Rider fitness and diet!

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cheekywelshie

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Here is the problem: chunky cob needs to lose weight. Stick-thin owner needs to put weight on. Owner is constantly knackered trying to keep horse fit to stop him putting weight on - and can't even get round some show jumps without feeling the need for oxygen! (Owner, that is! tho that could be the breathing issues - ie not doing!) Today I had trouble to even steer properly (he can be strong and go on the forehand easily in canter, so it is hard when jumping!) We do lots of exercises in my lessons to help him come off the forehand and lots and lots of transitions, certainly he is a lot better and more responsive than when I first got him. BUt even my yard owner got on and said he was very strong for her -and she is one strong lady!

So - just curious as to a) what folk do in terms of their own fitness and b)diet! So much is made of our horse's diet (and indeed I pay more attention to his than my own!) but what about ourselves?? Any advice - and eating plans (ho hum!) would be much appreciated! NB. Stick thin owner is i'm afraid, a very fussy eater. Unlike chunky cob who would probably eat beans on toast if it was in front of him.

A friend of mine today even said I might be better off with a lighter horse (I'm just under 8 stone..pony is about 540kg (!) (15hh chunky welsh D) and ridden 6/7 days a week in summer, 5 days in winter..this year did hunter trial, ODE, unaff 3 day event and now dressage..with a bit of SJ when I can manage it!) I do feel safe on him but he can be strong.
 
What are you feeding him? How is he managed

It could also be a case of horse is too fit for you. I had a 15.2 Anglo Arab mare (many years ago).

When she was in, clipped and hunting fit and on hard feed, she was too much for me.

When she was living out year round and hacking 4 days a week with a lesson or show at the weekend and living on fresh air, she was perfect for me.

Sometimes you need to change management rather than horse.
 
At the moment he is on grass, hay and a scoop of bailey's lo-cal & half scoop chaff a day. He goes out in day, is in at night. Is lunged once a week and ridden three or four times...including two hacks at the weekend. I just wonder if I am too slight! But we have had some low key unaff competition success and I do feel very safe on him - just sometimes he is a bit strong (heavy, not bolting) and I feel like I have no strength. I do run out of breath easily..
 
Change your job and ride racehorses for a living. You find that very very soon you'll
a) get fit
b)learn different techniques for holding strong horses (its not about brute strength, its a 'knack')
c)learn to sing or hum whilst riding (gets you breathing) to drown out some monotonous story someone is trying to tell you for the 5th time
d)learn to eat anything and everthing that gets put your way whether you like it or not - you NEED to eat all the time!!!

Problems solved! ;)
 
Ah, I'm not alone :o
Though my "cob" (you wouldn't think he was a cob till you see the face :p) is very, very unfit at the moment I still cause myself damage when I ride him, now that the air has got so cold it hurts to breathe heavily.
I not sure what to suggest, if you feel safe and love the horse then that's enough for you to not give up on him.
Maybe take up early morning running?
 
I think i'll have to resort to going back to singing 'the grand old duke of york' and see if that helps lol!

People keep telling me to eat more - i'm such a fussy eater though it's a nightmare. I snacked on ryvita thins after lunch all day today!
 
Rowenna said:
Change your job and ride racehorses for a living. You find that very very soon you'll
a) get fit
b)learn different techniques for holding strong horses (its not about brute strength, its a 'knack')
c)learn to sing or hum whilst riding (gets you breathing) to drown out some monotonous story someone is trying to tell you for the 5th time
d)learn to eat anything and everthing that gets put your way whether you like it or not - you NEED to eat all the time!!!

Problems solved! ;)
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I swear to god I must have eaten about 10 000 calories a day when I was doing this and I never got any fatter. It was brilliant! I am jealous. I miss being skinny without trying. Don't miss having shoulders and arms like a german shotputter mind you!
 
Hi, I have had natives or native Xs, and found that they rarely need any hard feed especially if they are overweight. I also have to restrict their roughage especially if we are feeding haylage but even with hay.If my horses are overweight I cut down what they are eating. One of my current horses is a warmblood X forester, he is much finer than a native, his coat as well but the native blood means he is still an amazingly good doer and on minimal forage. In the summer I was riding or lunging 6 times a week including 2 lessons a week where he was working very hard, he still had to have small haynets.
 
lo-cal is just a balancer - no hard feed there. I soak hay when I have time but am up at the yard at 7am before work doing it all - i don't have time to soak it for hours as have to have it all done (mucked out, hay etc, turned out) by 8.30 when I need to change and drive to work! Yard bring in and feed, clean feet , change rugs etc etc

How much hay do you recommend feeding a 15hh chunky welsh d (currently 540!) He has 2 haynets - one at about 3pm, a small one when he comes in and one at 6 that my friend givse him. If they are all fed and he has nothing he will bang the door... he then doesn't get anything til 7am - a handful of lo-cal and chaff...then goes out in the field
 
I think it is really difficult to be specific about feed as all horses are different but for me if either of mine are overweight I cut their nets down to minimal. I dont weigh anything but go by how they look. My vet told me to be brutal, natives are designed to live on the most sparse of grazing not the lush high sugar grass and forage we give them, and I was made aware of the strain on theirs legs and heart when they are carrying too much weight. most of the horses at my yard are eating unlimited hay but mine cant do that without the weight gain or behaviour problems. I have noticed a difference even when my warmblood had to have the tiniest of chaff for antibiotics, there is still sugar in it and it impacts.
 
my 16hh cob gets a handful of happy hoof twice a day with supplements, and atm as he is out of work he is turned out with a grazing mask, otherwise when in work, he is out without, but still on just the handful of chop, maybe a carrot.
he gets 2 haynets in the evening. The grazing mask is working wonders though! I think it may become a permanent feature for my poor boy! :D
 
Yep second vote for a grazing muzzle. They really do make a difference. Also watch the Lo-Cal, as even that puts weight on my horse! I'm down to feeding him a big scoop of TopChop lite with a powdered supplement mixed in to get his vits/mins.
How about soaking the haynet the day before for a full 24hrs? ie on Monday morning stick a full haynet in a bucket, then take it out Tuesday morning to put out for feeding that night, while you fill another haynet and put that in to soak to be taken out Weds morning to feed weds night? etc etc... You would just need two haynets and a bucket.
In terms of your own physique, you probably just need to eat more protein-rich foods to build muscle, and carbs for slow-release energy. Avoid sugary foods as they make you end up with less energy as it burns off too quickly. Mountain biking, running, swimming, pilates are all helpful to build strength and stamina.
 
jesstickle said:
I swear to god I must have eaten about 10 000 calories a day when I was doing this and I never got any fatter. It was brilliant! I am jealous. I miss being skinny without trying. Don't miss having shoulders and arms like a german shotputter mind you!
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ive progressed from german shotputter, im now on level russian shotputter.....man!!!:eek:
 
noblesteed said:
Yep second vote for a grazing muzzle. They really do make a difference. Also watch the Lo-Cal, as even that puts weight on my horse! I'm down to feeding him a big scoop of TopChop lite with a powdered supplement mixed in to get his vits/mins. .
Click to expand...

Eek should I cut out the lo-cal and stick with just the happy hoof?
 
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