Constructive advice needed please - fat horse

N

Nic74

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 July 2005
Messages
337
www.horseweb2.proboards82.com
I have a very fat appaloosa (crossed with a welsh sec D) I have only ever had anything to do with TB's before I had him and it was always a case of keeping weight on them not off.

He is 5 and was broken last March, we were doing quite well but had to stop ridden work once winter came. We have no menage and absolutely no hacking unless we go out in the trailer. With 4 horses to do and a full time job, loading up and going out hacking isn't really an option, and anyway, work once or twice a week isn't going to get the weight off him.

I get him out in the field as often as I can (usually every other day), but the fields here are inches deep in mud and he doesn't want to be out, he just stands at the gate after 30mins looking fed up.

Moving is not an option so what can I do with him? He gets a half handful of cool cubes once a day just to keep him quiet while the others are fed, he gets a low quality hay which I put in a haylage net to make it last as long as possible.

I can't even lunge as the fields are just too boggy and it's pitch black here at night - there are very few lights.

I am worried non stop about his weight, I know spring is on the way and I can get him back in work but I can't be the only one in this position and I'm interested to know how others manage very good doers when they simply cannot work them?
 
do you know how much he weighs? if you contact world horse welfare (01953 497200) they will send you a dvd (free) with how to 'fat score' and iseas for weight loss etc - its really interesting and useful
wink.gif
 
if he is gaining weight he is obviously getting more than he requires! solution is more work (not an option yet but you really should be doing somthing even if just weekends) less hay (weigh it and work to a 2% of body weight split in 3 or 4 nets) and just a handful of chaff or give him a dirty bucket to lick!! what form of exercise/turnout do you give the other 3?
 
You could start with soaking his hay to reduce the calories and perhaps swap the cool cubes for something like a handful of HiFi Lite or speedibeet.
Is there anything in his field for him to munch on...any grass at all or hay put out.
I would that he stands by the gate while you're there but will soon mooch off when you're gone. If there is grass he will graze. If there is too much you could either muzzle him or strip graze. If there is no grass I would put out some soaked hay. Put it around the field so he has to move about for it.
In hand walking can be just as beneficial or lunging maybe>
However, he should drop weight if he has no calories going in so well soaked hay and a token feed should do it.
 
I symapathise, it is hard with the weather we've had. If at all possible, I would have him out as much as possible if the grass is poor. To some extent, you're a bit stuck if he's in as you have to give him hay to keep him occupied. The welsh D part of him is designed to manage all winter on poor grass through the worst of the welsh weather! Out, he'll be constantly using calories mooching about and keeping warm. Standing in a stable all day he'll just get fatter and fatter. If he doesn't like it to start with tough, he'll soon get used to it. His health is the most important thing and like you I'd be terrified if I had an overweight welsh type, especially this time of year. Best of luck.
 
I have a fat horse too and really struggle to keep his weight down.

I would soak your horses hay for 12 hours, double up on the small holed haynets, swap the handful of cubes for a handful of Hifi-lite with a vitamin and mineral supplement.

Turn him out as much as possible, muzzle him as soon as you have any grass and don't rug him.
 
[ QUOTE ]
if he is gaining weight he is obviously getting more than he requires! solution is more work (not an option yet but you really should be doing somthing even if just weekends) less hay (weigh it and work to a 2% of body weight split in 3 or 4 nets) and just a handful of chaff or give him a dirty bucket to lick!! what form of exercise/turnout do you give the other 3?

[/ QUOTE ]

The other 3 are all TB's - one is an unbroken youngster, one is a retired mare and one is my husband's hack - he doesn't get any work either in winter but they get the same turnout as my fatty - two go out every other day.
 
Thank you all for the replies, there are a few good ideas here I can try, starting with the smaller haynets and changing the cubes to hifi lite, plus getting him out as much as possible.

The main road is closed next weekend so I might take the opportunity to get out on him (daren't go out on that road any other time as it's very very busy) but that can be the start of getting him back into work ready for the spring.
 
I would turn him out and leave him out every day. He may look miserable but he'll soon get used to it and wander off.
Like the other person said I would put several tiny haynets (literally a handfull in a haylage net) of hay that has been soaked for 12 hours tied up around the paddock.
Agree that I would give him a small handful of hifi light with a vit and min supplement when the others are fed.

My farrier once said that a client of his that had a fat cob set up lanes around the paddock with electric fencing so he had to keep moving to find new grass. It may not work for you in the mud as it may make it worse but could be an idea once the ground dries up?
 
One of mine is a fat ID.

Dont feed him ANY hard feed!
Give him a balancer if need be but quite frankly its tough if the others are being fed

I had my mare in 24/7 to get her off the grass and she was on minimal hay for a good 8 weeks. She is now back outside 24/7 and being ridden about 4-5 times a week whatever the weather.

I realise you cant ride just now but PLEASE get him off hard feed, if he needs to have anything, give him some fruit or veg (not carrots)

Even if you can walk him around your yard for 30mins, or long rein him around the yard?

What about doing exercises with him, neck stretches etc?

I really sympathies with you but cant srtess enough, as has been said, he is obviously getting to many calories so stop the hard feed. You really dont want to be facing laminitis in the spring.

Good luck
 
To add to all the good advice above, can you walk him in hand?

I would also lose the hard feed.

Is he clipped? You could consider a bib clip so he works to keep warm a bit more.
 
I would stop any bucket feed and reduce the amount of hay he gets to 2% of his bodyweight in any 24 hours, split it into smaller nets and soak it for at least 12 hours. give im a stable lick to ensure he is still getting vits and mins and perhaps put some hight fibre cubes in a snack ball for him to chase around his stable...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top