Clipping for weight loss has anyone done it?

wattamus said:
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
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It's no wonder she is a dick to hack being stabled all the time, you are failing your horses basic needs and clipping and leaving her to shiver is bloody cruel, Poor horse
 
Pinkvboots said:
It's no wonder she is a dick to hack being stabled all the time, you are failing your horses basic needs and clipping and leaving her to shiver is bloody cruel, Poor horse
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Cheers
did actually ask for advice but hey ho.
would be interested to know how may other people on this forum have their horses kept like mine are..... I’m pretty sure it’s not just me.
she was bought as a project horse as stated before hence why she doesn’t hack ............ don’t judge unless you have been in the same position......
 
Upthecreek said:
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.
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As I have said I will not let her stand and shiver, I am not cruel and heartless. I do my best with the resources I have.
 
Sorry to hear about your health issues. My welshie is looking a bit well this year because she's been out of proper work rehabbing an injury. I've clipped her out but that's mainly because of the exceptionally mild winter we've had. Work is what keeps her trim so we're still building that up.
Mine only have a few hours turnout each day over winter, in your shoes I'd have to get someone to help exercise them really well daily if I couldn't do it myself. I miss a day occasionally if work runs late but they have been out, otherwise they always get worked.
 
I am sorry that you have been unwell, but I have to be honest and say that I am quite shocked that anyone would keep a horse like this for anything more than a REALLY short time (and I mean days not weeks). I would suggest that you send it away to livery somewhere suitable, or if you are unable to provide a reasonable standard of living sell the poor animal. You said that you would not trust a sharer to look after the animal as you do - well sorry to be blunt but you are not giving good care to your horse. The suggestion that you are now considering making the life of this poor horse even more miserable than it is already by clipping it and leaving it to shiver all day and night makes this even worse. We all have problems in life, sometimes serious ones, but if you cannot give your animals at least a basic level of care then it is not fair to keep them.
 
So (clipping aside) what about horses on box rest Or is that just not a thing anymore?
my horses have more than the basic level of care- simple as.
quite surprising how judgemental the forum seems to have become again.
I do not need to explain myself to anyone. My horses are happy and healthy (if not a little bit fat)
thank you to everyone with their positive suggestions I will take them on board
 
I do think box rest is different, its usually something you get forced into because the alternative will mean the horse won't recover from injury or illness as well. So the lesser of 2 evils.

I've had horses stabled 24/7 before, they coped with it but we did all have to work really hard to make sure they had enough daily exercise.
 
I too sympathise with your situation it’s difficult where I am to find a yard. But to stand a horse in a stable 5 days a week and then exercise them for 2 hours split between the other two days to me just isn’t good enough in terms of horse care. If my horse stood in all week and then I got on at the weekend I’d be hospital.
yes I have clipped to help with weight but It’s when they have turn out to walk around keeping warm and only clipped a blanket so they still have hair on their back to help prevent the shivering. I don’t think it will make much difference if they are stood still in a stable all day.
honestly your best option is to try and find a way to increase exercise and fast.
 
wattamus said:
So (clipping aside) what about horses on box rest Or is that just not a thing anymore?
my horses have more than the basic level of care- simple as.
quite surprising how judgemental the forum seems to have become again.
I do not need to explain myself to anyone. My horses are happy and healthy (if not a little bit fat)
thank you to everyone with their positive suggestions I will take them on board
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Box rest is for recovery it's totally different and it is temporary, the way your horse lives is not healthy and I am surprised you think it is and am quite shocked you think it's a happy way for them to live. It's basically like keeping them in a prison would you be happy?
 
wattamus said:
So (clipping aside) what about horses on box rest Or is that just not a thing anymore?
my horses have more than the basic level of care- simple as.
quite surprising how judgemental the forum seems to have become again.
I do not need to explain myself to anyone. My horses are happy and healthy (if not a little bit fat)
thank you to everyone with their positive suggestions I will take them on board
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Well I think that if you say that you keep a horse in 23 hours and 40 minutes a day except for a couple of hours at weekends then you cannot really be surprised that people judge this to be below the standard required to meet the basic needs of the horse.

Box rest is clearly different when it is required to deal with medical issues, and may be used in cases where the horse cannot safely be exercised. It is not only safe for your horse to exercise, given what you have said it is essential.

It is not that people are not sympathetic to your situation, many of us have been in similar ones. When I was injured and unable to care for my last horse I had to send him 250km away and subsequently sell him, but he is in a wonderful home now, and I had to accept that this was the best for him. You say that your horses are happy. Really? I do not know any horses who would be happy being kept in such conditions.
 
I’m very sorry to hear that you have been so seriously ill, it must be very difficult indeed. I do hope you are on the road to recovery now.

Unfortunately it is clear from your posts that you are not able to give basic care to your three horses due to your illness, and I really feel you need to consider their welfare needs immediately and either re-home them or put them on some sort of livery arrangement ASAP. Of course your vet hasn’t commented on the way you keep your horses, that isn’t his/her job - it also doesn’t mean that he/she approves. I doubt you will find anyone who approves of the fact that you are not meeting their basic care needs.

I can understand that you have had a huge amount to deal with over the past year, but you are not being fair to your horses at all ?
 
Pinkvboots said:
Box rest is for recovery it's totally different and it is temporary, the way your horse lives is not healthy and I am surprised you think it is and am quite shocked you think it's a happy way for them to live. It's basically like keeping them in a prison would you be happy?
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one of my other horses was on box rest for 9 months....... she managed and is still with us 9 years later happy and smashing life.........
she coped and never once did the vets (who were coming out weekly for 6 of those months) criticise......
simple fact is, just because it’s not your way and you see it as cruel doesn’t mean it’s the wrong way and that it is cruel.
I do understand why you feel the way you feel and I know that if I had the choice I would offer my horses daily turnout but it genuinely isn’t possible .
(they did have turnout a couple of years ago and they spent an hour eating hay then the rest of the time stood in the corner of the field snoozing- I know because I had cameras on them)
no not happy but doing the best I can
 
Amymay said:
OP, you need to suck it up. Rarely is it that no one else can ride our horses. I too am in the blunt camp, I’m afraid. Time to find a new yard, and to get some ridden help.
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Canny afford it m8.... not sure how many times I can say it or how many ways I can say it........
 
Think we have established that most of us here think that the way your horse is kept is not the best.

Can you go to the yard in the daytime and do some walking exercise in the school? I know you said it floods but honestly if it were my horse I'd walk it in the wet rather than leave it stood in so long.

When you walk try not to wander - get your horse walking forwards properly and use the time for in hand schooling. If you can get your horse to respond to your voice in hand then when you come to start hacking out you have a better chance!!

I've been there with the treatment - I know its hard both physicaly and financially. However it is not fair for your horse to stand in so long.

You say there is no one who you could trust to ride your horse but I'm sure other people have ridden her prior to you owning her. Let go a little, get someone in to ride her a few times a week - even under supervision and get her marching out on your walks.
 
Could you not try and find and field somewhere that is dry enough for a track system? Maybe where a large shelter on skids could be placed so that you could pen them in the shelter overnight if they can not be kept out 24/7. Then it should be cheaper for you and healthier for them. Also track systems mean that the grass will be kept down with three on it and they would be constantly moving helping your mare with her weight.

It may not be ideal for you especially if you prefer having a school and yard friends. But it would be better for your horses.
 
I wish you well with your recovery from cancer treatment, having been there myself I know how it affects you both physically and mentally.

I have a stubbornly fat horse with soundness issues connected to his weight. I managed to find some 2017 meadow hay. I am able to feed him a good quantity of it (he is a huge horse) so can keep his gut healthy. I do soak it too although it is not dusty. He is dropping weight nicely on the old hay. Perhaps this would work for your horse if you could find any old hay.
 
Can’t go in the day as I’m at work 8till 430.
Husband walks them morning and night, and they are actively walked up he road, morning and night. He walks them in the school in hand if it gets dark before he gets down, so as not to walk on the road in the dark.
she is improving wilth regards to voice commands and hacking but it is a working progress and is not 100% atm.
she is a very nervous and flighty horse ( she has obviously been beaten in the past sadly) maybe there would be someone who would be sympathetic enough to ride her but I can’t afford such a good rider. There’s a reason some riders are cheap sadly.......
 
AdorableAlice said:
I wish you well with your recovery from cancer treatment, having been there myself I know how it affects you both physically and mentally.

I have a stubbornly fat horse with soundness issues connected to his weight. I managed to find some 2017 meadow hay. I am able to feed him a good quantity of it (he is a huge horse) so can keep his gut healthy. I do soak it too although it is not dusty. He is dropping weight nicely on the old hay. Perhaps this would work for your horse if you could find any old hay.
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Thank you will ask around and try to source some :)
 
wattamus said:
one of my other horses was on box rest for 9 months....... she managed and is still with us 9 years later happy and smashing life.........
she coped and never once did the vets (who were coming out weekly for 6 of those months) criticise......
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But do you not get that the vet had put this horse on box rest because there was no other choice due to a medical condition? Of course they would not criticise in the circumstances. How can I explain this? If you break multiple bones and have to stay in bed in the hospital for six months the doctor does not criticise you for not getting up.......but it certainly would not be a healthy way to live and would be a last resort. When my dog had a hip replacement the first weeks restricted his walks to 5 minutes per walk 5 times per day. Did the vet criticise me? No, of course not as it was necessary, but if I told you that after his recovery I was keeping my 50kg dog restricted to a small corner of the kitchen and taking him out to pee for 5 minutes I would assume that you would tell me to rehome the poor dog.

You said that your husband is able to walk them in the school if it is dark. So can someone not walk them at least for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening? This still does not give them a good life but at least it might be not quite as terrible as it is now.

I am really sorry but if you want to be fair to these horses you need to change something, or if this is not possible to sell them. This would not be a failing on your part but a kindness, and a release for them from a miserable existence. Please think about this. You say that they are fine, but i do not see one comment here from anyone who thinks that this is an acceptable way to keep a horse.
 
Winters100 said:
I am really sorry but if you want to be fair to these horses you need to change something, or if this is not possible to sell them. This would not be a failing on your part but a kindness, and a release for them from a miserable existence. Please think about this. You say that they are fine, but i do not see one comment here from anyone who thinks that this is an acceptable way to keep a horse.
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This, 100% (since you ignored my post where I tried to be tactful!)
 
wattamus said:
Can’t go in the day as I’m at work 8till 430.
Husband walks them morning and night, and they are actively walked up he road, morning and night. He walks them in the school in hand if it gets dark before he gets down, so as not to walk on the road in the dark.
she is improving wilth regards to voice commands and hacking but it is a working progress and is not 100% atm.
she is a very nervous and flighty horse ( she has obviously been beaten in the past sadly) maybe there would be someone who would be sympathetic enough to ride her but I can’t afford such a good rider. There’s a reason some riders are cheap sadly.......
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One question. I do understand that your illness has caused difficulties, but how were you managing this before? Because if the school is too wet to ride and you work until after it gets dark presumably you had the same issues but were somehow managing them?
 
Winters100 said:
You said that your husband is able to walk them in the school if it is dark. So can someone not walk them at least for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening? This still does not give them a good life but at least it might be not quite as terrible as it is now.

I am really sorry but if you want to be fair to these horses you need to change something, or if this is not possible to sell them. This would not be a failing on your part but a kindness, and a release for them from a miserable existence. Please think about this. You say that they are fine, but i do not see one comment here from anyone who thinks that this is an acceptable way to keep a horse.
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An hour?!?! We both work full time, he is self employed so more flexible but two hours a day is no way possible, I’d be surprised if 90% of people could dedicate that time whilst working full time
none of them are saleable two are over 23with Cushing so only option would be to put down .
horse in op is 10 but again unselabłe in reality
 
It sounds like you are doing what you can with what you have available! I know a lot of people with very restricted grazing in winter so please don’t feel like you are the only one or a bad owner!
 
If you cant afford it then you cant afford them. Its that simple. My 18 month old is on pen/box rest for a month. Hes being handwalked three times a day and turned out in the school in between. I'm disabled and struggle with walking any sort of distance, so someone is paid to do it. Its costing me an absolute fortune. And thats tough luck really. I took him on, I have to pay to look after him. I feel terribly guilty about and am will be incredibly relieved when he goes out in a couple of weeks time.

I understand that people on your yard must keep their horses in 24/7 as well, but thats not ok when you dont work them.
 
wattamus said:
An hour?!?! We both work full time, he is self employed so more flexible but two hours a day is no way possible, I’d be surprised if 90% of people could dedicate that time whilst working
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I expect that two hours plus a day is the norm for most people (it certainly was for me and most people I know (working full time)).
 
Winters100 said:
One question. I do understand that your illness has caused difficulties, but how were you managing this before? Because if the school is too wet to ride and you work until after it gets dark presumably you had the same issues but were somehow managing them?
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Before I had cancer I only had two horses, only one was rideable, husband started riding one so I was left with no horse, so we bought (project)Annie who didn’t hack but we planned to work on over summer. Sadly that was when I became iso I couldn’t make the progres
 
wattamus said:
An hour?!?! We both work full time, he is self employed so more flexible but two hours a day is no way possible, I’d be surprised if 90% of people could dedicate that time whilst working full time
none of them are saleable two are over 23with Cushing so only option would be to put down .
horse in op is 10 but again unselabłe in reality
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If you cant manage to exercise them adequately, then putting them all to sleep is the better option.
 
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