very fat cob! Advice if possible please

[angiebaby]

I have a paradise pasture system too;

So they didn't have too much grass at the beggining, I started off with a track along one side of the field, then moved the fence down another side after a couple of days etc etc until they had a track around the whole of the inside of their paddock.

Part of the track

 

[Donkeymad]

I use the racetrack system, it is different to paddock paradise. It is the only way I ever got one of my mares to stay trim throughout summer. I get no bare or muddy patches. It works by making them exercise in their search for food and water, rather than just taking a few steps around a starvation paddock.

 

[H's mum]

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Any weight loss should be done gradually.

I would suggest hacking your horse out for at least 4 hours per day and keeping it in a small mature pasture grass turnout paddock of about a quarter of an acre.

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4 Hours hacking a day???

Are you serious?
That is a lot of hours in the saddle for your average rider who's trying to fit in riding their horse around full time jobs/family life etc - A bit extreme imho
Kate x

 

[Patches]

[ QUOTE ]
To be fair...mine is quite exteme and you can obviously have your tracks as wide or as long as you need to avoid poaching. Mine has literally been a life saver for one of my ponies and has worked out very well for the other three too but obviously isn't an option for everyone.

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I don't dislike the idea, don't get me wrong, but my father in law wouldn't be impressed if I allowed a dirt ring to form around his precious fields.

I think allowed ground to poach etc breaches some of the single farm payment cross compliances we have to adhere to.

I can certainly see the merits though. I have a new livery moving on very shortly and I think this system would be ideal for one of her horses. Might have to see if we can try it. Just the poached/muddy bit that I'll get moaned at for though.

 

[Patches]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Any weight loss should be done gradually.

I would suggest hacking your horse out for at least 4 hours per day and keeping it in a small mature pasture grass turnout paddock of about a quarter of an acre.

[/ QUOTE ]

4 Hours hacking a day???

Are you serious?
That is a lot of hours in the saddle for your average rider who's trying to fit in riding their horse around full time jobs/family life etc - A bit extreme imho
Kate x

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I wondered if it was a mistake. Four hours a day, especially in the recent heat we've had, is very extreme indeed.

My mare was as fit as a fiddle hacking for around 2 hours a day (on average), without any real schooling added in. Of course, the hacking is now reduced as we do more schooling/jumping ... no longer just a happy hacker.

The downside to alot of hacking is that her shoes were only lasting her for three weeks. I can't imagine how they'd fair on four hours a day!!!!

 

[bigbirdtoo]

Put a muzzle on him, a shires one with the hole in the bottom so he has to work for his grass. It isn't cruel, our ponies have them and it does help.
We hose them off twice a day in hot weather and work them daily.
Yes soak your hay but in fresh water, and for gods sake do not soak haylage, and I wouldn't feed that to him either, high in sugar and protein so no good for his weight.
Have a look at the high fibre low calorie cubes and chops at your local feed merchants