Please help! Fat pony!

[rowy]

Having major Lola troubles and could use your help!
I have been putting Lola in a really small paddock with next to no grass to try and keep her weight down but she has been really unhappy just standing there in the fetlock deep mud and churning it up and it hasnt been having that much effect on her weight other than maintaining it. She is in at night with 2 slices of soaked hay which has been soaked all day to try and get the calories in it down and put in 2 hay nets to slow her down eating it.

For those that dont know Lola is 3 1/2 years old and only been sat on and walked around a few times over the summer. At the moment she is meant to be turned away till spring but I am considering backing her properly now but only so I can take her for long hacks 3 times a week to keep her weight down. I think being overweight is worse than being ridden in light work.

Can't use grazing muzzle as she runs into walls and wacks her head against things and cant electric fence anything off as she gets straight through it even if its electrified as she has touch thick skin and a thick coat so doesnt feel a thing.

Thing is she is rather bum high and I would have to buy a special saddle for her as she is so wide and the plan was to sell her next year anyway.

So help me make a plan as to what to do with her. Other option is to try and sell her now which may be a bit impossible

 

[trendybraincell]

Welcome to the world of Native ownership

Could you set up a paradise paddock (or whatever the name is) so she has a track to walk around to graze? that would at least keep her moving, not tried it myself so not sure how it would help with loosing more?!

 

[NeilM]

Can you walk her out in hand?

Any exercise is better than no exercise and as an added bonus you will build up more of a bond and a good degree of trust by walking her out.

If it makes you feel better, I have a good doer New Forest who is unrugged and out 24 /7, and I am having to strip graze him, as he is putting on weight at an alarming rate.

It was 14 degrees and sunny today, it is more like spring than autumn and I think it is playing havoc with his metabolism.

 

[rowy]

Cant strip graze or do a track because she would just get through the fencing
Yeh I think its the fact its so warm! Last year it was cold so she was using her weight to keep warm plus she was only 2 so still doing a lot of growing. Hoping it gets cold soon so the grass stops growing as well!
Also, am struggling to find the time to walk her out in hand. My mum has offered to help by walking her round the school for a bit whilst im at uni/ working.