Why is she suddenly so fat? HELP!

little_flea

little_flea

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Maggie has suddenly developed a fat belly! After christmas she looked perfect, but now she looks to fat again - and I just don't know why? Her short feed has been cut because she has been very fresh, and she is worked hard. She is fed quite a lot less than she was in the autumn, when she was on the thin side.

She is 17.2hh so I really do not want her carrying any additional weight, especially as she show jumps.

How can increased work and reduced feed make a horse fatter? What can I do to slim her down? I am a bit baffled.
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It could just depend on the access she has to haylage etc my horse lives in but has still developed a haylage belly on two nets a day and out in the field but then he gets to eat hay out there as well so it could be due to the amount of hay/lage thats taking a while to digest. Im not sure what else it could be though
 
Has your grass improved since the snow? I know you say she's not out much at the moment but that could be having an effect even if it's just a bit? My share horse lives on fresh air and has regained the belly he lost during the ice and snow already.
 
Perhaps lighter rugs? It is much warmer recently.

I wouldnt reduce hay either - much better for her to be eating lots of hay and very minimal hard feed + balancer if she isnt eating the recommended amount. I would also stop anything that is high in calories e.g. switch chaff to hi-fi lite or hi-fi good doer etc.
 
1. Is she fat all over -or is it mainly belly - two things can make a mare look big bellied when she's notactually FAT! One is worms.

and

2. How long have you had her?Is there ANY chance she may have been with a colt over about 9 months of age in the last 10 months??
 
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