fat horses

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doodleberry

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any tips i haven't come across for keeping weight off!!! i have two hunters in the field which i exercise 3 times a week if i can who are already soooo fat !! limited grazing not really an option need some sheep !! dont really feed them and off to buy a grazing muzzle tom!!!
 
If they get laminitis you won't be able to say limited grazing is not an option, will you?

If they were mine I'd have them in during the day (11-8) when the grass has most calories in it. Sheep may not help you. They graze very short, and very short grass is "stressed" and stuffed full of the sugars that you don't want. My horses have done much better, pulse-wise, since I threw the sheep off my field two years ago.
 
I know it's hard but I'm having a slow success with my 2 rescued shetlands. At my yard, even the "rough" fields have too much grass for them so with the YO's blessing I've electric fenced approx 1/3rd of the smallest paddock there. It gives a space about as big as an average back garden and they have to work hard to nibble enough to keep their tummies full overnight. There is shelter under the trees and they can see the comings and goings round the yard. They're in from 10am ish to 3pm ish and while they're in they share a tiny haylage net filled with the scratchings off the floor from my other 2 horses. It's slowly, slowly doing the trick but the huge puppy-dog eyes that plead with passers-by through the gate are very very hard to resist. I can only harden my heart because if they ever develop laminitis their lives and mine would change forever, not a risk I'm prepared to take. Be tough with your hunters. Imagine the work and vet bills if they did go down with laminitis, never mind the fact that you might never be able to ride them again! One further thing to remember is the recent research on restricted grazing. It has shown, as all horse owners already know, that if you only turn out a horse for say 4 hrs a day, then it will learn to frantically stuff itself stupid for those 4 hours. A horse can eat 40% of it's total daily calorie requirements in just a few hours. So stabling for a few hours then turning the horse back out onto good grazing isn't that effective. They need to go back out to POOR grazing. Good luck!
 
I'm afraid I agree with others, you have no choice but to restrict their grazing.
I would give them soaked hay as opposed to haylage when in too. Any chance of taping off an area as has been suggested or taping a (12ft wide) track round the perimeter of the field to also increase exercise?
 
cptrayes said:
If they get laminitis you won't be able to say limited grazing is not an option, will you?

If they were mine I'd have them in during the day (11-8) when the grass has most calories in it. Sheep may not help you. They graze very short, and very short grass is "stressed" and stuffed full of the sugars that you don't want. My horses have done much better, pulse-wise, since I threw the sheep off my field two years ago.
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good point re laminitis i have one that i have dragged in last night as she looks a bit suspect she is in the school at the moment stropping round!! she has a bit of hay and some water will get her in in a mo as no shade!! am now depressed about sheep not helping how about cows? the grass here is soo good and grazed all winter i thought i might not harrow it this year so its crap!!???
 
amandap said:
I'm afraid I agree with others, you have no choice but to restrict their grazing.
I would give them soaked hay as opposed to haylage when in too. Any chance of taping off an area as has been suggested or taping a (12ft wide) track round the perimeter of the field to also increase exercise?
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yes i think i was a bit hasty in saying restricted grazing not an option i meant more an easy option i do have an orchard which i have one horse in at the mo being a lawnmower!! but even though we have no rain i think the morning dew is the problem !!!!
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
I know it's hard but I'm having a slow success with my 2 rescued shetlands. At my yard, even the "rough" fields have too much grass for them so with the YO's blessing I've electric fenced approx 1/3rd of the smallest paddock there. It gives a space about as big as an average back garden and they have to work hard to nibble enough to keep their tummies full overnight. There is shelter under the trees and they can see the comings and goings round the yard. They're in from 10am ish to 3pm ish and while they're in they share a tiny haylage net filled with the scratchings off the floor from my other 2 horses. It's slowly, slowly doing the trick but the huge puppy-dog eyes that plead with passers-by through the gate are very very hard to resist. I can only harden my heart because if they ever develop laminitis their lives and mine would change forever, not a risk I'm prepared to take. Be tough with your hunters. Imagine the work and vet bills if they did go down with laminitis, never mind the fact that you might never be able to ride them again! One further thing to remember is the recent research on restricted grazing. It has shown, as all horse owners already know, that if you only turn out a horse for say 4 hrs a day, then it will learn to frantically stuff itself stupid for those 4 hours. A horse can eat 40% of it's total daily calorie requirements in just a few hours. So stabling for a few hours then turning the horse back out onto good grazing isn't that effective. They need to go back out to POOR grazing. Good luck!
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i know that we have to be cruel to be kind really in a sense well i think that after that i just need to do what needs to be done !!! thanks
 
amandap said:
I'm afraid I agree with others, you have no choice but to restrict their grazing.
I would give them soaked hay as opposed to haylage when in too. Any chance of taping off an area as has been suggested or taping a (12ft wide) track round the perimeter of the field to also increase exercise?
Click to expand...

yep soaking hay haven't got haylage anything else i haven't thought off which is what these forums are for???
 
Have started giving mine anti lam feed just in case. He doesn't have much and he is now starting to lose weight too as I have him on restricted grazing. I try and ride as much as possible even if it's only half an hour. It's so hard though to try and get it all right xxx
 
It took a year to get the weight off my boy - and now he's looking soooo much better. The secret for mine wasn't any one thing , but a whole plethora of lifestyle changes to get nearly 80 kg off my 15.1hh pb arab. I was really concerned about his weight and the fact that it just wouldn't come off after the initial weight loss when he came back in to work. I was worried that he might have IR/EMS so even had his bloods done. However, this is what I started doing since January to get the remainder of the weight off...

1 - fully clipped and at the moment, no rug (except for the lightest skinniest wee quilt at night)

2 - poorest grazing I can find, and when the grass on that lot comes in, he will be sectioned off with tape

3 - limited turn out as well - he's only out from 7 am to 12 (I'd tried muzzling him for the day time turn out all day - but he stropped pretty angrily after a few weeks of wearing it - and it wasn't worth the argument and him hurting himself or me while I put it on)

4 - increased workload (getting about 5-8 hours of work per week, not just slopping along at the end of the buckle but working)

5 - when he's in, he gets double netted in small holed nets one slice of oat straw mixed in with equivalent amount of hay. He gets about two of these a day - one for when he comes in at lunch time, and the other at night.

6 - his feeding regime is rather strict - he's on good do-er chaff, a tiny bit of light balancer, supps and oats for oomph

I have to say that my boy is happy, loving his work and isn't at all bothered with the strict regime - he in fact is thriving on it. Expensive for me (cos I've got to keep him in all year round) but it's a small price to pay for a fit, happy, healthy horse.
 
Yes, it's a case of knuckling down and doing it, oh and sticking with it too. I've a fatty who was verging on obese to my shame. Her weight just seems to creep on and I don't always notice till it's bad. Regular condition scoring even when not on diet is a must for me and her. She's dieting atm and loosing weight steadily, my aim is to work hard to keep it off rather than the yoyo weight I let her have atm. I've aimed for a 3 over 6 months and then hope to keep it stable over next winter...

Good luck.
 
amandap said:
I'm afraid I agree with others, you have no choice but to restrict their grazing.
I would give them soaked hay as opposed to haylage when in too. Any chance of taping off an area as has been suggested or taping a (12ft wide) track round the perimeter of the field to also increase exercise?[/

does steaming hay have the same effect as soaking???
Click to expand...
 
No steaming hay doesn't remove any nutrients, just dust and mould spores... Are you weighing the hay for them, it should be restricted too if they are fatties on a diet...

Also if you are bringing them in and they are on diets, make sure they are on non-edible bedding otherwise you will be undoing all your hard work...
 
There are some good ideas in previous posts and I would deffinately look at how to restrict grazing quantity and upping exercise to get the weight off. My lad got laminitis and I would not wish anyone or any horse through it. The consequence of this has meant some big compromises for me and my horse and more work for me, but it is worth it and necessary to keep it at bay and keep his weight down. My lad was already on restricted grazing but now is in at night all year round on weighed hay. He also has no rug in the winter anymore and grows a thick coat instead. This routine keeps his weight level and he went into spring slim and still is as I get up at 5am every day to ride before work 6 days a week.
 
You say you can only exercise them up to 3 times a week........define exercise?

I spoke to my vet recently about my pony, who WAS fat, but is now much sleeker due to hard work(on his and my behalf). The vet said that if his legs could cope, he should be doing atleast 5 x 2 hour hacks, or the equivalent(and not just walking along, but actually working) a week. Now this is for a little new forest, not a big hunter........you may well have to find time to exercise them much more than you are doing.
 
PennyJ said:
No steaming hay doesn't remove any nutrients, just dust and mould spores... Are you weighing the hay for them, it should be restricted too if they are fatties on a diet...

Also if you are bringing them in and they are on diets, make sure they are on non-edible bedding otherwise you will be undoing all your hard work...
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yes got shavings as she is a pig so she has been on them all winter ooh wasnt aware of the steaming thing thanks
 
sleepingdragon10 said:
You say you can only exercise them up to 3 times a week........define exercise?

I spoke to my vet recently about my pony, who WAS fat, but is now much sleeker due to hard work(on his and my behalf). The vet said that if his legs could cope, he should be doing atleast 5 x 2 hour hacks, or the equivalent(and not just walking along, but actually working) a week. Now this is for a little new forest, not a big hunter........you may well have to find time to exercise them much more than you are doing.
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yes i think i am going to have to ride every day i have just been walking and the odd time out cantering but mainly walking as the other hunter has just come back into work after a year off so he is still on walk work and i dont ride him on his own so have to take the other one for company which is another story!
 
doodleberry said:
amandap said:
I'm afraid I agree with others, you have no choice but to restrict their grazing.
I would give them soaked hay as opposed to haylage when in too. Any chance of taping off an area as has been suggested or taping a (12ft wide) track round the perimeter of the field to also increase exercise?[/

does steaming hay have the same effect as soaking???
Click to expand...
As already said, no steaming only reduces the dust that gets into the air.
You should soak for a minimum of one hour, some say 12 hours, to reduce sugars. Rinsing can be very important too especially if the horse has laminitis.
Click to expand...
 
sleepingdragon10 said:
You say you can only exercise them up to 3 times a week........define exercise?

I spoke to my vet recently about my pony, who WAS fat, but is now much sleeker due to hard work(on his and my behalf). The vet said that if his legs could cope, he should be doing atleast 5 x 2 hour hacks, or the equivalent(and not just walking along, but actually working) a week. Now this is for a little new forest, not a big hunter........you may well have to find time to exercise them much more than you are doing.
Click to expand...

This is the problem I have with my fatty, that she has had to be retired. Before retirement she was just a good doer, who needed little feed for her usually pretty intense workload, but now, her and her waistline are a major worry :( TBH, before her retirement, I'm not sure I realised just what a VERY good doer she is.

She is currently on half an acre of very bare grazing (what's coming through is weeds as much as anything) with a feed per day of 270gm good doer chaff and 500gm bailey's loc cal (which I'm changing to Topspec lite next bag, as it has even fewer calories) and magnesium to help break down the sugars and her fat deposits. She has lost some in the last couple of weeks, but I am going to have to move her to a new little paddock next week so that YO can spray the weeds coming through where she is now. The little 12 hand welsh and newfie I owned years ago wouldn't have managed to be as fat as Be is on her current regime, and she is a 16hh WB!! Still, I guess if you're going to have a retiree its better than one that's a chubby bum, than one that needs to eat it's own weight in £ coins per week to keep condition on :o
 
After you've drained the hay put the spray on it or refill the tub with clean water and drain. It just washes off the film of sweet water left on the surface.
You may not have to bother for weight loss but in laminitis I think it's a good idea. :)
 
amandap said:
After you've drained the hay put the spray on it or refill the tub with clean water and drain. It just washes off the film of sweet water left on the surface.
You may not have to bother for weight loss but in laminitis I think it's a good idea. :)
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ok i understand yes thats easy to do horse is much better today after just the weekend of no grass she has been walking around all day in the school and as she didnt eat her bute yesterday she has only had 2 since fri no pulse but farriar coming tom morn orchard has been grazed down so am hopefully going to put her back in there with her muzzle on in the day and off at night and lots more work and laminaze!!! and valium but thats for me!!! thanks
 
Puppy said:
This is the problem I have with my fatty, that she has had to be retired. Before retirement she was just a good doer, who needed little feed for her usually pretty intense workload, but now, her and her waistline are a major worry :( TBH, before her retirement, I'm not sure I realised just what a VERY good doer she is.

She is currently on half an acre of very bare grazing (what's coming through is weeds as much as anything) with a feed per day of 270gm good doer chaff and 500gm bailey's loc cal (which I'm changing to Topspec lite next bag, as it has even fewer calories) and magnesium to help break down the sugars and her fat deposits. She has lost some in the last couple of weeks, but I am going to have to move her to a new little paddock next week so that YO can spray the weeds coming through where she is now. The little 12 hand welsh and newfie I owned years ago wouldn't have managed to be as fat as Be is on her current regime, and she is a 16hh WB!! Still, I guess if you're going to have a retiree its better than one that's a chubby bum, than one that needs to eat it's own weight in £ coins per week to keep condition on :o
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I feel for you, Pups. If Lukey wasn't worked he'd be exactly the same....he does get fat on fresh air, hence why the hours are being put in to keep it off.

Have you looked into feeding cinnamon as well?? There's research being done into it's efficacy in insulin control/how it affects fat deposits etc. Lukey gets 1 teaspoon a day in his tea, and I'm honestly convinced it is helping him lose the weight/lessen the fat deposits on his neck/shoulders.
 
Limiting grazing = Limiting Exercise = extra weight!

Horses need space to exercise themselves.

It sounds like you need to increase exercise - can you find someone who will help you with exercising them or ride one lead one or both, thats how I used to work the four hunters I was responsible for. Working them 3 days a week is just not enough. At least 1 hours steady trotting daily will keep tummy in check.

My Clydesdale is in 5 acres of grazing - and wears a muzzle 24/7 to keep her weight controlled - at dusk she has a mega hoon around the paddock, bucking and larking around with the others.

It really bothers me to see horses confined in areas often smaller than a dressage arena. IMO this is poor management.
 
set up a track system round the edge of the field, better than a small paddock and they exercise themselves walking round and round and round
 
Evelyn said:
Limiting grazing = Limiting Exercise = extra weight!

Horses need space to exercise themselves.

It sounds like you need to increase exercise - can you find someone who will help you with exercising them or ride one lead one or both, thats how I used to work the four hunters I was responsible for. Working them 3 days a week is just not enough. At least 1 hours steady trotting daily will keep tummy in check.

My Clydesdale is in 5 acres of grazing - and wears a muzzle 24/7 to keep her weight controlled - at dusk she has a mega hoon around the paddock, bucking and larking around with the others.

It really bothers me to see horses confined in areas often smaller than a dressage arena. IMO this is poor management.
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yep totally agree i have got her in the orchard at the mo as waiting for her muzzle as dont want to put her straight onto lush grass was intending to put muzzle on in the day and off at night and work more i actually had farrier out this morning who said she had thin soles and prob stood on a stone so very happy but very paranoid now have got someone coming to school her for half hour tom as i cant do that as although i am quite capable of trotting round the school i would prefer if she trotted round the school properly!!!! but yes agree the more space they have the better!! xx
 
Well I am incredibly pleased to say that my farrier came to trim my fatty and the first thing that he said was what a good job I was going at keeping the weight off her :)

SleepingDragon, that's very interesting about cinnamon. I'll look into it, thanks :)

ETS - But I managed to drop my camera in a water bucket, so I can't show you a pic :rolleyes:
 
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Evelyn said:
Limiting grazing = Limiting Exercise = extra weight!
It really bothers me to see horses confined in areas often smaller than a dressage arena. IMO this is poor management.
Click to expand...

It bothers me that a horse would wear a grazing muzzle 24/7, I like to think they can give themselves a good scratch and groom each other too, I wouldn't want something stuck on my face 24/7 but each to their own I suppose.

OP have you looked up the Paddock paradise system? You can alter it to suit your own grazing, it is designed to keep horses moving, provide natural area for horses to walk over and to help keep weight down. All you need to get you going is some electric fence posts and tape. Might be worth a look!
 
I'd recommend the track grazing system too. It's a bit of hassle to set it up but the benefits (to mine) have been enormous. I have several good doers and despite the same feed as normal they have all lost weight simply by being more active. They include a couple who are retired/not in work.
 
Tormenta said:
It bothers me that a horse would wear a grazing muzzle 24/7, I like to think they can give themselves a good scratch and groom each other too, I wouldn't want something stuck on my face 24/7 but each to their own I suppose.

OP have you looked up the Paddock paradise system? You can alter it to suit your own grazing, it is designed to keep horses moving, provide natural area for horses to walk over and to help keep weight down. All you need to get you going is some electric fence posts and tape. Might be worth a look!
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yep i absolutely hate them i put it on her the other day she galloped around and hated it too think it may of been a bit small so took it off as had to go to work but thought in stead of riding her everyday i could just put it on for a bit and she can exercise herself lol
 
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