Fat boy snacks

poiuytrewq

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My littlest pony is growing. Out not up, he’s in his late teens as far as I know.
He’s out overnight muzzled but I have been aware it wasn’t adjusted quite right so have addressed that today, much to his disgust, there’s a fine line between allowing him a little extra and knowing the muzzle will remain in place and intact and not annoying him to the point he will destroy it, today I may have crossed it 🤞

He comes in at 6.30am and go’s out at between 3-6pm work and weather dependant.
He gets a small holed net of soaked hay, I do soak it rightly or wrongly for 12 hours but always in a clean bucket of fresh water and rinsed really well before feeding. I’m not sure how much he has, his net of loose dry hay fits very easily to soak in a standard water bucket type size trug.
Last week I bought a bag of Top Chop zero chopped straw thinking he could have that as something to pick at, I didn’t expect it but he seems to quite like it.
So this may be a how long is a bit of string question but what would have the least calories, a small amount of soaked hay or a scoop/small bucket of top chop?
Maybe I should replace all his hay with it?
He’s very difficult to exercise, won’t lead off my horse and I just don’t feel like me walking him does a whole lot of good.
He will lunge, he dislikes it but it is do-able and I mean to start that again.
Give me your very best weight loss plans.
 

HollyWoozle

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I think that it mostly hangs on the food compared to the exercise, same as with people. Exercise obviously helps but often it is not an option or at least not on enough of a scale to make a big difference. How big is he? I would expect the TCZ to be less cals than the hay but don't quote me on that.

Do you keep him at home or on a yard? To be honest, the best weight loss plan is poor/limited/no grazing in my experience. We have five who are all retired and our rubbish grazing is a blessing as we are able to feed up with hay and never have to muzzle. Our mini with EMS has a track system with soaked hay and whilst he's not in perfect shape, I can feel ribs and it keeps things under control. I know that's not always feasible though!
 

poiuytrewq

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He’s home, generally Ive really bad grazing, I did have to move them last night to slightly better- not ideal but the fencing is broken where they were and it’s my driest area for winter so don’t want to completely destroy it.
He is really little, not mini Shetland little but doesn’t reach the first 10hh mark on a stick!
 

poiuytrewq

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I’d really love a track but when I say home we don’t actually own it and for some reason I’m not allowed a track 🤷‍♀️ I can do whatever else when ever else but tracks are not allowed.
 

AutumnDays

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I found my fattie enjoyed the top chop zero a bit too much due to the apple flavour on it, and didn't pick at it so much as try to eat the whole bucket in one go! Honeychop plain oat straw worked better for picking at. Just thought I'd share my experience with that!
 

poiuytrewq

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I found my fattie enjoyed the top chop zero a bit too much due to the apple flavour on it, and didn't pick at it so much as try to eat the whole bucket in one go! Honeychop plain oat straw worked better for picking at. Just thought I'd share my experience with that!
Thank you! I can try that. I wasn’t at all expecting top spec zero to smell nice, guess that’s the Apple! I thought it was plain straw.
The problem for me with honeychop anything is finding it. I gave up on lite and healthy as it was never in stock anywhere
 

AutumnDays

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Thank you! I can try that. I wasn’t at all expecting top spec zero to smell nice, guess that’s the Apple! I thought it was plain straw.
The problem for me with honeychop anything is finding it. I gave up on lite and healthy as it was never in stock anywhere
I tend to use Equi supermarket or eBay when I need it I have to say, as nowhere stocks it near me either.
 

Pearlsacarolsinger

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I found my fattie enjoyed the top chop zero a bit too much due to the apple flavour on it, and didn't pick at it so much as try to eat the whole bucket in one go! Honeychop plain oat straw worked better for picking at. Just thought I'd share my experience with that!
Probably better to offer a truly plain oat straw chaff (Honeychop or Halleys), he will eat it if he's hungry

Eta Halleys sell online directly to the customer. I have had a single bag delivered in the past.
 

Nasicus

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What about just straight up straw? Barley or Oat straw, cheap enough, longer stemmed than chop so longer chewing time, and can be netted.
Mine is muzzled when out, and then has a teeny tiny small holed net of haylage and a large haynet of straw during the day when she's in.
 
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