Weight loss plan for cob who can't be ridden.

cobsarefab

cobsarefab

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Hi, so as some of you may know my cob is grossly overweight and lives out 24/7 but I've got a problem. She's in a bare paddock and just gets chopped oat straw but she keeps getting out into the main of the field by ploughing through the electric fence I put a muzzle on and she's worked out how to get it off I'm also thinking now that she can't eat through it so how best to do fat burning exercises for a cob that can't be ridden? What battery is stronger than a car battery and how do I make it stronger.
 
Put her in a field with post and rail or connect the electric fencing to the mains.

Can she be walked out in hand?
 
This is one of the few occasions that I would lunge a horse for significant amounts of time. Also walk out in hand and free school if you are allowed.
 
A car battery will only kick out decent amounts of power for a couple of days - you'd be better off with a decent leisure battery. How long is your fence set up? How many strands are there? What's it connected to at each end, and how deep is your earth stake buried?
 
Auslander said:
A car battery will only kick out decent amounts of power for a couple of days - you'd be better off with a decent leisure battery. How long is your fence set up? How many strands are there? What's it connected to at each end, and how deep is your earth stake buried?
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There are two strands of tape it's attached to steel rods at each end the ground rod goes down around six inches
 
cobsarefab said:
There are two strands of tape it's attached to steel rods at each end the ground rod goes down around six inches
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Steel rods will short it out - you need to connect it to insulators. Try and get your earth stake deeper - the deeper it goes, the better!
Also - make sure the tape isn't a closed loop, ie; don't connect the ends to each other. You need the horse to be the thing that closes the circuit - with a good crack, hopefully!
 
I lunge mine virtually every day - but using the whole school instead of tight circles. Trot or canter for at least 30 mins. Pretty good weight loss for me too.
 
Your electric tape should either be attached to plastic fence posts or to woodeno posts with insulators. Get the best quality metal earth stake you can and bang it into the ground as far as you can and then chuck some buckets of water onto the ground around it. Have the best quality tape you can afford and ensure that the metal wires are not broken.

If your pony is able to be lunged then do that and get her heart rate up for at least 20 minutes.

I use the Kramer grazing muzzle as it has buckles rather Velcro fittings and so far it is the only one my horse has not managed to remove.
 
I have a similar problem, except mine doesn't escape, she just piles weight on even on poor grass. She can't do anymore than light hacking as she has a tracheal collapse, but has gone from competition fit so no matter how much light hacking we do, the weight is just piling on. It is absolutely devastating.
 
scats said:
I have a similar problem, except mine doesn't escape, she just piles weight on even on poor grass. She can't do anymore than light hacking as she has a tracheal collapse, but has gone from competition fit so no matter how much light hacking we do, the weight is just piling on. It is absolutely devastating.
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Is she insulin resistant?
 
The rods in the earth won't work as well if the ground is dry. I pour a watering can of water onto the conductor every couple of days, it gives it a better kick.
 
Auslander said:
Steel rods will short it out - you need to connect it to insulators. Try and get your earth stake deeper - the deeper it goes, the better!
Also - make sure the tape isn't a closed loop, ie; don't connect the ends to each other. You need the horse to be the thing that closes the circuit - with a good crack, hopefully!
Click to expand...

And I found tape was pretty hopeless - it blows about in the wind and the filaments break. Rope or "string" is better, with the caveat that it doesn't break so must never be left on the ground or loose so they can get caught in it
 
So she's not pregnant then?

Get higher poles, thicker tape, and a stronger battery to keep her in. And you can be lunging her twice a day for at least 30 mins each time.
 
Metformin becomes less effective over time so it may be it isn't helping that much. I've had good results long term with NoMetSyn by EquiLife.

Every bit of exercise you can give her will help - lunging, brisk walks out in hand, anything. Just be careful not to overdo it to begin with if she's fat & unfit.
 
pixie said:
Plait her mane around the headpiece of the muzzle. This stops mine getting his off. Also, make sure that the velcro straps are clean of debris, so stay sticky.
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'
To keep a muzzle on a cob you need to plait in both sides and tape down the Velcro - even my friends cob who is an extremely good muzzle remover can't get out of that.
 
I use a thick elastic band to keep the top of the Velcro closed or it starts to curl away from each other, my muzzle came with a thick black band for the purpose but I thought it was packaging :D. I think it also depends on your set up/if your horse is a rubber. Mine isn't and him and his companion are not pally so no worry about a game of bitey face being an issue either.
 
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