Weight and condition loss

[Louby]

My boy has nearly always been overweight but not gross, he is 5/8ths TB x Shire x ID and looks like a good middleweight with a good neck and a bit too much of a peachy bum. Hes on good grazing, haylage, hifi and a handfull of pasture mix twice a day and comes in at night. He appeared well muscled with good top line and I was thinking my saddle needed widenning or changing, I also noticed his canter wasnt quite as uphill and through as usual but then he does have a tendancy to be lazy. That was 8 weeks ago, since then hes lost lots of top line and weight, he certainly isnt thin, appears bright and healthy with a lovely shiny coat. He doesnt usually drop much weight in winter.
I have had to change his feed to illiminate Alfalfa and Wheat so hes now on Mollichaff showshine and Cool mix but now getting half a scoop twice a day and loads of haylage. Ive also added Topspec calmer, just thought I'd mentioning anything Ive changed.
Im going to worm tomorrow for tapeworm and have been trying to get the hard to get hold of saddler out. His saddle isnt terrible but Im wondering if it started to pinch and hes not using himself properly now.
Do you think his saddle could cause him to drop so much condition. I dont think its the feed as he got so little before.
Would you put him on a feed balancer like Topspec.
I hate seeing him like this. My friend thinks hes still fat but agrees hes lost topline.

 

[JaneB]

Balancers are great for giving essential vits, mins and protein which they need for muscle build but without calories. I use Baileys Lo-Cal for my good doer all year round and just add some extra nuts if I think he needs more calories in winter. Does sound like losing top line could be to do with the saddle but I'd have thought you'd feel a difference in how he goes.

 

[Louby]

Yes I thought that too. Im a bit worried really. His canter was amazing and definately isnt as good as before but apart from that I cant really feel any difference. Im going to worm tonight and try the bloomin saddler again and get a balancer. Hes had low cal in the past as I used to feed so little. Failing that its looking like a word with the vet I think.