Fat or Grass belly???? Pic!

[shell1978]

I would like your opinions on my mare.
I had the farrier out yesterday, and he said Lacey is way too fat, and that I should take her completely off grass and just feed hay to get her weight down. (even though she is bare grass of 1/4 acre)
She does have Cushings, so she has got a pot belly, you can easily feel her ribs, and see them when she is eating, and I dont think her neck or rump is fat either???
Farrier not having none of it, and says im wrong!???

What do you guys think?

 

[MerryMaker]

it's hard to tell from the photo really, but she doesn't look bad for this time of year compared to most good doers, she doesn't appear to be cresty or have fat pockets any where etc. I wouldn't cut her grass out completely, but when she is in soak her hay for an hour to draw out most of the sugars and nutrients, feed a low calorie, low sugar chaff (happy hoof etc) and make sure she isn't on any rich grass. It's sugars that are the problem you don't want to put her at risk of diabetes or insulin resistance, or lami. Have you got a picture of her from the side?

 

[Ezme]

I don't think she looks fat in the slightest, good neck, you can see withers and shoulder nicely, backside is rounded but not guttered. Its just a belly. Esp if you can see/ feel ribs. Mags is the fittest he's been in his life and can go all day yet he has a massive belly. he's been checked for worms and anything sinister, its just him, horses are different shapes just like people and as he's 19, his bellys just dropped a bit.

 

[shell1978]

Sorry no pics on side. She is on soaked hay at night, and a very small feed of Alfa-A lite & high fibre cubes. The grass is probably very rich as it used to be a dairy farm!

 

[shell1978]

Yeah thats what I thought!! Just a bit paranoid really, didnt want to think I was looking through rose tinted glasses!!!!!

 

[bensababy]

Sorry but i agree with your Farrier she is fat. I would be especially concerned as she has Cushings which will increase the risk of Lammi.