How much weight should he loose this winter?

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Tonty Tont

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How much weight do think Tont needs to loose this winter?

He is living out 24/7, but is wearing a no-fill rug with a fleece at night now, because I feel too guilty to leave him naked :rolleyes:

I can feel his ribs with medium pressure, and here are some photos..

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Thank you, Nicole :D
 
My horse is slimmer than that and is unrugged, unfed and muzzled. He'll be unrugged for the whole winter and muzzled until his weight is down. He never gets any hard feed, just hay when we have no grass
 
I hate to be mean but a lot! He is carrying far too much and it will start to cause problems.

If you go to the World Horse Welfare Internet site and look at their information there is some good short clips on weight/weight scoring and how to get weight it off ..... And that rug goes for starters!
 
I am going to take a slightly different tack. He has an obvious grass belly, but not a lot on the top line, and he isn't cresty. His hindquarters are plump but he doesn't have that apple indent above the tail. So I would say, yes a bit fat, but also try to get some build up on top, whilst losing the belly.
I think that is slightly tricky if most of his food comes from grass; you should try to ensure that he gets more protein & oil in his food than carbohydrate (sugar) Do ridden work to improve topline. The Blue Cross "Fat Horse Thin" guide is really useful. Good luck!
 
Do you have a weigh tape?

I'd be un-rugging him and body condition scoring him weekly. Once he starts to drop keep an eye (if he drops too quickly then re-rug) and once he gets to where you can feel his ribs and shoulder easily then I'd re-rug :)
 
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