welsh A on weight loss

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lucy79

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I've just taken on a Welsh sect A ,very overweight and has had laminitis he has lost about 55kgs so far which takes him to 282kgs so still more weight to drop he has been kept in on soaked hay and HiFi light turned out on yard he has just recovered from a foot abscess and is on very light exercise and I am turning out for about an hour every couple of days .he has gone off his hay and HiFi light, he is eating small amounts and is acting normally in every other way but I am slightly concerned that he is not getting enough fibre any ideas would be really good
 
Firstly well done on the weight loss so far....I know from experience it is not easy :)

If his foot abscess is now better can he start to have more turnout? I think turnout/exercise is going to be the key to him continuing to lose weight. In my experience not many yards have starvation turnout, but is there perhaps an overgrazed or poor field he can be turned out in, so he has a bit of grass to nibble on but not much more? Exercise-wise does he have a jockey, or can you start to loose-school, long-rein him, or take him for hacks out in hand?

Feed wise, you could perhaps add a little (molasses free) speedi-beet to his chaff to add a bit of flavour, or change him onto Fast Fibre? Or perhaps phone some of the feed manufacturers' helplines to see what they recommend or to ask about their least calorific feeds?

Good luck, keep up the good work!
 
....my mind is on overdrive now...!

There is a very low calorie hay (it comes in white plastic-bag-covered bales, looks more like haylage and is apparently lower calorie than hay) I think it's by Horsehage? That might be worth looking into as a replacement for the hay you are currently feeding him?
 
thanks for the encouragement! I've started turning him out in a small sect of field and our yard is small so i let him loose on concrete also he has started eating feed and hay again I think maybe he was bored and a bit unhappy! I am leading him out at the moment I'm jogging with him what we do for or animals! my daughter rides him but only lead rein I m trying to get my weight down to 9 1/2 st so I can ride him not far to go! his droppings were a bit solid whilst not really eating now are quite soggy but that maybe because he's having a bit of grass just being really care full with him as he has been in on weight loss since October thank you for your help
 
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