Shetland experts

NeverSayNever

NeverSayNever

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That 'shetland belly' :rolleyes::confused:

My mini looked in foal last summer, so much so even the vet was fooled! Once we knew for sure that she wasnt, she went into a wee fatty paddock with a double netted haynet and a vit supplement. The belly did reduce and look loads better. Fast forward to this year and i caught it earlier and either have her muzzled out with my other horse or in her own wee fatty paddock again. However other than the tummy, she has no fat or condition anywhere else:confused: I know she wont have muscle as she isnt in work, but if you ignore the tum, she looks fairly poor over hear neck, back and backend:confused: She is wormed so that isnt a factor. Any tips ?
 
My mini tonight during a ride and lead hack, could you take her out when you ride? He is really fit!

342E83E7-28FF-46A2-9EB5-D5DCFBCE4645-6744-0000063647F9A8C5_zps789306a6.jpg
 
yours looks fab!

Ive tried ride & lead and um, well, lets just say to go down that route is going to require some work:o Mini gets VERY excited:eek::D So it isnt an option just yet.

Ive been reading that perhaps the pot belly is caused by not enough protein :confused:
 
NeverSayNever said:
yours looks fab!

Ive tried ride & lead and um, well, lets just say to go down that route is going to require some work:o Mini gets VERY excited:eek::D So it isnt an option just yet.

Ive been reading that perhaps the pot belly is caused by not enough protein :confused:
Click to expand...

Well I should tell you he tried to kill my 13.1 the first time and she (being welsh!) still thinks he may attack us at any moment. He can easily keep up with her as well, its like having the Duracell bunny on speed accompanying us :o. Worth persevering tho :p

I hadn't heard that. He is on a very bare paddock and last years hay which is poor and a mineral lick!
 
My vet warned me to make sure my Shetlands were getting all the important vits & mins as they are on sparse grazing and recommended using a balancer, but not in the amounts it says on the bag! They don't get much, a bag lasts ages and they look good without the shetland belly
 
I've read recently that a grass belly can be caused by poor grazing. The horse/pony retains the forage internally for as long as possible to extract as much nutrients as it can which leads to bloating.
I've alread read that it's from lack of protein.

Not sure which theory is the most accurate!
 
Might be worth getting her tested for Cushings/PPID/EMS type things. They can cause a fat tummy but very poor topline with fat pads in funny places :(. Your girlie sounds like my wee Torchy used to look and he had Cushings :(
 
One of mine looks like he swallowed a coat hanger, but he looks like it all year round, he's regularly wormed, has a beautiful shiny coat, no fat anywhere else, I think it's just his figure. He's a rescue and was kept in a shed for 12 years so I sometimes wonder if his belly muscle never developed properly because my other one who has always lived out looks nothing like him figure wise
 
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