Clipping for weight loss has anyone done it?

[wattamus]

So I've been struggling to get my mare to loose weight. She is a Welsh D cross, 15hh and over 600kg. She has a crest, invisible ribs and a fat lump on her bum.
Due to illness over the past year I haven't been able to ride regularly and progress with her so we can exercise her more. Also due to not having anywhere to ride during the week in winter (our school floods) it is difficult for me to up her exercise. She's ridden sat/ sun for about an hour each time. She's also a d**k to hack out so it's difficult to up this exercise until she starts improving.
She is fed 12lb of hay in the morning 10lb overnight and she's greedy (even a trickle net doesn't slow her down) I don't want to reduce her forage too much too quickly as I'm worried if she's stood for long periods she'll end up with ulcers. She also gets a handful of happy hoof on a night as her sisters have to be fed for medication so it stops her kicking down the walls.
So I followed vet advice and have given her a hunter clip. I was recommended to not rug unless it got below freezing and then just a fleece.
I couldn't bear to leave her without so she had a Rambo fleece (thick one) last night then was naked today (Its been about 6-8 degrees all day) I came down this afternoon and she was shivering so I've put the fleece back on and she's stopped shivering and is actually quite warm.

My question is, has anyone else clipped for weight loss? Am I being too soft on her?
Please no nasty comments, I am trying to do the best I can with limited resources. I don't want her to get lami come this spring when they are turned out.

 

[Lintel]

Feeling the same burn this winter, my tubby Hipo is normally abit leaner by now but he hasn't been losing it at all, combo of warmish weather and too good hay!
I'm considering a clip so will be following with interest!

 

[emfen1305]

I've not clipped specifically to get my horse to lose weight before, I have to full clip all year round as he grows hair like a yak and gets too itchy. I clip with covercote blades which leave 5mm of hair behind so basically a summer coat so it leaves him with a bit of protection and then I leave him naked in the stable and fine days and only rug in a lightweight if its raining or really blowing a gale. Its the best of both worlds because he's not a fan of being rugged but he just gets so itchy with all of his hair! I know it might be a bit late now but might be worth investing in some if you have lister clippers (not sure if they fit others!)

I know this wont be much help but the only thing that keeps the weight off my cob is exercise but I know how hard it is in winter, roll on Spring!

 

[twiggy2]

Is she stables 24hrs a day?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I don’t clip for weight loss per se as my two are in work and get very sweaty but they have Irish clips, are unrugged and are both beautifully slim having been very overweight this time last year. They were out at night naked until late November and now in because of the wet weather but still unrugged. Combination of controlled diet, muzzles, swimming and exercise has transformed them both so it is possible.

 

[wattamus]

Is she stables 24hrs a day?

Yes unfortunately we don't have any winter turnout :/

 

[wattamus]

I've not clipped specifically to get my horse to lose weight before, I have to full clip all year round as he grows hair like a yak and gets too itchy. I clip with covercote blades which leave 5mm of hair behind so basically a summer coat so it leaves him with a bit of protection and then I leave him naked in the stable and fine days and only rug in a lightweight if its raining or really blowing a gale. Its the best of both worlds because he's not a fan of being rugged but he just gets so itchy with all of his hair! I know it might be a bit late now but might be worth investing in some if you have lister clippers (not sure if they fit others!)

I know this wont be much help but the only thing that keeps the weight off my cob is exercise but I know how hard it is in winter, roll on Spring!

I have roamer clippers that take Lister A2 so may be able to get some to fit?

 

[Upthecreek]

Do I understand correctly that your horse is ridden for 2 hours a week and other than that is stabled 24/7? Surely your vet didn’t mean to give the horse a hunter clip and then leave it unrugged in a stable where it can’t move around to keep itself warm? Sorry but I’ve never heard anything like it. I would advertise for a sharer to get her ridden in the week. Upping the exercise will help with weight loss and reduce the stress of being stabled constantly.

 

[twiggy2]

Does the horse get any turn out or exercise other than at the weekends?

 

[wattamus]

Yes two hours a week exercise. She also gets 15/20 mins of in hand walking each day to keep her supple.
Shared isn't an option for me, she is not well behaved enough and if I'm honest I don't trust other people to ride and take care of my horses like I do (there is also nobody realible or capable where we are)
Like I say she doesn't hack alone (we are working on it) and the school is flooded most of winter so is unusable unless I want her to do a tendon

 

[Firefly9410]

I have done it with retired horse. Trace clip and naked at all times. Out days and in nights. It does work. All you need is to stop the shivering so try a cotton sheet in the day and an ordinary fleece at night. In a few weeks some hair will have grown back so try naked again then. I ration hay for any fatties and let them eat the straw bed. Do try for exercise though even ten minutes walking daily makes a difference but half hour every second day is better. The exercise is for the metabolism.

 

[twiggy2]

I am going to be very blunt.
Allowing a horse to stand in its stable 16.5 hrs out of a 168 hrs is not even meeting it's basic needs, it is not taking care of it.
A horse stood in a stable is the same as a dog shut in a crate.
For me I would not class it as acceptable but cruel.
The horse is overweight, getting limited forage twice a day, 15-20 mins in hand walking daily (this will not keep it supple), no turn out, you think that's ok?

 

[scats]

I really don’t like the notion of leaving a clipped horse unrugged so it shivers weight off (I know this is not what you are suggesting, but it’s a term I hear thrown about all the time)

I think if you are wanting to leave a horse naked and clipped, the clip still needs to cover the majority of the horse-like a trace or chaser clip and, ideally the horse actually needs to be out (with adequate shelter) so it can move about to keep warm, but lightly rugged in extreme weather conditions.
I certainly wouldn’t do a hunter clip and then leave the horse stood with nothing on.

 

[wattamus]

I am going to be very blunt.
Allowing a horse to stand in its stable 16.5 hrs out of a 168 hrs is not even meeting it's basic needs, it is not taking care of it.
A horse stood in a stable is the same as a dog shut in a crate.
For me I would not class it as acceptable but cruel.
The horse is overweight, getting limited forage twice a day, 15-20 mins in hand walking daily (this will not keep it supple), no turn out, you think that's ok?

It is all that is available in our area. We live in an area with clay soil so it becomes very boggy very quickly. No yards within a 20mile radius offer all year turnout. And even then it is knee deep mud bath and they charge you over £60 a week for the privilege .
The horse is not suffering, just because it's not how you'd keep your horse doesn't make it cruel. It is not ideal and not how I'd like to keep them but it is the only option I have.

 

[SaddlepadHoarder]

Friend that had horse with EMS did a full clip and didn't put a rug on him at all that winter. He lost weight at a very good rate and had his EMS levels brought down due to it. He also had to be in 24/7 due to lami and had limited forage/feed also due to the lami. But tbh if you can get your horse out for a good walk everyday as she isn't on box rest it will probably help too.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I'd agree with the above responses. Clipping for weight loss would only work if the horse is turned out and has to walk to keep warm. Clipping and stabling won't make any difference.

Any weight loss, human or horse, has the same requirements; eat less, move more. You need to get your horse moving more often. If you don't want to take on a share, can you pay someone to exercise her?

 

[twiggy2]

It's never the only option, I honestly would not have a horse if I could not turn out daily, it is cruel, you are denying basic natural needs, even the horses digestive system needs constant movement.
Your options would include putting the mare on retirement livery outside of the 20 mile radius and letting her live out when you don't have turn any out.

 

[Upthecreek]

I too fall into the ‘sorry to be blunt’ category, but personally I would not own horses rather than keep them as you describe. You don’t have any turnout in winter and you don’t have a school you can use when it’s wet, which is pretty much constantly at the moment. I’m not surprised she isn’t good to hack out. If getting a sharer isn’t an option move the horse to somewhere with turnout and/or better facilities.

 

[wattamus]

I'd agree with the above responses. Clipping for weight loss would only work if the horse is turned out and has to walk to keep warm. Clipping and stabling won't make any difference.

Any weight loss, human or horse, has the same requirements; eat less, move more. You need to get your horse moving more often. If you don't want to take on a share, can you pay someone to exercise her?

For one I can't afford this. I have three horses to pay for (two with Cushing's) it is just not an option. Secondly, again there is nobody in our area that I would trust to ride my horses.

When the nights get lighter she can maybe increase workload but at the minute I am seeing them at 5am and 5pm (both dark times of day).

I will keep her rugged and walking through the day and try and increase work on weekends and I also finish early on Fridays so I will try to a bit more then.

 

[wattamus]

I too fall into the ‘sorry to be blunt’ category, but personally I would not own horses rather than keep them as you describe. You don’t have any turnout in winter and you don’t have a school you can use when it’s wet, which is pretty much constantly at the moment. I’m not surprised she isn’t good to hack out. If getting a sharer isn’t an option move the horse to somewhere with turnout and/or better facilities.

She was no good to hack out anyway......... She was bought with this problem........

 

[Leo Walker]

I've got good doers and they are clipped all year round. Current one has legs, head, hogged, the whole lot off. It doesnt make any difference that I've noticed.

 

[Spotherisk]

I have clipped for weight loss today. My horse had laminitis five years ago and he does exceptionally well. Vet has told me before to clip For weight loss so today he had a sketchy chaser and is out naked. He doesn’t get any feed or forage and here in Devon the grass is still growing.

 

[Leo Walker]

She was no good to hack out anyway......... She was bought with this problem........

So how did you think this was going to work out? I feel so sorry for your horses. Its not the only option, its how you choose to keep them. Theres always options.

 

[wattamus]

So how did you think this was going to work out? I feel so sorry for your horses. Its not the only option, its how you choose to keep them. Theres always options.

I thought that I would've solved the hacking problem last year. Unfortunately I have been fighting cancer (didnt want to really use this as an excuse) and consequently a massive confidence crisis so have been unable to dedicate all the time she needs to be able to overcome this. Also having 10 months off work due to having treatment has meant that I've had to work very hard to make sure (financially) my horses have all they need.
Driving 40 miles is not practical or financially viable.

I know many people who have their horses kept in the way I keep mine. If there was a welfare issue, I'm sure my vets would've spoken to me or even reported me and they haven't......

Thanks for everyone's input. I'll carry on as I am and do what's best for and suits my horses whilst doing my upmost to put their needs welfare first.

 

[Follysmum]

Posts like these make me so sad. I’m feeling bad atm with having 8 and no grass turnout, I’m having to alternate a day in the stables and a day in a barn so they get adequate exercise and they can socialise together.
I’m unable to ride, lunge etc due to an injury but I still want to put my horses needs/ welfare first

 

[HappyHollyDays]

OP my Connie had laminitis last year and was on box rest for 6 weeks, with no turnout, not even allowed to leave his box to muck him out and he lost a massive amount of weight with soaked hay. Make sure she is getting no more than 1.5% of her body weight in dry hay and then soak it to reduce the sugar, it really does work. While your set up isn’t ideal and not what most owners would want for their horses you seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place and although we all feel others can’t possibly look after or ride our horses as well as we can it would make a massive difference to her well being if you could make that leap of faith and find somebody you can trust to help you. I hope your cancer is in remission and you are on the road to recovery xx

 

[wattamus]

OP my Connie had laminitis last year and was on box rest for 6 weeks, with no turnout, not even allowed to leave his box to muck him out and he lost a massive amount of weight with soaked hay. Make sure she is getting no more than 1.5% of her body weight in dry hay and then soak it to reduce the sugar, it really does work. While your set up isn’t ideal and not what most owners would want for their horses you seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place and although we all feel others can’t possibly look after or ride our horses as well as we can it would make a massive difference to her well being if you could make that leap of faith and find somebody you can trust to help you. I hope your cancer is in remission and you are on the road to recovery xx

Thank you, I wished there were but everyone we have round here either can’t ride or just bullies the horses. Anyone qualified costs a fortune unfortunately (maybe when I’ve stabilised financially I will be able to consider this )
thank you, hopefully get the all clear soon. Like I say I didn’t want to use it as an excuse but it literally knocked me flat both physically and mentally. Thank you for your kind words

 

[tda]

I would swap at least half of the hay for straw, mix it in well, then double net, if hungry will eat the straw, lot less calories

 

[oldie48]

My Fatty can't be ridden and is a pig to lunge but he does get turnout every day. I soak everything he has when stabled and i don't rug him when he is stabled or when turned out. Sometimes when I bring him in he's cold despite being unclipped, usually because he's got very wet, so I will put a fleece on him to help dry him off. It's sometimes a difficult balance between keeping his quality of life and not allowing him to get fatter. I do struggle with it though and clearly you do too. TBH I wouldn't clip Fatty and I wouldn't clip your horse either. Fatty will eat topchop zero if he is really hungry, so he always has this to nibble on and it is very low in calories/ I'd also recommend dinky muzzles for when your horse can go out again, they have been my absolute lifesaver and I suspect Fatty's too.

 

[Upthecreek]

We can keep arguing all night about how you choose to keep your horses, but it is a choice. If you do nothing else at least make sure the mare isn’t stood in the stable shivering to keep warm as that is no life, just a miserable existence. If you can’t afford somewhere better to keep them, selling or loaning should be considered. Having been in a very similar situation to you health wise, I totally sympathise, but you are not doing the right thing by your horses in terms of both their emotional and physical wellbeing. I sold one and loaned the other whilst undergoing treatment and though heartbreaking for me it was the best thing for them. Sometimes you have to take your own needs out of the equation and really question the quality of life you are able to give your horses.