Weight Management.

Orca

Orca

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My heavyweight cob (to be) is very overweight. When she arrives with me, I'll be switching her to hay (soaked?) in a small hole haynet and limiting her rations in comparison to her current intake. She is only coming into work now (5yo) and is obviously an incredibly 'good doer', so I don't plan to feed hard feed currently (but will if she would benefit from supplements). Turnout is available in either a sandschool or paddock.

My major issue will be exercise. I won't be lunging or freeschooling (she's whip shy and generally very nervy) but will be working on trust, groundwork and desensitising with a view to a positive future lunging experience.

I will be happy to walk her in hand but I doubt this will be a strenuous enough activity to start having much impact on her weight (and only a slight impact on her fitness).

Her breaking isn't complete (no lengthy trot or canter sessions under saddle are possible just yet), so what in-hand activities can I utilise to help bring her back to good health?
 
Would it be possible to have her out in the turnout paddock 24/7? Out in the cold with a haynet hay (probably wouldn't soak it) and not much room to move (so can't warm up) would be the fastest way.

If she HAS to come in, soak the hay and if possible start work with her to desensitize to the whip. Personally i have never used a whip for lunging or driving if i can really help it. I use body language or the rope. Whips are a real last resort.

Don't fall into the trap of feeding as little as possible to get the weight off. Just like humans, horses will go into starvation mode and use little to no calories so burn nothing. Keeping them well fed with low calorie feed and lots of positive exercise and a need to keep themselves warm with no rugs is the best way.
 
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