Clipping for weight loss

[SatansLittleHelper]

I know that exercise is the best way to get the weight off with horses but I really need to find something else to help.
Horses all live out together 24/7 on currently poor grazing but with ad-lib hay. They have both natural shelter and field shelters.
Rex, as on previous thread, seems to be ok and I'm not stressing about his weight now.
Little cob is fine.
Big cob is fat, ShitPig Shitland is fat.
Would any kind of clip help the latter two to lose weight..?? I'm building up the cob's work load but ShitPig just gets walked in hand but I really need them both to drop weight before spring (we are able to start our normal strip grazing again in spring which we have been unable to do this year hence them putting on the excess weight )

 

[MuddyMonster]

Mine is in light work (5-6 times a week on average) and I give him an Irish clip. It keeps him cool enough to work but keeps coat on his back and bum to help give protection against the element as he lives out.

He is lightly rugged if particularly wet or cold (or combination of both) but he's not needed to be rugged thus far.

If you don't want to take so much off, then a bib clip of any description would help - you could make it quite high up their neck if you wanted too. Mine had a high bib clip last year when he was only ridden at weekends.

 

[ihatework]

You could do a trace on the 2 fatties.

But also consider splitting the field in two, fatties get rationed hay, other two get ad-lib

 

[JulesRules]

An Irish clip as above is a good compromise to use a bit more energy keeping warm without the need to rug.

 

[Lucky788]

Mine has an Irish clip and isn’t rugged lives out 24/7. Sometimes if it’s vile wind and rain he might get a lightweight rug on

Also if you can at all a track with fatties round the edge getting rationed hay and others in the middle ad lib?

 

[Polos Mum]

my unbroken 4 y/o can't do masses of exercise (obviously) he has a low irish and I won't rug him. He's 10% over weight (recently weighed on weighbridge) and risks proper illness if he doesn't lose some over winter.
I am being properly cruel to be kind.
If it gets to Jan and he'd not lost loads I will clip more off x between Irish and blanked - and still not rug

 

[Littlewills]

I've never found clipping to make the slightest bit of difference with good doers sadly

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

If I am able to split them would mixing oat straw with their hay help?? They are currently having the required amount of Spillers Lean and Lite Balancer with a handful of Top Chop Zero.

 

[scats]

I genuinely think good doers can’t have ad lib hay. You could try mixing with oat straw, but I’ve honestly found for my good doers, I have to weigh the hay out and stick to their rations. I’m aware that they do stand for a period of time with nothing, as they just kick any straw around, but it’s a necessary evil for mine.

 

[Polos Mum]

I don't think one change will make the difference for any fatty. Up exercise / calorie burn and lower calorie intake - if you can make 4/5 small changes to each side of the picture it should come together to help.
Oat straw would be a good part of the jigsaw

 

[Goldenstar]

You can’t give good doers ad-lib hay .
I have tried the clipping I don’t think it helped

 

[AmyMay]

I would never clip for weight loss. It’s a management issue.

 

[ihatework]

Whereas I would always consider clipping for weight loss in a particularly stubborn obese horse.

But it is one tool in an overall management plan. It needs to be in conjunction with rationed calorie intake and exercise.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I’d separate the fatties and give them rations if it were me

 

[Widgeon]

I've never found clipping to make the slightest bit of difference with good doers sadly

Please don't say that, don't take away my hope