Gropony
Well-Known Member
My pony (Haflinger x, 9 years old) went out on 24 hour turnout 4 weeks ago. He is now in a paddock with three other horses. The paddocks are not huge and they keep the ponies on the ones with less grass (although obviously they all.had a lot if grass at the stsrt!). Before that he was stabled over the winter with turnout in a sand area. I feel like he has put on a lot of weight quite quickly. His girth needs to be probably three holes longer and his neck is noticeably crestier.
Should I use a grazing muzzle? I feel like he would just gorge himself when it was off. Or are there other solutions (he can't come in, the yard doesn't allow it).
In terms of exercise, he is ridden 4 or 5 times a week, two of those in lessons where he does probably 25 minutes of trot, 5 to ten minutes of canter (warm up and in exercises), some pole work, lateral work (he can't do this but we try!) and sometimes some jumping over small jumps. The other times we are either schooling, hacking or groundwork. He isn't sensible on hacks so it is walk and trot only. He is never out of breath, he sweats under his saddle but not excessively. He is tired though.
I put some photos here (he is the one behind on the photo with two of them). Photos. It doesn't look much but you can see the difference in the fat behind his shoulder on the photos from the front.
Should I worry or accept that it is spring grass and he probably gorged himself in the beginning and it will slow down? Does he do enough exercise?
Any advice appreciated. I am terrified of laminitis.
Should I use a grazing muzzle? I feel like he would just gorge himself when it was off. Or are there other solutions (he can't come in, the yard doesn't allow it).
In terms of exercise, he is ridden 4 or 5 times a week, two of those in lessons where he does probably 25 minutes of trot, 5 to ten minutes of canter (warm up and in exercises), some pole work, lateral work (he can't do this but we try!) and sometimes some jumping over small jumps. The other times we are either schooling, hacking or groundwork. He isn't sensible on hacks so it is walk and trot only. He is never out of breath, he sweats under his saddle but not excessively. He is tired though.
I put some photos here (he is the one behind on the photo with two of them). Photos. It doesn't look much but you can see the difference in the fat behind his shoulder on the photos from the front.
Should I worry or accept that it is spring grass and he probably gorged himself in the beginning and it will slow down? Does he do enough exercise?
Any advice appreciated. I am terrified of laminitis.
