Overweight horse - am I okay to do this?!

T

Torrie

Member
Joined
9 June 2012
Messages
28
Visit site
My new horse is a little overweight.

I'm not entirely sure why he is so large, as he is ridden almost every day, and only has a small feed (basic pony nut mixed feed - given to all the horses from the yard i purchased him from). However, he does have a lot of grass available (the root of the problem I fear). As I'm unable to change his grazing, other than putting a muzzle on him, I am considering changing/cutting his feed.

What feed would be the best for weightloss? Or if I was to cut his feed all together or significantly lower it, what vitamins and minerals do I need to add to the little feed he does?

Thanks for any help!
 
i would cut his feed down just enough for his suppliments ie a handful i have just posted about my mare who is a big girl not particuly overweight she is a shire x and has just developed laminitis ;-( so just be carefull and maybe if you can dont let him out for as long
 
He lives out, which is the issue. And he's at a yard where the horses live in a herd, so the fields are all connected, and therefore I can't restrict his grazing. Just worry about cutting is feed as he won't get all the nutrients he needs, and not sure what to give him in its place.
 
I'd completely cut out the hard feed - if he needs supplements or anything then a handful of a chaff like happy hoof / safe and sound would be ok, it's suitable for laminitics and won't put weight on, but the pony nuts / hard feed in general won't be helping his waistline. As long as he has access to a mineral lick (without molasses / high sugar content!) then you shouldn't need to add vits/minerals as that should be enough for him, though if you're very concerned that he may lack in something there are supplements available which offer a bit of everything - topspec has one called "all in one", I believe.
If you're unable to limit the grazing (which as you say is probably the biggest problem), I'd seriously consider putting a muzzle on him - they're still able to eat, just can't access as many blades at once! I think it reduces the amount they're able to gorge by about 75/80% so definitely worth doing if he's overweight - my vet was saying the other day how so many horses are coming down with lami for the first time this year so be extra careful as it's so easy for them to get.

What's his routine at the moment, is he stabled overnight or out 24/7? If stabled overnight, soak all hay to take out the goodness - this way he can eat as much as he likes but won't be getting anything from it so won't put extra weight on. What kind of exercise is he getting?

edit to add; sorry - took too long typing & missed you saying he lived out so ignore that bit! x
 
Last edited:
Yeah I thought chaff, but when I attempted to feed him it he turned his nose up! Haha :)

muzzle is also an option I was thinking about, just feel that'd be a last resort, this is going to sound silly, but he's quite a babe magnet in the field and wouldn't be able to groom them with that on! ;) haha, pretty sure he wouldn't appreciate it, although obviously if it comes to it he'll have to have it.

He lives out 24/7. He is currently on livery at the yard I purchased him from, where he was bred, broken at 7 and has been used as a riding school horse since (he's 10), and he's always lived out, so doesn't like being stabled without the others. He's ridden in riding lessons twice on Saturday and Sunday, and by me out hacking or flatwork 2/3 days during the week, in an attempt to shift the fat and build some muscle.
 
My mare was getting a little tubby so I switched her to Spillers lite balancer. No other hard feed. This gives her the vits and mins she needs but not to many calories. And she loves it!
 
If you are going to restrict his food in any way, you'll definitely need to ensure he receives adequate vitamins/minerals.

Even if you aren't going to restrict his grass, then you will probably find that some minerals are lacking. A forage analysis by someone like Forageplus or Dodson & Horrell will tell you what you have as a baseline.

Topspec (Nicola) and Dodson & Horrell (Teresa Hollands) both have really helpful nutritionists, who can discuss further what might suit your horse, and it's well worth ringing them.

It was Teresa Hollands who told me they are seeing a lot more good doers who are "overfed and undernourished". In other words, horses who are getting too many carbs, but not enough vitamins/minerals.

Personally, I'd find a suitable feed balancer and use that at the recommended ration.

Also, to shift the weight you need to find a way to either up his workload to burn more calories, or find a way to reduce his intake, for example by taping off an area with less grass (mowing and removing grass clippings if there's still too much grass) or by . If taking him off grass for some hours each day isn't possible, then you might have to think about changing yards to one which is more suitable for a good doer.

If there's a horsewalker, that can be another good option for burning some more calories.

It's way easier to do something about it now rather than wait til laminitis strikes and then have to make major changes permanently.

Oh, check out Dodson & Horrell's website for weight management stuff, and also World Horse welfare's stuff on laminitis/weight management too.

Sarah
 
amymay said:
Cut out all hard feed and pop a grazing muzzle on during the day.
Click to expand...

This..............you don't want to wait until the last resort, that would be laminitis!

The only way you can give a feed efficiently is to know what they are lacking. If you can't get your grass analysed then something like Equimins Meta balance is good fed in a handful of Fast Fibre
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top