fat horse - update

[ruthb]

Hello,

I posed a few weeks back about dieting advice for my somewhat chunky (and laminitic) horse. It is thought that the laminitis stems from her previous life as a trotting racer when she had concussion laminitis badly (they were hammering her at 40mph on the roads!), but clearly the weight not helping matters.

I'm pleased to say that according to the measuring tape she's lost just over 30K in four weeks of stringent dieting ... and now weighs in at a dainty (hah) 496K.

I now have 2 more questions and would be grateful for your opinions. She is a 15.1hh coloured horse, lighter weight (in theory) than a cob, and in fact built very much like a Hackney. How much do you think she should weigh ideally? The vet doesn't want to put a number on it, wanting to judge by how she looks, which is fair enough, but I'd like a rough idea of how far we have to go.

And also, the vet has her on danelon daily. The last time he came she trotted up sound BUT what I am unclear about is, if a horse is on painkiller how can the vet tell if they are improving at all or if its just the drugs masking the problem?

All points of view v. gratefully recieved - your diet tips helped, although Fleur would very much not thank you for them as she is not loving her new low sugar lifestyle and whinnies most piteously for treats.

xx

 

[Umbongo]

Hi, estimating what weight horses should be isn't very accurate as it depends on the horse really.maybe you would class her as a 15.1hh lightweight hunter type which is 450kg? I would say around 450-500kg.
http://www.saracen-horse-feeds.co.uk/feedcheck/height_to_weight_guide/

Also that is a bit strange, if we have horses on bute, the vet will ask for the horse to be taken off it a day or so before he visits...so it won't mask any problems.

 

[MrsMozart]

Hard on the 'what should she weigh' front. Has to be the right weight for each horse

. Has your vet given you a condition card? That's more useful

.

Did you ask your vet about the Danilon and the trot up? My vet always asks me to cut out the Danilon two days before she is due out to see the horse.

Well done on the weight loss

.

 

[CBFan]

I think on the weight front you really need to judge it by eye. sounds like you are making really good progress though! Well done!

ideally you want to see a feint outline of a few ribs and be rid of anny fatty deposits on the bum and shoulders... you may have to let he drop to a little skinny first to get rid of anny fatty deposits and then let her put **a little** back on.

As for the danilon... it is a bit bizzare but I'm sure your vet can judge some sort of progress from before...

 

[ruthb]

Ribs! I have always had very serious doubts that Fleur has ribs. I have certainly never seen any evidence of them, and when I attempt to prod her sides to try and feel them she lays her ears back and waggles her head at me and stamps her hoof, which is her way of warning me that whatever i am doing it is unacceptable and she's only giving me one chance, and is only being charitable because I am a) stupid and to be pitied and b) her major source of food.

 

[Kallibear]

Weight tapes are really inaccurate for telling you their true weight but they are good for telling if they've lost or gained anything.

Whatever you're going is obviously working if she's loosing weight- keep it up.

Forgot about reaching her ideal 'weight' and go for 'condition'. You should be able to run your hands down her ribs (flat of your hand) and feel them if you press firmly. You should be able to see them from certain angle when she breathes in. No fat in her crest and def no 'apple' bum.

I would expect a 15hh trotter type to weight about 450kg (it's kg by the way, not K, which amoung other things means 'thousand - even at her fattest I doubt she's weighted 495000kg

). But without a weight bridge you won't know how much she actually weights at the moment.

As for the bute your right that you can't tell if it's masking the lameness, but trotting them up will tell the vet how comfortable she is on it, and if the amount doesn't change, a referance point for later if she gets worse.