How heavy should he be?

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xbuzzx

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Well as of tomorrow, buzz is going on a major diet and get fit! (even more than he's been on) Mum has finally relised that he needs a muzzle so that gets bought tomorrow :D but what should i be aiming to get his weight to? He's a 14.1, 8year old, cob and could live of air :/ Thanks!
 
That depends..... how long's a piece of string! LOL. Depends on his build, type, etc., but I think once you start him on a slow weight reduction program, combined with regular and steady exercise you'll know when he starts to look better physically. Have you a weigh tape? If not, buy one when you get the muzzle tomorrow. Use that once a week to keep an eye on his weight. Aim for a slow but steady loss. If you start now and kept with it, I should think you'll see an improvement within 6 weeks and a big improvement by the end of the summer.

Good luck. And good for you for tackling the problem! :)
 
Thanks i will put in a photo so you can get an idea of him :D I do have a weighttape so will be using that and keeping an eye on it. I really hope he gets down to a good weight!
This was taken in winter, so he has became larger since! hope it works!
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Well, looking at him from the photo I'd guess somewhere in the region of
420Kg might be somewhere to head towards. What's he weighing in at now - on the tape?
 
Forget how much he should weight and go for condition scoring - you should be EASILY able to feel his ribs (and see them faintly when he breathes in, at certain angles), he should have no fatty crest, nor an 'apple' bum.A weight tape is really useful to tell you if he's gained or lost weight, but pretty useless in giving you a true accurate weight.
 
Go to the world horse welfare website as they have fantastic help for condition scoring correctly, with a downloadable video taking you step by step with a real horse and hands on...brilliant help.
I would record to start with what you feed him currently and aim to cut that back gradually...start by cutting out all sugar from feeds, carrots, treats etc and consider stabling for the day or night time on rationed hay in small hole nets.
My lad is a welsh D 15hh and is down to his ideal weight at 440kg on a weigh tape.
Just keep in mind that if they are loosing weight, it needs to be steady, if they are not loosing weight you are feeding enough to maintain their weight, so it needs to be reduced for them to loose weight. I used to feed my lad ad lib hay as I could not even consider for a moment that he would have to be without for any period of time, but in order for him to loose weight and to maintain it now and in the future, he has had to be rationed and is in at night with 3 pads in double small nets to slow him down. He is without for some time but that has to be the compromise or the weight will creep back on again.
 
My 14.3hh Welsh D (a lighter build type) is around 400kg on a weight tape and looks about right, if that is any help, but it is very individual.
 
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