Fat belly - advice needed

[jesterfaerie]

I am having a problem with my pony at the moment.
He is 21 and has been out of work for around 2 and a half years, unfortunatly he was unable to be on resticted grazing over last summer and the previous one and due to him being out of work he got a grass belly which he still has.

I don't think he is paticually large over his neck and quarters (can post recent pictures) and you can feel his ribs when pressure is applied, you do not have to press very hard in order to feel them.

He is back in work, has been hacking for a number of weeks and has had a few lunge sessions and today I rode him for around 40 mins or so in the field resulting in him being nappy. Heading back up the fields he just became very excited. We also had a few short trots and a few times he broke into canter from being excited, followed by a 10 min hack with a little trot work. And he coped well, he was only slightly sweaty and blowing a little when we returned.

So do you think he has his belly from the grass or from being unfit or both?
He has been wormed and is now turned out in a grazing muzzle.
I am worried about it now as it didn't go down over the winter.

Could anyone offer me any advice?
I am going to get a worm count taken to see if he does have any nasties in him *fingers crossed he doesn't*

Thanks.

 

[merlinsquest]

If he looks grass bellyish but is poor over his back neck and quarters then cushings is a possibility, it makes horses look as if they have sagged..... does he shed his coat properly???

 

[jesterfaerie]

He didn't last year because he was turned out with a rug for that winter and it was extreamly thick, and it is now. Baring in mind he still has at least 4 inch of coat on him in places lol.

 

[merlinsquest]

Might be worth having a blood test done on him to see..... its so common in older horses, other indicators are excessive thirst...... and excessive peeing obviously!! Fast hoof growth.. non shedding coat (regardless of whether rugged up...fatty deposites in dents above eyes (I think) and a suseptability (sp)?? to laminitis.

 

[jesterfaerie]

He doesn't have excessive thirst/peeing, he doesn't have laminitis or is showing any signs of it (double checked with the farrier as I was worried about it).
I will certainly ask the vets about blood tests.

 

[passie]

he certainly looks like he may have cushings - we have had several horses with it, however they have worked for many years perfectly comfortably, you just have to keep an eye on them as with any older horse. If he is comfortable and enjoying himself I would carry on enjoying riding him. Let us know about any blood test results, it will be interesting to know if it is cushings.

 

[Mahali]

Please check tyroid...