Condition analysis and ideas for weight loss.

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shadowboy

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After reading Soph21's post in PG I have decided one of my ponies is too fat. It was there in the back of my mind but with other problems to deal with I sort of let it slip. So ideas please. He's an 18 month NF colt.
Issues- cant muzzle him as the muzzle ends up totally full of mud- very thick and he then doesnt eat/drink at all
cant move to another field as I only have one- they are already on strip grazing.
He lives out 24/7 so cant bring in to put on hay insted. Any other ideas??

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I can feel his ribs but I cant see them (although this might be the thick coat?
Opinions and Ideas (sorry for wide range of pics but wanted to give a full presective - all photos taken within last 4 weeks)
 
IMHO he doesn't look obese though is a little chunky - but we are going into winter. As a little New Forrest I wouldn't rug him for a while and he'll drop a bit of weight - also what about some in hand walking? A nice power walk would help him see the world and shift a few pounds?

Sorry its not much help - more used to the other end of weight problems....
 
Thanks for the reply- he gets walked evey sat and sunday for half hour- but its too dark the rest of the week by the time I get home. I did think about taking the rug off but im worried he'll end up with the rough scabby coat he had when I bought him in march last year. But I could try it and keep my eye on him
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I know- bless him. He does like his sticks! Not sure they are porking him out. (I admit I give him hay when I tie him up on the drive (as per bottom pic) maybe not haying him during grooming time might help.

DaryLu- pic especially for you
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Oh no don't worry the twigs won't pork him out, not even ones that big!
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Try to cut the hay out when he's being tied
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You grooming him should keep him occupied enough
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I would probably take his rug off and see how he goes, at least when it's not peeing down anyway.

He probably doesn't need hay when tied up either.

Maybe reduce your grazing if you are already strip grazing. This time of year natives are meant to survive on a very very small amount of grass.
 
He's not terrible so I wouldn't worry too much.

Biggest thing you can do is take his rug off, or get him a really lightweight one. The Horsewear Rhino's no-fill rugs are VERY light but totally waterproof and would be perfect for keeping him dry but clean. They also fit babies well.
 
I agree he is actually not that fat looking at those photos and from your description - he has a huge belly, but it is the neck, ribs and bum you should actually be looking at and feeling. The belly is likely to go up and down with the amount of fibre he eats - I'm assuming he is well wormed and the belly is not due to a problem in that department.
 
He doesn't look bad to me, especially as we are jut going into winter. As long as you can feel his ribs easily I wouldn't worry too much.

If you do want hime to lose a little, the keeping rugs off options works pretty well. I have natives, so i do understand the problem!
 
thanks! I was worried he was a bit too big but you guys have made me feel better. Both of the boys were wormed end of September and we poo pick daily so it shouldn't be due to worms- I think its just a rather large grass gut.

Really appreciate the responses.
 
TAKE THAT RUG OFF HIM!!!!

He's a NF pony for goodness sake, they rough it out on the forest and survive!!!! He's far too young to be wearing a rug (and he's not ill either), you'll turn him into a big cissy for when he grows up, gets clipped and really needs to wear a rug!!!

Lovely boy by the way, what's his full name?
 
I don't see him as overweight - he's about right for a native going into the winter.
I understand that you might want to rug him to keep him clean for riding, but you could just pop a no-fill one on?
I'd not do anything to reduce his weight if he were mine, but equally, I'd not be upping his feed/hay too quickly.
S
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