Weight loss advice (Equine, not human)

[laura_nash]

Hi All

I've just bought a lovely little traditional cob as a happy hacker (providing he passes the vet on Monday). The thing is he hasn't been in work for a year, just turned out in the field, and he's massively overweight. His feet are a bit knocked about as well (he's just been shod and bought back into work last month), but the weight's the main problem. I haven't owned a horse for 8 years, and my last one was a TB mare who never came close to a weight problem.

He's already started wearing a grazing muzzle, so he's used to one, and I'll probably keep that going, but my YO has recommended stabling him during the day (and out at night) until he slims down. I'm not sure about this, as he's used to being out, what do you think? I could give him a treat ball or something during the day to keep him occupied, and the horse in the stable next door is in during the day so he wouldn't be on his own.

Apart from long walks up hills, any other suggestions? He's not on hard feed or hay at all at the moment, the weight's all from grass and no exercise (and the field he's in has some steep slopes and not massively lush grazing so he's obviously a very good doer).

Thanks
Laura

 

[twinkle]

if you do bring him in i would soak the hay you give him of the day!

are you going to give him any feed?

i think giving him a constant riding pattern will porbly help the most!

and if he is on good grazing now then being on not so good graing will help also when he comes to you!

congrats and at least your alreqady planning on trying to get the weight of of him

 

[Jingleballs]

Your horse sounds similar to mine when I got him - Casper had only been in very light work when I bought him and was out in lush grass and also being fed readygrass and suregrow???

He weight taped at around 575kg when I got him and vet told me to shift at least 75kg. It was a little easier for me as we were coming into winter and I was able to get him in a field with very little grazing - just enought to keep him ticking over.

Now that summer is here he is in all day and turned out in a small field with just enough grass at night. He is worked 5-6 times per week for at least 45 minutes mainly to keep the weight off and gets very little hard feed - just enought hifi good doer to mix some vitamins in with. He's also been on metabolyte gold, a weight loss supplement for around 5 months which seems to help keeping the weight off - although he has gained in the last month (now 480kg) he's not ballooned as much as some of the other horses in his field.

It is hard work getting the weight off but you'll find your horse will be so much energetic and have less weigh related problems.

Good luck!

K x

 

[LankyDoodle]

My boy has gone from 645kg to 585kg on the weight tape (massively inaccurate but a good guide) since July 11th! His crest has more or less gone and I can now feel his ribs more easily. He is also a cob so I have to know where to stop.

I have done this by riding every day at least once for at least 1 hours. At weekends he is ridden for much longer (was 4 hours today!). He was getting 4-5 hours grazing during the day (he had been out at night but by being out at night, although he was getting lower fructan grass, he was out for about 15 hours!). He is on an eaten down paddock and wearing a grazing muzzle. He then comes in and has hay that's had the life soaked out of it. Before going out he would have his recommended quota of formula4 feet (not laminitic but it promotes healthy feet).

However, the last couple of days he has not been eating his hay - who can blame him as it tastes of NOTHING! I am pleased witht he amount he has lost and don't want him to lose too much more as he is looking thin over his withers etc. I am going to still muzzle him and probably continue until October as the grass is very rich in Autumn. He will remain on the 5 hours a day grazing until I start working again (I have just finished a course) in the Autumn, when it will not be possible to restrict him so much. He is continuing his work (hacked for at least an hour a day, plus either schooled or lunged once a day). However, owing to the lack of energy he has been showing out on hacks, I have now reintroduced hifi lite, split into 2 feeds and am going to only soak his hay for 20 minutes - I do need him to eat hay! He will be sans rub until at least late October and then I will lightly rug until March.

He drops weight quickly in winter anyway, but the grass has been so rich this year and it's been a real struggle this summer. I am so pleased with what he has lost and that now I am able to concentrate almost 100% on his fitness and suppleness

The important things I have found are 1) take on a routine that suits you and your lifestyle - it won't last otherwise; 2) do not listen to the people who think supplying an all you can eat menu for your horse means you love him more than if you carefully manage their weight - they just feel guilty and twitchy! Do what you have to do with the power you have...

It sounds really exciting

 

[hellybelly6]

He will naturally loose the weight over winter, its nearly impossible to keep the weight off a good doer in the summer once the weight is already on.

I would recommend walking up and down hills, building up to fast walks up hills and gently increasing his exercise, but do it slowly due to his size and the fact he has been out of work for a while.

I think the having him in with another horse is a good idea, esp if he will be stabled more during the winter, it will get him into the habit. Make sure he has some soaked hay to eat. 1 kilo of hay takes about 20 minutes to eat.

When the grass starts to die off, give him a low cal chaff to eat with a lo-cal balancer such as lami-lite.

Its not good to starve an over weight horse it can lead to colic and metabolic problems.

I have a Highland X and I find a good way to keep the weight of him is to not heavily rug him. That way, he will use the fat deposits to keep warm which is what nature intended.

Always feed for the work a horse has done, not what it is going to do.

 

[lauraanddolly]

Life with a good doer is interesting to say the least! Like others haves said you will find getting the weight off the hardest part I find with good management once the weight is off it is fairly easy to keep off.
Keeping him in during the day is a great idea, that is what I'm doing with mine right now she gets a small net of soaked hay while she is in, and she is out in a well grazed field overnight.
The not over rugging idea is a good one too, let him use his body fat as nature intended.
Last but not least work, work and more work!
Very best of luck with him!

 

[Madasmaz]

Contact Dengie....I have a very good dooer but she wasn't loosing any weight. Turns out that you have to feed enough vitamins and minerals while cutting down energy content, so the horses body doesn't think its starving. My girl has moved on to two meals a day with soaked hay and sparse pasture, and her neck is visibly shrinking in days, where as its stubbornly stayed put all summer. Be careful with your work load, its best to start off slow and then just extend the time a little bit each day. Speed not necessariy good either as bieng over weight puts stress on those lovely tendons that go ping. At her worst my girl can hit 600kg, but now we are averaging 380-400kg which is apparently about right for a full up NF.