Lives on thin air...

[dwi]

I have always really struggled with Daisy's weight and she has fluctuated between 607 and 540 in the time that I have had her, despite being ridden 6 days a week and fed only Happy Hoof.

It was increasingly bothering me that Daisy looked pregnant despite having less food and more exercise than any other horse on the yard. She's not cresty and doesn't have a gutter but has a real pot belly.

This post is really just a huge thanks to the forum members, particularly Spitwick and bex1984 who pm'd me with the suggestion that maybe she needed more food, not less. I've spoken to the lovely lady at Dodson and Horrell who was very helpful and understanding and has helped me draw up a diet plan for D.

So thank you to them and a suggestion to anyone else that is having similar problems. Ignore all the cruel, supposedly knolwedgeable people that tell you you feed too much and your horse needs to diet and ring the lovely people at D&H instead.

 

[Archie07]

I must say when I rang up D&H because I had confused myself to death about what to feed my youngster they were so lovely and helpful, and even talked to me about feeding in general and feeds other than D&H!

 

[bex1984]

Glad D&H could help you

 

[AmyMay]

People also tend to forget that horses do come in all shapes and sizes - and that includes how they carry their body mass......

The only way Amy ever got rid of her tummy was by doing regular fast work. Nothing like it to strengthen those tummy muscles.

 

[TGM]

Your post highlights the fact that a lot of people judge a horse's condition by the size of the belly when in fact they should be assessing the neck, the ribs and the bottom. A horse's belly fluctuates in appearance a lot - looking big when the horse is full of fibre or being tucked when the horse is stressed or hungry.

If your horse has a belly but doesn't have a cresty neck, a gutter down the bottom or fat pads hiding the ribs, then your horse is not overweight!

 

[flowerlady]

Didn't read your other query. But I think he looks lovely on the photo's. Glad you're happier with what D & H have discussed with you. Alwas best to ring them in the know.

I really really like your horses photo. Only wish I new how to put a picture of mine on the avator. Tried last night apparently in wrong format. And me being old and decrepid don't know if its possible to change it. Mind you my daughter tried and neither did she. Hopefully I'll get some on sooooooon.

 

[spitchwick]

Thank you dwi, I'm so glad that you've rung D&H and they've been helpful, I've also found them very helpful in the past as well as Baileys, please keep us updated as to how your girly's doing, and remember Daisy is an individual and needs individual care, and it doesn't matter what anybody else says, she's yours, and you love her.