Getting weight off a pony who is living out 24/7

[Jango]

Hi everyone, me and a friend bought a project pony today! Shes a 14.1 rising 5 Welsh D mare. She is extremely fat and we want want try and get some weight off her before spring. She's living out 24/7 with 4 other horses, with hay fed as needed, e.g. this week in the snow. She will be worked appropriately 5x a week, with long reining, moving to hacking (she's been sat on, but not what you would typically say is backed, and riding away, she was bought from Dragon driving!). Her front hooves need quite a bit of work and due to her age it will be a while before she can do harder work for weight loss. She won't be having any feed at all, we were thinking of either giving her a bib clip and leaving her naked or would it be better to clip more off and a light rug? She could come in and have soaked hay for the day time at the weekends, but not sure if that would be helpful? If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions that would be great!

Here she is

 

[welshpony216]

grazing muzzle if she is getting fat off of plain grass, but then again, if your fields are completely mud like mine...

 

[AmyMay]

Congratulations on your purchase.

She doesn’t look massively overweight to me, just bit of a grass/hay belly if anything. I wouldn’t clip her personally unless your going to work her, and rising five I’d have no concerns about cracking on with her.

 

[ihatework]

For pure convenience I’d Irish/trace then put a sheet on personally.

She is old enough to start to do something and you will find it does her body shape the world of good.

 

[ester]

I've definitely seen much worse, my own and milliepop's welshies being good examples

I've done weightloss with exercise and/or muzzles and you might find with her that even light/moderate exercise will have her looking quite a bit different. How much I'd clip would depend on the sweat quantities/the likely weather. My welshie runs hot so even retired is better with a bit off.

 

[Polos Mum]

Not as bad as I was expecting but IMHO you're right to think of weight now. There's growing evidence that to avoid all the nasty metabolic issues more and more horses are suffering with it's ideal if they drop weight in winter to allow them to safely put some back on in spring, their metabolism works as it should.

If she looked like that in March you'd be muzzling / leaving her in and having a big job to manage spring. Personally I'd want her leaner than ideal coming into spring to make that easier to cope with.

There is no one size fits all and as she is new without background then you will have to pay close attention. Weight tape her every 2 weeks and write it down. From unclear background gentle worm her too.
I personally would clip a little - it will help if you're starting working her anyway.
If weather is grim you can pop a rug on (check she's OK with that !) if it's cold but not chucking it down then leave it off.

For her type I'd bet it's easier to get a bit of weight back on if you go too far than it is to battle against too much weight in the spring!

 

[Equi]

Its hard to tell from the poor photo but i don't think she looks horrificly fat. I would leave her as is for now. Let nature do the work.

 

[windand rain]

She doesnt look too bad in that photo but it isnt easy to see how fat she is get her standing square on a flat surface will make it easier to judge. We have taken 100 kgs off a section A in winter just by strip grazing and no hay unless a foot of snow A track will help and if you have to give hay dont put it in one pile so she doesnt move. Movement is key to getting it down so would clip, rug and work even if you have to walk miles with her as walking will build her frame while getting rid of blubber

 

[Spotherisk]

She looks light on top compared to her belly... hate to say it but might she be in foal?

 

[Equi]

She looks light on top compared to her belly... hate to say it but might she be in foal?

Are you factoring in the fluff? She does not look in any way pregnant to me.

 

[brighteyes]

Not as bad as I was expecting but IMHO you're right to think of weight now. There's growing evidence that to avoid all the nasty metabolic issues more and more horses are suffering with it's ideal if they drop weight in winter to allow them to safely put some back on in spring, their metabolism works as it should.

If she looked like that in March you'd be muzzling / leaving her in and having a big job to manage spring. Personally I'd want her leaner than ideal coming into spring to make that easier to cope with.

There is no one size fits all and as she is new without background then you will have to pay close attention. Weight tape her every 2 weeks and write it down. From unclear background gentle worm her too.
I personally would clip a little - it will help if you're starting working her anyway.
If weather is grim you can pop a rug on (check she's OK with that !) if it's cold but not chucking it down then leave it off.

For her type I'd bet it's easier to get a bit of weight back on if you go too far than it is to battle against too much weight in the spring!

Correct. I'd go as far as to say don't EVER let them get fat. I think IR might even be hereditary in some breed-lines, so it's never 'safe' for them to have extra condition. Rarely do they work hard enough these days to permit some heavy grazing.

Also, doesn't look that fat to me, but maybe leave unrugged, of if that's not possible a rainsheet thing and somehow ration her food if necessary? Looks a nice sort.

 

[Frano]

From your photo your horse does not look fat to me. With the work you are planning and the time of year I am sure you will be able to keep weight under control. Was she in work before you bought her. Has she had a foal before?

 

[Nudibranch]

In that photo it looks mostly grass belly. What's her overall condition score? Do you have a side on photo with her stood up fairly square?
If she is a bit porky still then minimising the hay should be enough. We still have January and February to get through before the grass comes through so I wouldn't want to be doing anything drastic at this time of year.

 

[Sandstone1]

You are right to be aware of the risks of getting fat but that mare does not look fat in that photo to be honest. Has she been wormed or had a egg count? Her back and quarters look a bit light if anything. Maybe get a vet check and get teeth and worming up to date.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

As above..not overweight just not muscled from work.

 

[Spotherisk]

Are you factoring in the fluff? She does not look in any way pregnant to me.

I was thinking that the OP thinks she looks fat but IMO she’s light over her top line, and so possibly it’s not a fat tum. I very much hope I’m wrong!

 

[Sandstone1]

Hi everyone, me and a friend bought a project pony today! Shes a 14.1 rising 5 Welsh D mare. She is extremely fat and we want want try and get some weight off her before spring. She's living out 24/7 with 4 other horses, with hay fed as needed, e.g. this week in the snow. She will be worked appropriately 5x a week, with long reining, moving to hacking (she's been sat on, but not what you would typically say is backed, and riding away, she was bought from Dragon driving!). Her front hooves need quite a bit of work and due to her age it will be a while before she can do harder work for weight loss. She won't be having any feed at all, we were thinking of either giving her a bib clip and leaving her naked or would it be better to clip more off and a light rug? She could come in and have soaked hay for the day time at the weekends, but not sure if that would be helpful? If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions that would be great!

Here she is View attachment 62221

Looking at that photo again, if anything I wouldnt want her losing much at this time of year. I would get a vet to check her over.

 

[Auslander]

Also dont think she's fat,although better pictures would help. She looks like a horse who isn't in work - weak over her topline, with a dropped belly. I wouldn't be embarking on a major weightloss regime with a horse who looks like this and who lives out at this time of year.
I reckon she'll look a lot better when she's doing some work, and has learned to lift her belly and use herself.

 

[Gloi]

Do you know her history beyond coming off dragon driving? If it is at all possible she is in foal, do get her checked before trying to get any weight off her. I'd presume any mare off there to be pregnant until proved otherwise.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Or of course she maybe had a foal earlier this year.

I have to say though, I agree with OP that regardless of a bit of a belly, she's too well covered over the shoulders/neck for my liking. Yes a bit poor on the top/back end, but that's likely just lack of exercise. Seeing as she's new to you, I'd start anything gradually, and I wouldn't restrict forage too harshly too soon after the stress of a move (otherwise you're layering one ulcer risk over another)

 

[Jeni the dragon]

If she was mine I wouldn't be too worried about her weight at the moment. She should lose a bit over the rest if the winter naturally and starting to do a bit of work will make a huge difference. As well as weigh taping every fortnight, I would stand her up and get a photo at the same time. It will be nice to see how much she changes.
If I was planning to start and work her, I would probably do a low trave clip and put a light rug on. Just so much easier to not deal with wet ponies at this time of year!

 

[irishdraft]

The mare dosent look very fat to me just an unclipped unworked horse . I would get her in work immediately clipped and lightly rugged just an hours daily walking hack will start to make a difference.

 

[Ossy2]

Hard to tell from the photo but agree with others I wouldn’t be embarking on a major weight loss program. Looks weak on top and bum and has a dropped/sagged belly. Really I’d say the only thing that will really help is a correct fitness/working program, lots of hacking will certainly help that.

I can see why some might question if she’s in foal, I’m not sure I’d be overly worried about her being in foal now but I’d definitely think she’d had a foal in the past at some point.

 

[scruffyponies]

She looks fine. Don't restrict food this time of year - they need forage for warmth.
Personally I wouldn't clip and rug; just scrape the worst of the mud off where the tack sits and get her out hacking.

 

[Shysmum]

Definitely not overweight! Why would you think that ??? ?