Getting rid of a hay belly

[kit279]

My TBs have lived out all winter, only coming in when the weather is really foul, and they're in good nick, not too fat, not too thin, look really glossy and happy. But both of them have for the first time got BIG hay bellies this year! Neither of them are overweight, if they move around I can just see their ribs and easily feel them, and both are pretty fit and can trot up hills without getting puffed. What can I do to get their bellies smaller?!

They're fed sugar beet, alfalfa and they get ad lib hay (even now in April, I'm getting impatient for the grass to grow!). They hack out every other day for about an hour with some fast work and are lunged on the other days.

Any suggestions?

 

[peanut]

Hay belly - is that what it is?

My fit id x tb has a big belly on a slim body at the moment too. Worming has made no difference and I'm wondering how the devil to get rid of it.

 

[JenHunt]

Its usually due to the amount of water that fibre holds in their gut. Nothing wrong with it per se, just that its not what a show judge would look for.

The harder the work they are in the smaller the belly will get, especially if you increase the cereal part of the diet too.