what should i do with my youngster?

[rowy]

ok basically i backed my 3 year old earlier this year. backed him lightly myself in april- half way through may. had 1 week off. then sent him away for 4 weeks backing. then brought him home and had him walk, trot and cantering. he has been turned away since the 1st july.
However, I have had comments that he is rather overweight, which i agree with. So i was wondering, should i bring him back into work just hacking twice a week?
We dont have a school just lanes and some fields to ride in.
or should i just do some long-reining in the fields
or should i just leave him still and really really reduce his feed intake?

 

[jhoward]

Id do the groundwork side, also can you lead him on hacks off another horse. and definatly cut his food! i personally wouldnt want to add a riders weight to an overweight growing baby.

 

[spotty_pony]

What are you feeding him?

 

[rowy]

yea thats what i was thinking, maybe cut down his weight a little and then see whether to get back on him.
I am feeding him nothing apart from a very tiny handful of feed, just enough to put his mineral supplement in so hes getting everything he needs. He was out 24/7 but noticed him getting fat so have started bringing him in for 4 hours ish a day where he has a tiny slice of hay.
Thing is we have so much grazing and so much grass! he needs to stay with our mare who is a poor doer though he is in the field with the less grass in it.
grazing muzzle is in the post though, i think he may have to have that on for a few weeks!

 

[jhoward]

Id possibley section him a bit off in mares field and restrict him that way, the wet and warm weather is making grass grow so deffinatly kep an eye. soak any hay he has, other than that just try and get a bit of exercise into him winters around the corner so im sure he will drop a bit.

 

[abbieandfiona]

I take my baby out with my ridden mare ok shes 2 so cant be ridden but was very fat at 500 so needed weight off so have rode and led her for short rides. In-hand walk her out as well up to 1hr a day. And she is now at 400 mark in 4 1/2 months it took to get her down and stay that way.

 

[diamondrockharvey]

Have you heard of Paddock Paradise???
A great way to emulate the wild horse and their daily movement and a great way to keep the weight off your youngster whilst also maintaining a naturallevel of fitness!