why does my gelding look like a pregnant mare (not gas or worms!)

[Morgan123]

My gelding has always been a bit prone to a hay belly appearance (was obese when young, so I put it down to that) but the last six months or so it's definitely got worse. His condition score is a nice 3-3.5, so perfect weight otherwise, ribs and bony points easily felt. It's not the hay/grass causing it - even after a 3 hour ride he still looks round.
His last three worm counts have been 0 but he's been wormed anyway because two others had some burden, so don't think it's that.

It's particularly galling because we have been working mega hard on his topline this year - long reining, equicore etc due to KS (minor KS) rehab and PSD. He's got a lovely top line now compared to before, but that belly.....!

PPID? ulcers? What do I need to think about?!

In case this helps, I tried a probiotic balancer to see if that made any difference, which it didn't. He lives out 24/7 in a stable herd and has decent grass, some haylage in the evening and Pure Feed Working (fibre based), works 4 x a week between 1-3 hours.

 

[paddi22]

I've seen a few with swollen looking bellies due to lack of protein?

 

[Mule]

As you have tried to address it with exercise and it's got worse, I'd ask your vet

 

[paddi22]

if they have a very high forage diet they can look pot bellied, it's something to do with fermentation in the hind gut if I remember.

 

[PurBee]

Is he holding water = kidney issues?
Does he pee a lot or drink a lot more/less than a ‘normal’ horse?

 

[CouldItBe]

Maybe a heart issue? My friends horse has heart issue and is this shape

 

[spacefaer]

Lack of core strength? You've done lots work on his topline - have you done any work to help him engage his core and carry himself?
Bit like someone going to the gym to work on their leg muscles but still having a pot belly as they haven't worked on their abs

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Defo worth testing for cushings--difficulty maintaining top line, and a tendency to being pot bellied are symptoms.

 

[twiggy2]

Photos would help, sometimes it's forage, cushings etc sometimes lack of muscle, how old is he?
how often is he worked and what is he fed?
as an aside no point worming a horse who's worm count is zero it does nothing positive and can be pretty negative, or if your going to worm regardless of worm count results don't waste your money worm counting.

 

[sbloom]

Lack of core strength? You've done lots work on his topline - have you done any work to help him engage his core and carry himself?
Bit like someone going to the gym to work on their leg muscles but still having a pot belly as they haven't worked on their abs

I agree, though in theory the equiband products should help with this, but I'd consider going to an inhand rehab specialist, or a second one if you're already using one, perhaps sending photos and video to see what they think before splashing out a ton more money. There is in hand work and in hand work if you know what I mean.

 

[Regandal]

Once physical causes are ruled out, canter work is good for lifting the core. Also pole work.

 

[Morgan123]

Thanks all.

I def don't think it's the fibre because he's been the same on grass, on hay, and on haylage, ad like I say he's the same after a three hour ride.

Core strength - yes have done loads with equiband, long reining up hills, transitions up hills, rein back up hills bla bla bla as much as I can for his core (can't lunge him tho and he is ridiculous about pole work haha) so core strength may not be amazing but should definitely be coming.... but as the belly has it's got worse not better so I think probably not that?? Will keep working on it though, thank you!

Kidney/heart issues interesting, will look into this and also do cushings test. I don't know how much he pees cos he lives out! I don't see him pee or drink more than the others, and when he was on box rest earlier in the summer he peed a normal amount. I've been thinking cushings too Not-So-Brave, think I'll ask for a test. But then i got myself wound up about ulcers! ha.

Will chat to vet anyway, I just thought I'd see if I was missing anything obvious. Thank you

 

[Leandy]

If he is changing shape over a matter of months despite correct work then I would get the vet to check him, including a cushings test. Also ask the vet about his weight, he may just store fat there more than some and needs to lose weight. You say he always has had a tendency to be this shape and middle age spread comes to us all to some extent. Many people spend ages trying to spot reduce fat! You can't, you just have to lose weight and often those people just get smaller but stay a similar shape proportion wise. It is just the way they are and where their body stores its fat reserves. He may just be this shape!

 

[Morgan123]

Thanks Leandy! It is def not fat - I condition score professionally but I also got my physio to sense check to ensure it wasn't a case of the old rose tinteds going on, haha! She agrees - good topline but belly is big, as if his belly cavity is just large. Just like you'd expect on a wormy horse. I totally agree with what you say though and agree it is super common for owners to mis-identify fat. So, thank you!

Will chat with vet on next visit. Appreciate everyone;s thoughts!

 

[scruffyponies]

I do think some just develop a 'grass belly' which is hard to shift. One of mine, who keeps up with the field just fine out hunting, looks like someone stuck a neck and some legs on a space hopper.

Funny thing is that others on the same grass are unaffected.

 

[eggs]

The only horse that I have had who had a pot belly and looked wormy turned out to have a tumour in her abdomen. It could be any number of things, most of which would not be as serious, but I would get a vet check.

 

[shamrock2021]

My mare gets like she literally looked like she is pregnant. The problem was she wasn’t going to the toilet enough . I would get a vet to look at him just in case there is medical issues .

 

[Morgan123]

Thank you all. This is helpful! appreciate your thoughts. Vet is due out in next month or so anyway so will have a chat with him.