Hideously Obese Haffy!

[SnowPhony]

I met my new project today and I am utterly disgusted at how obese she is. She is a beautiful 6 year old haflinger who has aparently been used as ride and drive and aparently been driving 60 miles a week. She returned from loan in a complete state and both me and her owners are horrified. Aperently she has been on 14 acres and bucketfuls of food.....what is wrong with some people!?

Anyway she has had her grazing restricted now and weight watchers has started! But I'm worried about how much work to do with her. I lunged her today and it's blindingly obvious that she's not had anything done with her in ages. 60 miles a week...I think not, she was puffing horrendously after 10 minutes on the lunge.

Any advice on the best way to go about this as I've never dealt with something so overweight.

 

[TS_]

I'd say little and often aswell as slow and steady. I think if she is hideously obese it will be a case of patience and there's not going to be any quick fix.
However hust think of how rewarding it will be when she's lost it!

 

[Nailed]

walking work only for a while..

Troting and cantering with a lot of weight on, really doesnt do joints any good.

Lou x

 

[The Bouncing Bog Trotter]

Don't try and lose the weight too quickly - that can cause more issues. Had similar issues with my connie after my maternity leave......not sure who needed to lose the most weight!

Found the attached quite informative....

http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/information/right_weight_advice

 

[SnowPhony]

Bless her she really is in a state, both me and owner both said we would have prefered her to have come back underweight.

Thanks for that attachment, that's quite handy! I'd say the poor mare currently resembles a biger version of the first pony

not good at all.

 

[TinselRider]

Also maybe take NAF slimline into consideration

Stableing during the day and turning out at night also helps as the grass has less sugar content (or something similar)

 

[Donkeymad]

Don't lunge her until she has lost some weight and is slightly fitter. Your best bet is plenty of in-hand walking for now. Grazingwise , get her onto a racetrack system, which cuts down the grazing whilst encouraging them to walk around, far more than a starvation paddock will.

 

[SnowPhony]

Aparently, according to the loaners, she is super fit, works well under saddle and, as I say has been driven 60 miles a week, every week. Her saddle, which was brand new when she went to them 18 months ago, was returned in pristine condition and when I tried long reining her she freaked out. Surely if shes been driven long reining is nothing!?

I get the impression shes been stood in a field being fed and done no work whatsoever. Makes me so angry the state some people let horses get in.

 

[hellybelly6]

Very frustrating and it will take lots of brisk walking and restricted turn out to slim her down.

Can I ask, is she a Oxned haffy?