Grass Belly?

[vikkiandmonica]

My gelding seems to have a constant grass belly, even when he is in full work. He has been wormed, so know it is not a wormy belly, but does get worms worse then other horses (if anyone knows of a daily sort of wormer I could give him to reduce this, it would be much appreciated).

He is out on grass 24/7 and windsucks, and I cannot for the life of me get rid of his grass belly. For feed he gets Allan and Paige calm and condition, pasture mix, chaff and some supplements.

Any help on how to get rid of his belly would be much appreciated

 

[Cahill]

do you do work in a correct outline.
if you build topline it should help,but takes time and there are no short cuts.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Ah bless him VM. I know that mares that have had foals can look as if they have a grass belly but it's just that the belly area has been stretched and stretched. Wonder if it's the same for your lad? I don't mean he's had past pregnancies lol, but a heavy worm burden before you had him could have stretched his belly and if he's not in the first flush of youth, it may be just his shape now??? Have you got any pix hun???

 

[spookypony]

My gelding is similar, I think. The saddle fitter found it quite weird! He's only 8yo, and he definitely hasn't been pregnant (

), and he's not wormy, either. But give him a few days on good grass, and he looks like he's expecting twins, even when he's being ridden 1.5 hours/day. No fat on him elsewhere, either: just this enormous belly. Even when he's in the starver on hay, it never entirely goes away.

 

[vikkiandmonica]

I'll try and get pictures

.

I work him in a correct outline and he is very muscular etc. but just has a huge belly. As it's been said in the other board, it could be ulcers as he does windsuck, so I will get the vet to scope him and see.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[vikkiandmonica]

Here are some photos of it:

You can sort of see it here

Wings


And just to show that he is fit etc. here is two of him jumping on the same day

Wings Jumping

Wings Jumping 2

Hope this sort of shows what I mean

 

[hellybelly6]

I dont think his belly is that bad.

I have known several wind suckers/crib biters and they all seem to have bellys. I think it is when they suck air down into their stomachs.

You are doing the right thing having him scoped for ulcers just in case.

 

[vikkiandmonica]

OK thanks! Recently though he does seems to have gone outwards more, hence the reason why I think I will get him scoped and if he does have ulcers, treat them, which may also stop his windsucking

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Oh my God Nikki! He's bloody gorgeous! I wouldn't worry if he was mine - if you want to worry over something, you can help me worry over Sunny who has a grass BUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[vikkiandmonica]

Thanks Box Of Frogs