How do i stop him getting obese...

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charlie55

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My lad has done a tendon and is on box rest, the ONLY way to keep him quiet is hay! ATM he is having hes hay soaked 24 hours and given to him in a very small holed haynet, but hes still going through hay like theres no tomorrow, has anyone got any ideas? If he gets huge it wont help the tendon! Need fat free hay lol
 
Easiest is to weigh the hay so you know exactly what he is having. Soaking and small holed haynets is the best like you are doing. If you are after him to loose weight then I would aim for 1.5% of his weight in forage. Then a tiny token tea for any vits/mins and drugs and that is all he needs. Hard to cut down further than the 1.5% as they must have enough roughage going through their gut. If he acts up because he has scoffed his hay too quick then can you add nibbles to his stable to keep him occupied - like a swede or carrots hung up, - def no sugary licks and dreadful lickits though!!!
If he scoffs his hay too quick, can you somehow spread out when he gets it, ie make up a load of haynets with his daily ration, then you put a haynet in in the morning, someone pops one in at lunchtime, then an early and late tea one?
 
it sounds like you're doing fine, and agree ^^ 100%. I would get the weigh tape out (I am monitering my boy daily as been on a diet, and has now lost a bit too much), and keep a chart.

It's such a pain in the backside, all this weight monitering ! Now I'm worried my boy has lost too much (50 kilos), and I've put him back in the big paddock with his muzzle on, to see how he gets on - with a view to letting him out without it if his weight settles.

sm x
 
Ahh isnt it a pain!! Id much rather a horse thats hard to put weight on, hes such a worry all year round! Four smaller haynets a day is a good idea, il have to get something to weight up hes hay, although i have no idea what weight he would need... Anyone have an idea of what he should have daily? Hes 17hh and around 600? Hes a very big built Warmblood x
 
Have you tried a hay bag? These have even smaller holes in one part which means horses will take longer to eat. Have you thought about getting him a lick which is low in fat? The salt ones are very messy though so you may be scrubbing brown gunge off your stable for weeks! :p
 
Def no sticky licks! Unless it is a plain salt lick (like the rockies ones) then they are just sugar treats, no horse needs sugar so I really wouldn't give any at all, wether the horse in question needs to loose weight or not! If you want to offer him a treat when you see him then I like dried apple slices (not too many!) or slices of carrot or apple. I like to offer a little treat when I have caught mine (well, they walk up to me so it isn't too tricky, but I like to say thanks!) and these are enough to be nice, without more calories!
 
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