Fat companion pony

[pegasus1]

I have a fat 11.2hh Dartmoor pony. Help needed on how to get the weight off and keep it off, any suggestions welcome.

 

[hayinamanger]

Restricted grazing and exercise. Long rein or ride and lead the pony. Try horse agility?

 

[lizzi2]

Grazing muzzles can be really good.
Have used one with one of my ponies who's needed to lose weight, I only use for short periods (3hrs maximum), but means can be turned out with her friends, so isn't seperated (or trying to jump out of restricted grazing areas!).
Exercise is definitely the key too - walking in hand or like the last poster, horse agility could be good.

 

[Twinkley Lights]

As above plus ...Soaked hay if you bring in and oat straw chaff instead of molasses rich feed.

 

[Triskar]

Here's a link to an article about diets for the obese horse:

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31...&utm_medium=nutrition&utm_campaign=04-29-2013

 

[Clodagh]

They can live in a grazing muzzle all the time if you make sure it firts really well and doesn't rub. In practice my SFP (Small Fat Pony) was in a field shelter during the day, so he could see the others, and was out with his muzzle on overnight.

 

[NeverSayNever]

my mini shetland x companion pony has had her muzzle put on today for the first time this year and frankly, my grazing looks terrible! However they are clearly getting something off it as are ignoring hay and her belly was beginning to reappear.

 

[mandwhy]

Try supplementing magnesium (look for magnesium oxide on eBay) plus all of the above, it helps with digestion of sugar and cuts down on crestiness with fatty deposits.

 

[RobinHood]

What works for our shettie is restricted grazing (max 3hrs at this time of year), horse walker and either lungeing or ride and lead. He lives in a large straw pen with another pony so he can move about as much as possible.

 

[RobinHood]

Meant to say a track system in the field would probably get him moving around more.