Weight managing-urgent

[HunterTrial]

Hello, my 9yr old mare has bad weight issues and i've spent the last 3 years trying to keep it in control but the past few months its spiraled out of control and i really need some advice, she is kept in a field all day/night with no hard feed/hay and im a student so i cannot be there all day and night but she cant be worked too hard as she threw a shoe and the farrier cannot make it but im wondering is there good exercises in walk and maybe trot because if her weight gets worse she'll have a heart attack.
plus she has one shoe so cannot be worked hard and limps and is not lame. help! thanks!

 

[be positive]

A heart attack is unlikely but laminitis is far more of a problem, if she is limping without the shoe on she may well already have laminitis which is masked by wearing shoes.

A limping horse is lame, there is no difference you cannot ride her while she is lame so get the farrier ASAP and the vet as if she has laminitis it will need to be treated, she possibly has IR which will need treatment.

Her grazing must be restricted in some way, her weight does not just spiral out of control if you dont let it, if you are a student you have had most of the summer to exercise her and keep her fit, she needs to have the field divided or wear a muzzle to limit her intake, neither of these things mean you have to be there 24/7 but will help her before she gets worse.

 

[Buddy'sMum]

If your horse is limping she's lame and should not be ridden. She needs to see a vet and a farrier asap.

Allowing a horse to get massively overweight is every bit as cruel and neglectful as allowing a horse to starve.

Ask your vet for advice on weight management and to help put together an exercise/fittening plan. And consider using a grazing muzzle and/or strip graze.