system in one field it’s new this year I am so impressed with it .
Have your wooden fence as the outside one and put a two strand fence on wooden posts to inside .
I don’t have anywhere where my fences are not protected by electricity.
I did have a Clydesdale / welsh section D would walked through a breeze block stable wall calm as anything walked out .
His previous owner had resorted to electricity inside the stable .
 
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Second the posters who suggested finding a way to get him into more work. I don't have any control over the grazing at my yard, but I'm keeping my Highland at an okay weight by working his little mouse dun butt off. Obviously to do that, you need time and places to ride.
 
@Goldenstar Oh god... the brick walls wouldn't work then?
I may just have to admit defeat and painstakingly re-electrify the fencing again.

Or..

Option B it is
?


Sorry to derail but-

Those who have experience regarding shares/loans- where did you find your people? (Incase the chat OH is productive)
 
Sounds like he needs more mental and physical stimulation - cobs were designed originally for a lot of long slow work - think of how many miles they'd cover when they were working horses.

Does your OH like him? I'd present it as a welfare issue. Not by providing pleasure for the sharer/loaner but to improve the horse's life (and health) instead?
 
If the OH won't agree to a sharer suggest he exercises him too so he's doing double the work, or does more baby care. Or talk about how an acquaintance's overweight cob is running up massive vet and farrier fees due to weight related issues . . .
 
Soon be winter. A trace (if you're being kind) clip and no rug will help with the weight. It will also help with the walking through electric fences without fur to protect.
 
@Gloi - A trace .... that's very kind indeed! But very fair point I shall be considering, I've never been so hopeful for winter my entire life! @Nari I shall include this is conversation perhaps ?
 
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