Weight management - help!

SuzySue

SuzySue

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Hi all, having always had horses that can eat whatever they want with no problem, I now have an ID mare who seems to live on fresh air!! She's come through the winter looking just right, but has now been living out fulltime for the last couple of weeks and is starting to put on weight.

She's in a small field, roughly 1 acre, with 2 others, and this particular field has been grazed over the winter by one horse so has not been rested since last summer. We have tons of grass in the other fields so this is the best option for her. She's not happy on her own though if I try to strip graze her. She's on no hard feed or hay, and gets half a carrot after working.

I'm riding her every day, mainly hacking out (in the forest) for at least an hour and a half, with probably 80% of that trotting. Any flat or uphill track, we trot it. She seems pretty fit actually as doesn't get out of breath with all the trotting, and although out of breath after cantering up a steep hill, her breathing is quiet again in under a minute afterwards. Are these rides enough to work off what she is eating daily? She is competing showjumping about every fortnight, and we school once a week (neither of us particularly likes that :-) ) and lunge for 20 mins every now and then if I'm pushed for time.

They are still rugged at night cos it is still as low as 2 degrees at times, but she only has a lightweight on as I figure she can use her fat to keep warm. Should I just leave her naked fulltime?

I don't think she'd appreciate a muzzle and would have it off in seconds. Any other ideas/experiences greatly appreciated.

Many thanks :-)
 
It sounds as if you are doing everything right, and she is getting ample work too. My purebred that I ride is a bit like this, and tbh the most efficient and least painful way to keep the weight off him is to put him in the scratch paddock which has absolutley nothing in it, but at least he thinks he is eating all day. He comes in at night VERY hungry.
Even with loads of work he looks too well, so you do have my sympathy as it is a balancing act. Have you seen my post about a weighbridge? This could be another way of keeping a true eye on weight.
 
Even though the field is well grazed it is amazing what they find to nibble on all day! My Welsh is finding plenty to eat and his field was trashed to nothing in winter. I am managing to keep his weight level and down by strip grazing and stabling him at night on a strict ration of hay in double small holed nets. I weigh tape him each week to monitor progress and this is doing the trick so far. He is out in his paddock from 5.30am to 7pm nibbling at what grows and not exercised at the moment as I have just started to walk him out in ridden work these last two weeks following 8 months off.
I hate stabling him as it is extra work for me, he prefers being out and I have to be careful with dust as it affects him...but it is keeping his weight down and that is all that matters!
 
its a calorie in versus calorie out equation! guess with 3 of them they will soon have it topped off and stabilise! if really too fat bring her in for a few hours in the day and up the exercise! rain sheets should be enough to protect from elements! and make sure she sweats at least twice a week to empty the petrol tank!
 
Aha, she's sweating most days I ride her actually, though not heavily, mainly under saddle and a bit on her neck, hence why I think she's actually fairly fit. Though part of that is cos it's pretty hot too I guess.

Forgot to mention that I've never really got on with weightapes either, I never seem to get the same reading twice! Irish-only, like the idea of a weighbridge, will see if our vet (or any other local ones) has one.

Stabling is not really an option either unless I bring the others in with her, and she'll probably still complain heavily as she can be a stroppy baggage at times!

It's good to hear what you all do though - watching her weight is all completely new to me! Her previous owner (I didn't have her last summer, hence my ignorance) saw where she lives now and said so long as I ride her every day she should be fine. She's chunky build anyway, but the tummy is trying to take over!!
 
If you don't want to bring her in just leave her naked at night and let her shiver off some weight. Unless it's going to absolutely hammer it down she'll be fine, and even then if they've got plenty of cover I'm sure she'll survive :D
 
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