Going naked?

[dwi]

Had a great lesson with a new RI tonight, really went back to basics and although I kind of feel silly that we had to go that basic I could see her start to work in the way that I want her to.

RI said that she is too fat and needs to lose weight before I can think about showing her.

I kind of knew this but she has lost some of her weight since I bought her so in my eyes it didn't look too bad.

She is only fed 1/2 scoop of Happy Hoof and a Handful of Slim and Healthy so she can't be getting fat from that. RI said turn her out without a rug on but I feel really guilty at the thought. She's got an irish blanket clip but is quite wooly on the bits that are left. She can't wear a grazing muzzle because she gets bad eczema.

Would you take her rug off? I need moral support to bring myself to do it

 

[mrdarcy]

I totally feel for you!

You could give it a go tomorrow as the weather forecast is good - sunny and quite warm. Better than doing it for the first time when it's rainy or cold.

 

[Broodle]

What an evil mummy! (Not really!)

As a bit of a halfway measure, do you have (or could you beg/borrow) a really lightweight turnout rug you could turn her out in? This way she could stay dry - so not likely to get really chilled - but still benefit from a bit of calorie burning. Just a suggestion.

 

[lexiedhb]

A really lightweight rug, sort of anorak affair, seems like a really good idea, so shes not drenched if it rains but not wrapped up too warm either!

 

[MagicMelon]

Yeah, a really lightweight rug is a great idea - like the Amigo ones, Ive got one which is basically just a waterproof sheet, that way the rain will stay off her but she'll hopefully use some of her fat to keep warm! I think its most important for her to lose weight, not just for showing but for her health and to try and keep the dreaded laminitis away.

 

[Theresa_F]

Having had a fat gypsy cob mare - I got her trim by clipping out completly and using very lw rugs - so she was dry and cool but not shivering.

Feed hay in a tight net so she ate all night but very slowly (I hate horses not having food available). Put on shavings. Feed her a good vit supplement and a drop of linseed oil for her coat in a scoop of hi-fi lite. No more than 8 hours turnout on very limited nibble grazing. Increased her workload.

Result

Don't forget gypsy cobs are meant to be fairly bulky - will never look a lean mean machine - built for comfort not speed.

Jemima is about perfect in that picture - this was taken in August so she had a little bit of a belly but nothing to worry about. Took me a good 6 months to achieve it - slow weight loss is best.

 

[dwi]

thanks for the advice

She's out rugless today. I'll try and get some photos to see what you guys think weight wise

Theresa F - your girl is stunning