Good doer - weight loss - how fast is too fast?

[ShadowFlame]

So, as a result of soaking hay, trickle nets, grass finally running low and upping exercise, the weight is finally starting to drop off!!

My question, though. How much weight is reasonable to lose in a short space of time? Would you be concerned if your horse had gone from this (before anyone picks up on it, yes, I'm ashamed to post this pic. I'm aware he's huge):

To this:

In less than two weeks? He seems happy and healthy enough in himself. He's happy to work, he has energy when he works. He rarely finishes hay of a night now, but he doesn't seem excessively hungry? Obviously there's still a fair bit to come off and he's hardly hat-rack material, but is this too fast?

Any thoughts?

 

[mtj]

Yes, I would be concerned, especially if his appetite is reduced.

 

[ShadowFlame]

In fairness, he's been rather unimpressed at being presented with 10hr-soaked hay, so I put the reduced appetite down to 'eating because I'm hungry' rather than just pigging out like he usually does. He eats anything else on offer as normal. In one sense, I'm ecstatic that weight is coming off. In another sense, I don't know if something's off, here?

 

[Goldenstar]

Not unduly as long as you know hes eating his forage and you have not cut that down to far.
My fatty ( lost over 200 kilos) did appear to loose appetite then I realised he just could not be bothered to gorge with the trickle net it was too much work it was a real milestone with him he can now have abb lib haylage in a normal net when in hard work and eats normal amount it is such a relief.
Horses can loose wieght quickly when you work them hard a hunter who has had a hard day will look thinner the next day they are very efficient at utilising stored energy when they need it.
I would use a wieght tape weekly to monitor how much is coming off.
Exercise is the key in this once you get them exercising hard enough to use up stored fat you have it cracked.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Also just as with humans the weight falls off at first and it's later on when you are trying to fine tune and get just that little bit extra off that it is a real struggle.

I wouldnt worry unduly as long as the horse is getting 2-2.5 per cent of its body weight in food a day, that should avoid the risk factors with drastic weight loss. But you can always adjust a little if you feel it's going too quickly.

 

[ShadowFlame]

Thanks both. He's getting around 4.5kg of soaked hay overnight, some mornings it's pretty much gone, others he's barely got through half. Having said that, it's shocked me how much sugar is coming out it, so there's little wonder why he used to gorge it (even through the trickle net) when dry. That's great news about your boy, Goldenstar... maybe there is hope for the greedy pigs out there!

He's been upped a lot on exercise - 45mins to an hour most days (walk, trot, canter, jumping a couple of times a week). If I get chance, twice a day weekends, an hour schooling, and an hour+ out hacking. Once the clocks change, he'll be out hacking weekdays aswell. He's not struggling, he's willing, and it's rare he breaks a sweat. He's down to 480 on the weight tape, he was 530 at his worst. Is it fair to say carry on as we are, and just keep a close eye on the tape?

 

[Goldenstar]

That's what I would do it I should have said mine lost his wieght over a two year period he's now thin he's in hard work ATM ( hunting) and doing long hard days if he where this thin in light work I would worry but in two weeks he takes a break and I should be able to let him graze freely until the grass really gets going for the first time ever.
Good luck you are doing the right thing.

 

[ShadowFlame]

Thanks for the advice

I'll keep an eye on the weight tape and what he's telling me - while he seems happy enough I'll just enjoy the weight melting off!

Here he is tonight, just because he's looking so much better!