how to get horse skinny again!

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lizzieuk1

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Ok so my boy seems to have put on so much weight he's outgrown his saddle, was in medium albion now it seems is a wide on the wintec gullet measure, have had to buy a cheap wintec to last until he's slim again. but i need ideas how to slim him off, so far am lunging with pessoa for about 40mins a day(half in pessoa) will ride for 1-1.5hrs once new saddle arrives. he is in a small well eaten paddock and now has a muzzle -much to his disgust- wearing every other day on the longer field. feeding 1/4 round scoop hi fi alfalfa and 1/3 comp mix 2x day-he's an 16.2 ISH 5yrs and needs afew oats to get his energy up. in at night at the mo with 2 slices of hay.
anyone else had this prob and if so what did you do, or any other suggestions.
 
Are you sure it is fat and not muscle? Have you increased his workload in the last few months? It may be that he has just changed shape due to the work. Can you get your Albion adjusted at all?
 
If he's fat - stop feeding him!

And the minute you get his saddle get him on a good excercise regime. Walking work of an hour to hour and a half a day at least.
 
Stop feeding the competition mix and alfalfa, its high energy and hes putting on weight as he isn't using it.

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If he's 5 he might be going through a growth spurt anyway, in which case you might struggle to get him into a medium saddle even with a diet.
The only thing you can do feed-wise is switch to hi-fi lite or something and cut down the competition mix, or restrict more of his grazing.
 
I can't believe you are lunging for 40 minutes every day, thats far too long and far too often. Excessive lunging can lead to joint problems and back problems because of the amount of strain on the joints etc..

Why not begin by switching to Dengie Hi Fi Lite and soak your hay for a few hours which will lower it's nutritional value?
 

This is how it works for me:

1. attempt muzzle/restricted grazing/in during the day
2. gain obsession with weighing horsey
3. watch horsey learn how to remove muzzle/destroy piggy paddock
4. bash head against wall

In all seriousness, cut back all feed, if some is necessary just feed fibre based feeds like happy hoof, soak hay. It may be better if he could wear his muzzle everyday in the day time, and have it off at night.
 
As previously said, plese dont lunge that often as you will damage his legs. If he is that fat, take him off comp mix, and make sure he gets turned out in a noi grass field witha muzzle until the weight comes off. Have you ever condition scored?
 
Try, a muzzle. or restricted grazing. I am currently using a muzzle on mine on a 2 on 1 off basis and it is working well. He still gets fed as she is a cobby type and needs a wee bit more oomph, but he only gets MilliChaff, balancer, soaked and rinsed speedi beet and 3 carrots - to make sure he is getting enougth succulents due to muzzle being on, and only when ridden, adn its only the equivalent of a human bowl full. If he isn't getting ridden for a few days he gets nothing more than a token carrot.
He also gets ridden 6-7 days a week at the moment, and does 1-2hr hacks and 2hr lessons and lots of trot work (was advised this was better at losing weight than canter work)

I have been told by instructor that he is getting fitter though....
 
I thought 20 mins lunging was the max !! and if working correctly was equivlent to an hour and a half hack, was also taught not to lunge more than 3 times a week due to strain on joints etc
 
hi, keep at it with the muzzle and restricted grazing. cut out the mix esepcially if yuor not riding him it sounds like he doesnt need it.

what weight is he? i think you should start by weight taping and condition scoring him.

40mins lungeing is defo too long for many reasons. what about long lining as an alternative or free schooling.

when you get back in the saddle lots and lots of hill work and all speeds especially a steady controlled trot. trot work and road work.
 
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