Feeding for umph...

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Honeypots

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Any tips?
Friends cob is unfit and overweight and understandably lethargic because of this, however in order to lose weight and get fit he needs to actually put one foot in front of the other which he seems almost incapable of!! (unless of course he is bombing across the field for a bucket). Now to make life a little easier for his very short legged little rider are there any feeds/supplements etc that will pep him up a little without putting anymore weight on or does she have to resign herself to the the fact that its just a case of weight off and work?..
 
Perhaps she could lunge the weight off him a bit? Or have some fun loose schooling him
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Get him having fun!
 
I asked all of the feed companies at Badminton this last year and none had an answer. They all said you can't have energy without the calories.
 
We had an IDxTB who was a bit porky but lacking energy. I fed him a scoop of oats a day which gave him enough energy to work him but didn't send him silly.

You may need to consider giving some 'energy' food and so long as the feed quantities aren't too much the extra work will help with the weight loss.
 
Ah..we wondered about oats actually.. and you're right, the extra exercise should hopefully outweigh any weight gain..
Lunging is a no go...he's worse than riding. Mmm..maybe some loose schooling though now I think of it.

Trouble is that round here everything is either uphill or downhill and if you go downhill, you then have to go back uphill don't you and he really struggles..well we all do!!!

Thanks all
 
I just started using Spillers slow release energy mix which gives pony more energy without exploding! Better than other competition mixes I have used
 
I'd back up leg aids with a schooling whip, as laziness can be a habit. If he can bomb around the feild then he is capable. We had this a couple of years ago and really once the schooling whip was in play she listened and worked much better.
 
I have to agree with Keisha, I had one of these cobs 3 years ago, and hill work is excellent for burning off fat. Stick with it, like Keisha says use a scholling whip, you'd be suprised at what they can do! They don't need any extra food other than fibre. Mine has lost a whopping 200kilos but has taken 3 years. Be patient:)
 
Thanks everyone..

I agree..there are no real shortcuts.
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She does ride with a schooling whip by the way..it makes no difference nor does a lunge whip while on the lunge. His urge not to move far outweighs any incentive to move away from a whip!!
He's never had a grain of food in his life and is as round as a round bale!! Its a bit of a catch 22 really..hillwork is great but only if you can get them up the darn things..lol!!
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Round here we have nothing BUT hills. His field is one big hill.
I can get him to move but its exhausting..my friend has titchy legs and really struggles and we just wondered if maybe there was a miracle not fattening supplements out there..
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