Is it a hay belly or is she just fat?

[17egilchrist]

My horse share is currently looking rather large, she is just fed hay and grass and worked 5/6 times a week. As i only share her one day a week hoping to do move however only can do after school which will be dark and there’s no arena lights. any ideas or tips on slimming her down?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Looks just like fat but they can often sag in the belly area if they are not using there core muscles properly this can be due to an ill fitting saddle or back soreness, they then start to hollow there back away from the pain and it then causes the belly to hang.

Do you not ride with a saddle?

 

[17egilchrist]

Looks just like fat but they can often sag in the belly area if they are not using there core muscles properly this can be due to an ill fitting saddle or back soreness, they then start to hollow there back away from the pain and it then causes the belly to hang.

Do you not ride with a saddle?

i do , the saddle was refitted a few weeks ago it was just the best picture i could find was from when i rode bareback.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

i do , the saddle was refitted a few weeks ago it was just the best picture i could find was from when i rode bareback.

I only ask because riding bareback can make some horses backs sore.

How was the saddle fit before it was re fitted?

 

[17egilchrist]

it said it was perfect it just had to get re stitched in some places as they had broken.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It does seem like she is not lifting her core properly so that should improve with the correct work or might be worth getting a physio out, they can give you exercises to strengthen it and advise you how to help carrot stretches are good for the core.

 

[17egilchrist]

thank you for your advice try organise that with her owner.