How are your fatties doing?

[Surbie]

I've found it a really tough year for weight management, particularly as I'm limited on the riding front. Archie came out of winter too plump, gained more in Spring and his weigh-in just before summer wasn't good. We're on rich ex-cattle grazing, though there is a whacking great hill in his field, and a small young pony that seems to have taken on the 'exercise Archie' challenge.

He's been in a flexible filly muzzle since early June and I'm so thankful to have found a muzzle he happily accepts (he is violently anti the only bucket muzzle that is big enough for his head!). He's lost 20kg since then, which is slow but steady. His crest and most of his fat pads are a lot smaller, though like me the bum seems the last to dwindle!

I know he's still too tubby and we have a way to go, but it feels good to have made some progress! And to finally be going into winter and less grass.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I think you've done really well to get 20kg off him he's looking really good.
You've also prompted me to book my shetland in to be clipped so I can actually see what the damage is under all the fluff.
I always clip him this time of year, he's a lot comfier for it and I can keep an eye on his weight far easier.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Sorry, I read that as "How Are You Fatties Doing".
I thought, crikey, that's a bit blunt for a diet thread!

 

[SEL]

My native is in a decent amount of work, I have meadow grass which is tracked and strip grazed and there's still not a rib to be found.

She's fit enough for 8 miles with some decent trots and canters but I swear she's eating as if we're in for a polar winter. She's growing a coat for one too.

My PSSM mare is retired and she's been a struggle this year because the grass was too good for her muscles and her waistline. I am finally beginning to see a horse emerge from under the layers of blubber

 

[Peglo]

Not great. I hate this time of year. You can’t keep them off the grass without the field turning to mud and the weather is awful and it’s always dark. I swear Tali looks at grass and puts on a belly.

 

[Ceriann]

Well done getting some weight off and going into winter I think you’re in a decent place with him. Mine have stayed the same weight this summer, which is only a small victory as they now need to lose weight this winter. We have so much grass though with summer being spent on 3 smallish fields (I have four horses all 15h+), being strip grazed and rotated, so I will need to be careful. I will have no option other than to muzzle next year.

 

[Petmurf]

My Cob was weighed 2 weeks ago and has put on weight despite being muzzled, soaked hay and Slim Down feed plus plenty of exercise. Our Nutritionist said nearly every horse she’s weighed recently has put on weight due to the good grass all summer, I’m hoping he’ll lose it over winter

 

[Widgeon]

Not great. I hate this time of year. You can’t keep them off the grass without the field turning to mud and the weather is awful and it’s always dark. I swear Tali looks at grass and puts on a belly.

Mine is doing well but the field looks a horror show. He's on a track round the outside and I'm moving it all slowly inwards. I'm struggling with the dark and rain, not riding as much as I ought to, and he's pulled some muscles charging around in the mud during the storm. I'm just taking a damage limitation approach and trying to accept that he won't be as fit, and the field won't look as good, as I'd like.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

B is looking good but DP as usual doesn’t have a rib in sight. Not even prodding hard can I feel one. They have been on the track all summer because of his EMS which is does control but it is B who actually benefits from it most in terms of weight management. I am thinking about fully clipping him again this year with just a light rug as last time he had all his hair off he completely changed shape for the better. Finding the right balance with good doers is incredibly hard work.

 

[Widgeon]

B is looking good but DP as usual doesn’t have a rib in sight. Not even prodding hard can I feel one. They have been on the track all summer because of his EMS which is does control but it is B who actually benefits from it most in terms of weight management. I am thinking about fully clipping him again this year with just a light rug as last time he had all his hair off he completely changed shape for the better. Finding the right balance with good doers is incredibly hard work.

Mine is EMS too and we're going to fully clip him tomorrow. It sounds mean but I have found that keeping him slightly cold but dry (cold and wet would obviously be cruel!) with a 1200d lightweight TO helps keep his weight down without making him miserable.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Mine is EMS too and we're going to fully clip him tomorrow. It sounds mean but I have found that keeping him slightly cold but dry (cold and wet would obviously be cruel!) with a 1200d lightweight TO helps keep his weight down without making him miserable.

Doesn't sound mean at all!

I hunter clip mine & he generally does 80% of the winter in a 0g turn out, with a cooler if got sweaty riding. He went up to a 50g turn out when it got very cold and I think the odd day in a 100g liner when very, very cold (our field is very exposed).

He's quite a warm horse anyway but he came out of winter looking right but not miserable & we've managed to keep him at an ideal weight all year - vet verified!

He had to lose so much weight a few years ago after a disastrous spell on full livery where he left obese so we're both much happier maintaining a good weight than trying to loose weight.

 

[Bernster]

Sorry, I read that as "How Are You Fatties Doing".
I thought, crikey, that's a bit blunt for a diet thread!

Doing alright thanks

 

[SEL]

I think I might fully clip the microcob and try and find a rib.

Got nothing to do with her current wonky trace clip obviously

 

[2 Dragons]

It's been a tough year for me too. I haven't stopped strip grazing and have had to feed soaked hay to limit the grass. Lots of exercise for them both has helped , I going to find that hard to maintain with the dark nights and daughter back at uni. C is looking the best he has since he was diagnosed with Cushings 2 years ago, still has some fat pads, but lean, more muscled and no belly. R is a bit overweight still but keeping her rug less all winter will help.

 

[vmac66]

My ems mare has been on a smallish paddock all summer which has now turned to mud. I've extended her grazing and she's out with a flexible fillies muzzle on. Her crest is coming down and she seems happy. She'll be getting clipped next week. Let's hope we have a cold dry winter.

 

[Wishfilly]

My pony isn't super fat (have never needed to restrict grazing when in work etc) but we recently moved yards, and he's moved from edge of the moor, not super rich grazing on a hill to a yard with very good grass in quite a flat field, and he's actually gained a bit of weight in October! He's probably the fattest he has ever been, which is a bit concerning. I think the grass is still growing here (we are in Cornwall) and even though it's muddy, they are obviously getting plenty of grazing.

I have just had him clipped, as he got his winter coat very early and was getting sweaty out hacking- we have just gone for an Irish clip but I'm hoping that will help.

We are also switching to bringing in at night soon, so I am hoping that being in for the night on hay will also help keep him at a reasonable weight.

I really don't want to get into the cycle of having to muzzle etc in the summer, so I'm hoping to get his weight down a bit over winter, so he can have a nice summer out without me worrying too much about the grass!

 

[tda]

Sherry barely changes shape all year, always an oxo cube but I have a person just started riding her, so hopefully she will start to loose weight.

 

[Surbie]

My Cob was weighed 2 weeks ago and has put on weight despite being muzzled, soaked hay and Slim Down feed plus plenty of exercise. Our Nutritionist said nearly every horse she’s weighed recently has put on weight due to the good grass all summer, I’m hoping he’ll lose it over winter.

Mine said the same. We couldn't initially find his last results and thought he'd stayed the same, and she said that was an achievement in itself given the grass growth this year.

My ems mare has been on a smallish paddock all summer which has now turned to mud. I've extended her grazing and she's out with a flexible fillies muzzle on. Her crest is coming down and she seems happy. She'll be getting clipped next week. Let's hope we have a cold dry winter.

I love those muzzles. Archie wore his when out 24/7 for a couple of months (not really properly 24/7 as he was in about 4 hours a day to be groomed/ridden/given hay) and he kept on with the weight loss.

Sherry barely changes shape all year, always an oxo cube but I have a person just started riding her, so hopefully she will start to loose weight.

Oxo cube!

 

[saddlesore]

I think he’s looking not too bad- hopefully get a bit more off over the winter!

 

[Widgeon]

Let's hope we have a cold dry winter.

Will be putting in a regular Sunday prayer for this from tomorrow onwards! I'm already sick of the mud

 

[tda]

Will be putting in a regular Sunday prayer for this from tomorrow onwards! I'm already sick of the mud

I'm resorting to prayer too

 

[AutumnDays]

I'll also pray, dance around under a full or new moon, or sacrifice a few children for a cold dry winter! We have just moved into our new house with land. I've just put their 0g 1200d turnouts on, which I was loathe to do as they are pets not workers, but we are right on the coast here and exposed, and when the rain is coming down, coupled with the wind it drowns you in seconds, both were miserable and shivery, even the Shetland sheep look peeved with it. On the plus side, the livery yard we came from had turned to boot removing mud, and the grass had taken a battering since June, so we had ribs visible (in a good way!)

 

[Nicnac]

I don't have fatties any more since my first ever bout of lami on one of mine in May 2022. They're all slim jims now and still out 24/7 muzzled at all times. They get a balancer and are competing and doing well.

It was bloody hard work getting the weight off the ID who went down with lami - 2 months of box rest on small nets of soaked hay, then loads of walking in hand for weeks on end, then riding 7 days a week (I still pay a pro to ride twice a week). He was always eventing fit but then I broke my ankle and couldn't ride, grass went mad and it piled on. Never had a case of lami in 40 odd years of horse ownership so was a wake up call. He lost over 100 kgs and as long as I can see the outline of his ribs I'm happy.