???How to get a pony to lose weight???

[SO1]

I have a good doer native pony and if he was on your routine he would be huge.

My pony is out during the day with grazing muzzle on, in at night with soaked hay, clipped, and exercised at least 5 times a week and each exercise session is at least 30 minutes.

Your pony is spending most of his time standing and inactive and haylage can be very fattening. Did you really leave your pony for 4 days without eating any forage for the days you tried to feed soaked hay where he did not like it. Could you replace some of the haylage with a low energy straw based chaff.

I would definitely use the walker if you can there is no reason why he should get hurt using it if he is properly supervised. My pony got very fat when he was on box rest due to an injury. He went on the walker as part of his rehabilitation to build up strength and get slim before he could start ridden work and turnout again he started off for 5 minutes twice a day and then gradually went up to an half an hour twice a day and he lost lots of weight and got really fit.

I also agree with others who have said there is a bit of a welfare issue if you pony is spending 23 hours a day in the stable and has no medical reason for doing so.

As for those who on your yard who only ride once a week, who I presume have the same turnout options as you, and are not giving their horses any other exercise or time out from their stable then that is even worse, just because other people do things that are not great does not mean that is ok.

Are you on DIY livery as if your pony is in for 23 hours a day and on the days you don't ride he is in 23.5 hours a day, quite a lot of your time must be spent mucking out etc, could you pay someone to muck out which would free up more of your time so you could give your pony more exercise.

 

[ycbm]

It's better than most horses where I'm at. And he doesn't mind at all his stable is larger than most get. He's never been fizzy or full of energy even after we've had turnout taken away for winter so surely he's not too bothered.

We have a horse walker where I'm at but it just seems like a death trap for a pony who's very switched on as he is.

I can't square these two posts of yours ponymad. He's not fizzy or full of energy but he is too 'switched on' for you to trust him in a horse walker. I'm afraid I'm another who thinks you don't have enough time to keep this pony where he is now. Just because a lot of other people do the same, or worse, doesn't make it right I'm afraid.

If he was a bigger horse, I'd agree that he can cope with you finding a rider to give him a LOT more exercise. But I feel differently about ponies, which may simply be irrational of me. I think a pony should be in a field at least eight hours a day in winter unless it's a hunter or something working equally hard.

 

[Katastrophy]

I agree with the others- if you don't have time to ride for an appropriate length of time and/or the facility to turn out, then look at alternative livery options or at least ask for someone to ride- there are plenty of lightweight/small adults around, or teenagers who are perfectly capable riders. Just passing blame to the previous owner isn't helping your pony now.
Good luck.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I do have time to own a pony and most of the horses at the yard where I'm at are only ridden once a week and just left for the rest of it.

Haven't read all the replies but just because others do it doesn't make it right. At our yard there are very few horses that are only ridden once a week but generally speaking the ones that are ridden once/twice a week are on grass livery so it's not as much of an issue. I have to say a pony with no medical restrictions being kept in for almost 24 hours a day is (in my opinion) a welfare issue.

I work usually once in the week and once at the weekend sometimes I can work both days at the weekend but it's a bit of a struggle. As for a loan/share I'd rather not because it would only really be kids and I don't want that as he can have days where he'll really test you and just put you straight on the floor and I don't want to be responsible for any injuries or anything if you understand what I mean?

I'm a bit confused by this post too. If you're only working 2/3 days a week why aren't you able to exercise your horse more? I work monday-friday with an hour commute each way and still exercise my boy 6 days a week. Sure it means an early start during the week to fit in an hour of trot/canter hacking or 45 mins of schooling but that's the cost of owning a horse that's fit and healthy. If you genuinely can't manage to ride any more than you already do, have nowhere to move to with winter turnout and don't want to entertain having a sharer I would suggest looking at paying a small competent rider to exercise him a couple of times a week as I really can't see how you're going to be able to manage his weight otherwise.