Laziness Vs lack of energy

[Troggy]

Is there a way of telling the difference between a pony being lazy or not having enough energy?

Quick background:

Toff is 17, slightly overweight, she is naturally towards the lazy side and had a month off in June. She is now back in work, took it slowly and did a week of walking before doing more (she was fit before her month off and didn't seem to lose much fitness), she can now do an hour and a half hack easily and planning to do more as the weeks progress. Trouble is she is very slow at the moment, she has always been a bit lazy but the other day when out with a friend, her horse cantered off and Toff carried on her slow trot! She is very stiff to start with but soon loosens up and has always been reluctant to trot on roads etc so I don't anymore unless I have to (blind bends on roads etc!!)
Over winter she is usually sharp, and goes from a snaffle to a waterford and is usually very strong.

She is fed Spillers Happy Hoof and D&H Leisure Mix (and various supplements) however the mix doesn't say how much she should be being fed (or I am blind!).
Does anyone know how much I can feed of it? Is it worth getting a higher energy feed? Or is she just being lazy?

I am quite happy if she is just lazy by nature, just don't want her to struggle with any work.

Blimey what a ramble!!

Have I made any sense?!

 

[franki]

Would help to have a bit more info, how much overweight is she and how fit do you think she is now? as fit as the wintertime? what do you consider fit? She may not be as fit as you think. Was her month off just a holiday or was she injured? How much work per week do you normally do with her?

You say she's stiff, could she be arthritic in any of her joints, perhaps a little sore? You need to figure out how much she is getting fed and if it's not clear from the feed bag give them a call and ask them what she should be getting. What size is she? Last question, do you think she's being lazy, do you know if she is lazy by nature?

 

[Troggy]

I would say she is fairly overweight but she is losing it and vet who saw her last said she wasn't too bad...

I think she is fit enough for the work I ask of her, which at the moment is hacking 5-6 days a week and occasional shows/xc schooling etc. She can hack for about 2 hours easily of mostly walk and trot with a few canters. She is probably fitter than in winter as I can only ride at weekends then (doesn't help her speediness I know!

)

She is slightly arthritic in her joints and is on Cortaflex for this which has helped as she used to stumble but has stopped. I am very careful with the ground.

She had a month off as she became a bit stale/sour and needed a holiday. Whilst off she had her saddle checked, teeth done, vet check and physio out and was given all clear. Since her break she has been happy in all her work and has stopped napping.

I don't know in weight what she is fed but it's a small square feed scoop of Happy Hoof and same of leisure mix. Because of her weight I'm reluctant to feed anymore, she is out at night and in during day with soaked hay and hifi lite.

I think deep down she is probably just being lazy with a bit of old age stiffness, but I didn't want to push her if she isn't getting the right energy levels

Hope this helps!!

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

They do say take a lazy horse hunting for extra zip but difficult at this time of year! Could you take her out in a bigger group? Get a bit more buzz going. A friend once told me that if you canter 2 horses side by side and one horse doesn't give SOME extra response to this, that horse is probably struggling somewhere. Have you got an instructor that you could have a few lessons with to see what's at the heart of it? My boy is in the same boat. Lost a lot of weight at previous c**p yard, now put it all back with a vengance, gone from sensible to chilled to laid back to horizontal! Still...every cloud has a silver lining... it's good for my leg muscles!!!

 

[Troggy]

She is better in company, but still not strong! Maybe she is just being well behaved now?? Poor pony can't win, I moan when she pi**es off and moan when she is slow

I have been hunting on her, I think my arms are still about 6 inches longer to this day! Plan to go cubbing this year as well.
Have planned to do some XC schooling on Sunday with a friend on her speedy arab so will see how that goes...
Don't have lessons at mo but it's being looked in to (don'thave school so have lessons on other horses at a RS)
Thanks

 

[franki]

It sounds like you're doing all the right things. It would help to find out how much she's getting to eat, because if she's not getting much hard feed she could be missing out on vits and minerals etc. As she's overweight and you don't want to feed her anymore so you could give her a feed balancer which would have all the vits and mins she needs.

The cross country sounds like fun and no doubt will shake her up, and it's good to hear she's been happy in her work since her break.