Fat?

[Fork]

I hate to post another thread so soon. :o I've spent the good part of this afternoon researching how to slim down horses.

He was checked by a vet in June and was given a 3/6 (perfect) body score. Now I think he's rising up on a 3.5. My BO said she wormed them all in September but I know she couldn't really catch him so I don't know if she did it. My barn did all of their wormings in September as well. He was definitely wormed in June.

Should I be worried about worms? Would it be worthwhile to worm him soon?

My BOs both tell me that it's okay since we're coming up on winter and I shouldn't worry about his weight.

Two weeks ago: (I know I've posted this picture before)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/trappedmemory/pony/PA011645.jpg

He's always had a bit of a cresty neck, but he's never been overweight. I've always wondered if he was gelded late.

Any opinions?

ETA: Title changed because it made no sense.

[3equines]

I'd say he's fat, but not morbidly obese. Don't feel bad, it is next to impossible for me to keep my Haffies trim in the summer. It took a long time for me to accept that they are not just 'big boned'. I have had good results using a grazing muzzle, they can still eat but it slows 'em down. I buy lower-quality hay and supplement with concentrated vitamin/mineral pellets during the winter. The hay should not be musty or moldy smelling, but more gold than green, means less protein (energy) in it. What I call 'good homestead field hay" cut from unfertilized and non-irrigated fields.

[Fork]

I'd say he's fat, but not morbidly obese. Don't feel bad, it is next to impossible for me to keep my Haffies trim in the summer. It took a long time for me to accept that they are not just 'big boned'. I have had good results using a grazing muzzle, they can still eat but it slows 'em down. I buy lower-quality hay and supplement with concentrated vitamin/mineral pellets during the winter. The hay should not be musty or moldy smelling, but more gold than green, means less protein (energy) in it. What I call 'good homestead field hay" cut from unfertilized and non-irrigated fields.Should I consider a grazing muzzle? I know he was slimmer when I bought him. I haven't started working on an exercise regime yet but that will add some muscle to his topline. The hay he eats is definitely more gold than green. I think my barn owners mix lower quality with higher quality.

He gained most of this weight from his last barn, where he stood in mud and ate all day. Now he's in a field where he can graze.

How concerned should I be? I really don't want him to become IR or founder.

[zoel_222]

If you're worried about worms, get a fecal sample and bring it to your vet. They'll tell you if he needs to be wormed and what for.

He does look a bit fat, but like 3E said, not morbidly obese. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I have a feeling in the next couple months once winter hits and the grass goes dormant it won't be such an issue. You might try a grazing muzzle for him next spring when the grass starts to shoot back up. Honestly, he looks a lot better than a lot of other fjord/haflinger type horses that I've seen. I think in his current environment (i.e not getting an all you can eat buffet of hay) he should start to slim down. And once you start working him that should help too.

[vicklynn]

What Zoel said

[Cat]

Personally I like my boys going into winter a bit plump so that they have a little insulation. Your boy looks fine for this time of year and it will help him get through the cold winter better.

[mare]

I agree with everyone, but wanted to add: What a beautiful photo!

[walkinthewalk]

I apologize in advance:

Both horses in your pic are overweight. The solid red chestnut could stand to lose a 100 pounds; he is more than "plump" to go into the winter.

I have not one but TWO horses that are insulin resistant.

One was diagnosed when he was 19 and is now 23. The other was diagnosed this past June and is only 12.

If the solid red chestnut is your horse, he looks just like my 12 yr old and that is not a good thing when it comes to metabolic issues. I hated the idea of muzzling this horse until the day the vet came out and said he had "sub-clinical laminitis in all four hooves".

Joker has lost 60# to-date, he still needs to take at least 100# pounds off; just like your horse. I am sorry to be blunt but I see a horse that can easily head into metabolic issues.

If your horse is getting any sort of grain or grain product, get him off it for starters and just feed him a high quality vit/min supplement.

It would also be great if the salt blocks are white rather than mineral blocks.

Being in a boarding situation makes it really tough to have the hay tested unless they buy from the same source (as in the same farmer not the same feed store). Knowing what mineral deficiencies are in the hay would help you to know what additional minerals the horse might need.

If your BO's will help you, muzzling the horse during the day only would help immensely. They would have to watch him until he gets used to it to make sure he is eating. My horse went three weeks without eating grass thru the muzzle. It was pure h**l and it was a good thing I only work two days a week because I had to bring him in every afternoon to feed him hay and let him eat salt. He did drink water thru the muzzle at least.

This horse is back on track now but he gets muzzled 4 - 5 days (depending on my work) and also gets the supplements my 23 yo IR horse gets but at half dose.

Also, if he truly was wormed in June, he should be ok until the next scheduled worming -- that isn't a worm belly on him anyway, that is an "I'm-too-fat-period" belly - lol lol

Other indicators, along with the cresty neck, can be puffiness over and under the eyes, puffy sheath (the sheath should not have any fat to it at all), my 12 yr old's eyes matter heavily on the days he doesn't wear the muzzle and he is turned out every day with a fly mask.

Fat adiposity right above the tail head and halfway down the rump; my 23 yo has those, my 12 yo does not.

A day without the muzzle makes my 12 yo very sunny disposition not-so-sunny; it does not change my 23 yo's disposition.

Point-being, insulin resistance does not manifest itself the same in every horse because it is a metabolic issue. Like humans their metabolisms are also very different.

Insulin Resistance is equated to Type II diabetes in humans.

I apologize again for being blunt, but somehow some weight needs to come off your horse. Winter might be a good time to try and get that done:cowboy:

Does this look like someone you recognize? lol lol lol Joker has lost 60 pounds in this pic but he still needs to get another 100 off. This is my 12 yr old TWH that had sub-clinical laminitis last June. This pic was Labor Day and he is sound but will always have to be muzzled at least half the week if I want to keep him that way.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/PAWALKER/Joker109-06-10.jpg

The horse in my sig is my 23 yo TWH that is insulin resistant (also the horse in my avatar when he was 16, so it is evident in hind-sight that he was headed for metabolic issues but I didn't know any better back then:(. The pic is from last year and he was too fat. I started muzzling him for the first time this summer after the laminitic episode with the 12 yr old and he has since lost a little bit of weight; he has never been laminitic.

[WashingtonBay]

winthew, I'll answer for fork until she gets on next, the red horse in the foreground is not hers.

Just the haffie-cross looking little guy. :)

[walkinthewalk]

winthew, I'll answer for fork until she gets on next, the red horse in the foreground is not hers.

Just the haffie-cross looking little guy. :)

Thank you:cowboy:

My answer still stands - lol lol:cowboy:

Hafflingers are little dollface chunks to begin with and I don't know if they are on the famous "predisposed list" to metabolic issues or not but the cutie in the above pic still needs to take some pounds off and his diet closely watched.

Tennessee Walkers are not on the predisposed list yet I have two that are IR and I keep reading about more and more of them that are.

Annnd whomever owns that pretty red chestnut needs to take heed as well:cowboy:

Sorry again to be blunt but I am with these metabolic issues like the reformed drunk that goes into a bar with a Bible and tries to get everyone to quit drinking - lol lol lol I used to like to see chunky horses but not anymore:cowboy:

[WashingtonBay]

:)

I personally think Fork's pony is quite young (under 5??? not sure) and my own instinct is he's not a metabolic case, but your information on how and why to avoid problems is still valid :) All ponies tend to be high risk cases.

[vicklynn]

Sorry again to be blunt but I am with these metabolic issues like the reformed drunk that goes into a bar with a Bible and tries to get everyone to quit drinking - lol lol lol I used to like to see chunky horses but not anymore:cowboy:

Im glad I didnt have coffee in had when I read that:hysterical:

[TheBadLands]

I prefer the term "fluffy" :p

[Fork]

Thank you:cowboy:

My answer still stands - lol lol:cowboy:

Hafflingers are little dollface chunks to begin with and I don't know if they are on the famous "predisposed list" to metabolic issues or not but the cutie in the above pic still needs to take some pounds off and his diet closely watched.

Tennessee Walkers are not on the predisposed list yet I have two that are IR and I keep reading about more and more of them that are.

Annnd whomever owns that pretty red chestnut needs to take heed as well:cowboy:

Sorry again to be blunt but I am with these metabolic issues like the reformed drunk that goes into a bar with a Bible and tries to get everyone to quit drinking - lol lol lol I used to like to see chunky horses but not anymore:cowboy:Thanks for all of the really good, valid information. The haffie-looking pony is mine and the chestnut is my BO's who's in the "It's okay if all horses have a little extra" mindset. I don't think I see a puffy sheath or puffy eyes, but I'll have to look again. He's not getting any sort of grain other than the occasional handful of sweet feed (for catching) and I'm going to stop that and use carrots or apples instead.

I'm also worried about founder because he is a bigger pony who didn't live in the best of conditions for the past few months. What signs should I look for? His feet are chipping a little but I have to wait until the farrier comes out in a week or two. He's not lame or sore.

:)

I personally think Fork's pony is quite young (under 5??? not sure) and my own instinct is he's not a metabolic case, but your information on how and why to avoid problems is still valid :) All ponies tend to be high risk cases.Thanks for answering for me. :) He turned 8 this year. I've read about IR before but I didn't know all the signs for it.

Thanks mare!

[WashingtonBay]

Ah- older than I thought - we can still call him young. :)

[walkinthewalk]

vicklynn, I made that Bible-in-the-bar comment because when I was around 12, a reformed drinker really did come into the local roadhouse, set the Bible on the bar and began to preach the evils of drinking - lol lol

[QUOTE=Thanks for answering for me. :) He turned 8 this year. I've read about IR before but I didn't know all the signs for it.

Thanks mare![/QUOTE]

I can't remember which forum, but there is a lady with a 5 yr old that was diagnosed as insulin resistant. If you search www.thehorse.com, there was a foal born this year with Type I diabetes; I honestly don't know if the foal survived or not.

IR/EMS/Cushings are insidious diseases that live in the gray area and the very early warning signs can be difficult to detect:( A horse can be IR/EMS without being Cushings but Cushings horses can also develop insulin resistance.

It is good that you are concerned about the laminitis as grass founder can be a sign of possible metabolic issues.

While there are black and white guidelines spelled out on very credible web sites, I don't follow everything down to the last letter.

IMO, much depends on:

1. The horse's living environment.
2. How much and what kind of exercise. Terrain of pasture and riding time.
3. How well the owner can control feeding and grazing situations; part of that for boarders becomes how willing the BO is to co-operate.
4. Feed and hay.

The bottom line to your Haffie is to just go ahead and feed & graze him as if he already is insulin resistant because the diet won't hurt him. I have four horses and all four of mine eat the same base diet the two IR horses do. It's the best thing I've ever done for them.

You aren't feeding grain which is a good start. If you could get your BO that thinks her horse doesn't need to lose weight, to co-operate and put a muzzle on your horse during the day, that would be of immense help. I made that tart remark because she's liable to think you are being evil to muzzle your horse and won't do it - lol

While your Haffie may not lose a lot of weight, the muzzle will inhibit his eating which, in turn, keeps more sugar & starch out of his system that could affect his insulin levels. Recent findings show fall grass to actually be a little worse for founder prone horses than spring grass.

I live in southern Middle Tennessee and it looks as if I will be leaving the muzzles on my two pretty far into the winter on the days there is plenty of sunshine.

If it's dull cloudy day or pouring down rain, no muzzles. I also won't make them wear muzzles if we get into freezing temps because they don't need the moisture from their noses freezing on the muzzle and making them more miserable and there's not much sugar in the grasses anyway.

I hate doing it but I seeing Joker with "sub-clinical laminitis" last June was enough for me to invoke tough love. I have seen some tear jerking founder pics on various web sites and don't want to ever experience that.

The three weeks Joker wouldn't eat thru the muzzle were three weeks of tears. I wanted to throw the muzzle in the garbage, but I kept making myself see him walking sore on four hooves and knew that was mild in comparison if I didn't make him wear that muzzle.:(

I probably wouldn't leave the muzzle on your horse every single day until he gets callouses built up at the points his nose or chin rub it. Since he's not foundered yet nor been diagnosed with metabolic issues, giving him a mental break from it won't hurt; just have to be sure he works up to 4 - 5 days a week at the very least.

No need to leave the muzzle on at night because the sugars in the grass are greatly reduced at night time; unless that theory has changed in the last couple years.


This is Dr. Kellon's very excellent and informative web site on metabolic issues.
http://www.ecirhorse.com/

While I like this web site, I do not belong to her Yahoo Equine Cushings group because those folks are out of control IMHO - lol lol You can't ask a question without them first asking 20 more before they feel like you deserve to have an answer and generally I find those answers to be "scripted" with no variation.

I do what I feel is right for my two based on their work and living environment; so far so good:)

My thing in getting preachy is to raise awareness of this very subtle disease so others might recognise the potential for their horse to develope it and maybe change the diet to help combat it before it strikes:)

[Fork]

He's still young for sure. :)

I really like the fact that you're taking time to tell me all about IR in your own horses. The way you wrote it makes it seem a lot less scripted and preachy than a lot of websites. I'm going to take some time to read that website and research laminitis and IR. I don't think he's quite at risk for either of them but it's good to prepare myself in case anything does happen. In the meantime, I'm going to up his exercise slowly starting next week. I'll watch him over the rest of the fall to see if he is going to need a grazing muzzle for the spring. I'd rather not start him on one now because it's going down to the 0s(C)/30s(F) at night.

I think he'll work some of the weight off by himself because he's now in an environment where he has to walk a few hundred feet between his hay, the shelter and the water. I've observed that they all move around the paddock quite frequently. He doesn't stand around the hay for hours and hours without moving anymore. The terrain is made of really hard dirt and grass.

I thought cushings was primarily in older horses. Or is the website telling me that cushings can occur at a younger age if the horse is overweight?

[walkinthewalk]

I should've looked at your location, I didn't realize you are in Canada. I wouldn't muzzle him either, but this would be a good time to try and control his hay intake if the BO will help with that.

Horses need 2% of their body weight in forage. I sure wouldn't starve the fella to get him to lose weight because that can induce insulin spikes<---another Catch 22 "darned if you do and darned if you don't". I have a weigh scale in the barn to weigh the hay for my to IR fellas when they come in at night.

I have been on a horse 61 of my 63 years and have had my own horses, non-stop, since I was 12. I can say that I never ever thought I'd have to get this anal and detailed about feeding. I liked it a lot better when I just gave everyone a scoop of something, filled their hay tub until it looked "right", smooched them on the snoots, then shut the lights out - lol

I know that horses as young as their mid-teens can develop cushings, I'm not sure if there are case studies on horses younger than that.

Horses of any age whose bodies have been horribly stressed due to starvation can develop IR/EMS at younger ages and it may go un-noticed, including slender horses. If a person were to buy a very nice and well-cared for horse that they don't know all if its history, it is slender and develops metabolic issues, it could have been starved earlier in its years or it could just be genetically predisposed.

Contradicting what I just said, I rescued my 24-1/2 yo Arab as a starving horse poster child when he was seven. Arabs are on that infamous Predisposed List. He has no signs whatsoever of any metabolic issues.

Here's a link to a good cushings site. It has great information with illustrations. Much of it is applicable to looking for anything leading to any sort of metabolic issues:)

The diets for IR/EMS and cushings horses are basically the same: no grain or grain products, nothing with sugar in it, (which carrots and apples are off the treat list because they are both so high in sugar:(( A forum acquaintance of mine in AZ has a Molly mule with insulin resistance that has foundered, she gives her Molly an occasional diet peppermint hard candies, but little enough the Molly won't choke if she swallows them whole on accident:)

http://www.farriervet.com/cushingsdisease.html

Where it says in part:

Laminitis, which is poorly responsive to other treatments is a sign of Equine Pituitary Gland Hyperplasia (EPGH). Laminitis is the second most common cause of death of horses after colic.

and:
Genetics, Body Type and Laminitis
In my experience certain breeds, families and body types (phenotype) are much more predisposed than others to developing laminitis on certain farms at certain times. I can almost predict the ponies or horses that will have a problem. A couple of little studies of my own revealed a high risk to females in comparison to males and that some ponies are innately resistant to the disease. Then I read an article in Equus magazine by Dr. David Kronfeld of the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center in the USA. A study of 160 related ponies into risk factors for laminitis indicates that metabolic changes in the body associated with obesity and pregnancy combined with genetics and pasture changes resulting in insulin resistance contribute to laminitis.

Again, the site is speaking to cushings, but certain of the material can clearly be applied to insulin resistance as well.

As you continue to read web sites and input from those of us that are dealing with metabolic issues, you will no doubt read contradictions or read things that are fuzzy in terms of making any sense.

It isn't you, it's the disease. To reiterate, it's a disease that lives in the gray area and is defined by the metabolism and immune system of each horse it attacks.

Generally speaking there is an basic outline and feed program for the disease but once a person gets past the basic outline, things get squirrely and each horse's needs become a bit different from the last horse.

Another key thing for good hoof health is keeping those hooves short all year long. My horses are on a five week schedule because my 23 yr old grows toe so fast. I could probably let him go for six weeks, but he hasn't foundered yet and has been my best bud for 20 yrs, so I am insistant the Trimmer comes every five weeks - like it or not - lol lol

This was taken 06-22-10 and is five weeks of growth on my 23 yr old TWH that is IR. You can see why I am so anal about five week trims for him - lol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/PAWALKER/DukeHooves06-22-10/Duke06-22-10LFduringtrim.jpg

[Fork]

I should've looked at your location, I didn't realize you are in Canada. I wouldn't muzzle him either, but this would be a good time to try and control his hay intake if the BO will help with that.

Horses need 2% of their body weight in forage. I sure wouldn't starve the fella to get him to lose weight because that can induce insulin spikes<---another Catch 22 "darned if you do and darned if you don't". I have a weigh scale in the barn to weigh the hay for my to IR fellas when they come in at night.

I have been on a horse 61 of my 63 years and have had my own horses, non-stop, since I was 12. I can say that I never ever thought I'd have to get this anal and detailed about feeding. I liked it a lot better when I just gave everyone a scoop of something, filled their hay tub until it looked "right", smooched them on the snoots, then shut the lights out - lol

I know that horses as young as their mid-teens can develop cushings, I'm not sure if there are case studies on horses younger than that.

Horses of any age whose bodies have been horribly stressed due to starvation can develop IR/EMS at younger ages and it may go un-noticed, including slender horses. If a person were to buy a very nice and well-cared for horse that they don't know all if its history, it is slender and develops metabolic issues, it could have been starved earlier in its years or it could just be genetically predisposed.

Contradicting what I just said, I rescued my 24-1/2 yo Arab as a starving horse poster child when he was seven. Arabs are on that infamous Predisposed List. He has no signs whatsoever of any metabolic issues.

Here's a link to a good cushings site. It has great information with illustrations. Much of it is applicable to looking for anything leading to any sort of metabolic issues:)

The diets for IR/EMS and cushings horses are basically the same: no grain or grain products, nothing with sugar in it, (which carrots and apples are off the treat list because they are both so high in sugar:(( A forum acquaintance of mine in AZ has a Molly mule with insulin resistance that has foundered, she gives her Molly an occasional diet peppermint hard candies, but little enough the Molly won't choke if she swallows them whole on accident:)

http://www.farriervet.com/cushingsdisease.html

Where it says in part:



and:


Again, the site is speaking to cushings, but certain of the material can clearly be applied to insulin resistance as well.

As you continue to read web sites and input from those of us that are dealing with metabolic issues, you will no doubt read contradictions or read things that are fuzzy in terms of making any sense.

It isn't you, it's the disease. To reiterate, it's a disease that lives in the gray area and is defined by the metabolism and immune system of each horse it attacks.

Generally speaking there is an basic outline and feed program for the disease but once a person gets past the basic outline, things get squirrely and each horse's needs become a bit different from the last horse.

Another key thing for good hoof health is keeping those hooves short all year long. My horses are on a five week schedule because my 23 yr old grows toe so fast. I could probably let him go for six weeks, but he hasn't foundered yet and has been my best bud for 20 yrs, so I am insistant the Trimmer comes every five weeks - like it or not - lol lol

This was taken 06-22-10 and is five weeks of growth on my 23 yr old TWH that is IR. You can see why I am so anal about five week trims for him - lol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/PAWALKER/DukeHooves06-22-10/Duke06-22-10LFduringtrim.jpgMore fantastic information. Thanks. :) I can't control what he eats without a grazing muzzle. He's only on free-choice hay. The BO feeds horses outside of the field, one at a time. I haven't put him on a program yet because I don't think he needs it.

Are all those lines on the bottoms of his hoof a sign of IR? Seems like a lot of websites have conflicting information. Is it one of those things where it's still being highly researched?

[walkinthewalk]

Are all those lines on the bottoms of his hoof a sign of IR? No. That is healthy hoof during the trim. My Trimmer rolls Duke's toes just a bit so you might be seeing more white that you are used to. The squiggles of white going up and down the hoof are where the Trimmer used the hoof pick.

This is Duke's hoof after the completed trim. He has stronger hooves now than he's ever had, to my amazement. If you look close at the toe, you can see the whiteline about 1/4" behind the toe; it is healthy, not stretched or anything like that.

Duke has always been on the flat-footed side but does retain false sole and that is left totally alone, unless it starts shedding. The Trimmer continually measures his collateral grooves to be sure his hoof health is on track. I also know how to trim, so my nose is in those hooves a couple times a week just because I am paranoid - lol lol

I always hate showing hoof pics because I can never take them without "skewing something up" and they sometimes show inaccuracies - lol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v705/PAWALKER/DukeHooves06-22-10/Duke06-22-10LFafter.jpg

Seems like a lot of websites have conflicting information. Yes and it can be tough sorting out fact from fiction and senseless from makes sense:(

Is it one of those things where it's still being highly researched? Yes. Metabolic issues have been around forever, but were never addressed as a separate entity from cushings; horses seemed to have been labeled as "cushingnoid" from all I can gather.

There has been such an explosion of metabolic issues in recent years that vets who once only knew what little they learned from a minimal dissertation in their college courses, are now attending seminars to bring themselves up to speed on the subject.

I had two vets from two counties do bloodwork that went to different labs when Duke was first diagnosed as insulin resistant. Both resuls came back high/normal. One vet said put him on Pergolide and watch what he eats, the other vet nixed the Pergolide but also said watch what he eats, yet neither one could tell me what that diet should be.

My gut instinct was to keep Duke off Pergolide and that turned out to be the right thing to do. Pergolide can sometimes induce founder in horses that are only IR/EMS. It is needed for horses that are full blown cushings.

My good ole boy, mostly cow vet knew virtually nothing when he diagnosed Duke as "cushingnoid" in May, 2007 after the blood tests came back. When he came out in Sept, 2009 to give Duke a physical, his knowledge had increased 100 fold.

And no, I don't have the vet come out to draw blood on Duke everytime I turn around; Duke's been my bud 20 years and I know what every roll of the eye, flick of the ear/tail or slowness in his step means. Now that I've said that, I do have a new vet and when that clinic came out to draw blood on Joker this past June, I did have them give Duke a physical, since they were already here, and he passed with flying colors:)

Duke is basically on the same diet he was on 3+ years ago when I begged three equine nutritionists to help me devise a diet for him. Since that time, the only things I have done different is to put him on a vit/min supplement that is soy-free since soy is a no-no for metabolic horses and added another herbal supplement to his diet.

To keep my life simple I put all four horses on that supplement and imagine my surprise when I discovered my oat & corn intolerant horse was also soy intolerant. What a change in his personality. Also, my Arab no longer has to have ulcer meds as the vit/min supplement I now use has somehow leveled out his digestive system and his runny bums from spring grass or grass that has been heavily rained on then the sun comes out on it, have disappeared.

That was pretty much what I meant when I said making everyone eat the same base diet as the two IR horses was the best thing I ever did for all of them.

And thank YOU very much for listening to me:cowboy: I appreciate that someone will at least store this information in the back closet of their memory in case they ever need it. My wish is that noone would need this information but if one horse can saved, I don't mind typing and sharing what I know based on my own experiences:cowboy:

[ninjaponeh]

I love these weight threads; they show me how heavy my four year old really is. :eek:

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m526/zombieortho/Private/Allure%202010/wheework.jpg?t=1287364774


The trouble is, she's that fat with no hay and no grain at all... grazing only. And our property, at least for the moment, isn't one I would feel comfortable turning anyone out in a grazing muzzle on. I'm in the process of clearing a bit of land- maybe an acre- that she and her dam will, I suspect, have turned into a dry lot in no time. Then we'll spend the winter peeling the layers off this fat onion. I would be terrified to see spring approach at her current weight.

[Flair]

Oh boy do I know what the fun is of having a 'fluffy' pony. The total irony about it is that my first horse was an elderly Thoroughbred gelding who needed weight put on him. Now, I've got a hayburner who just walks past the feed room and puts on weight by breathing in the scent of the grain.

I share your pain about boarding. I love my barn and I like being there, but I really really wish I could feed Bermuda hay to my pony instead of Orchard because that's what they feed since the other horses decided they didn't like Bermuda. (I'd get the Bermuda myself, but I wouldn't get board reductions so it really becomes more of a hassle.) Luckily, he just gets one flake of the stuff twice a day and he's dry-lotted so no need to worry about him getting grass (I also don't let him free-graze at all anymore when I take him out, and I don't give him carrots or apples. It's a hard knock life for him, but I'm all about prevention at this stage of the game.)

Mitch wasn't fat when I got him. He was actually on the scrawny side of Haflinger, although some of that was lack of muscle which he's since built up due to me riding him 4 or 5 days a week. He also wasn't really 'chunky monkey' until this year. This spring, I admit, I made a mistake. I was trying to slow the pony down some in terms of him eating hay. So I got him a slow feed hay net. Which he ripped. So the people told me to keep the haynet full. Which we did. And, with the bad weather making riding impossible, he got fat.

This is him on April 1, 2010

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/dreamswept/MightyMitch/Photo445.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/dreamswept/MightyMitch/Photo446.jpg

When my vet came for the spring shots, he said the pony was tubby hubby. "Quite the layer of fat on him" was his exact words which meant switching out the slow hay feeder to a different one, and just giving him the 1 flake of hay twice a day. He also gets a chromium/magnesium supplement (right now it's SmartPak's SmartControl IR -- although we might switch to Metaboleeze)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/dreamswept/MightyMitch/mitch-sept2010-4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/dreamswept/MightyMitch/mitch-sept2010-3.jpg

Here he is in September. He's lost quite a lot of weight. He's still not exactly where my vet wants him, but the change has been pretty dramatic. He looks like a pony again instead of a pregnant pony. I did have my vet pull a blood test to check his glucose and insulin back in the spring when he was fatter, and everything was normal so we're pretty sure he's not IR. It's possible he's got thyroid issues, so we'll probably pull a test for that this fall, or else we'll wait and see if he continues to lose weight this winter (particularly since I'm clipping him to be able to ride in the winter afternoons and will only blanket at night)

I share anyone's burden of a fat horse, especially if they're airfern types, but with the right care, it can be done.

[Fork]

He looks fantastic, Flair. :) You've really done wonders with him. He looks like he's at a healthy weight to me, but I understand your vet's concerns.

I'll be sure to ask my vet about his weight next time she's out.

[mare]

Walkinthewalk - Those are great resources you linked to. Thank you for taking the time.

Overweight is not something I have to deal with. Though, I have picked up one or two that benefited from losing a few pounds.

Still very good information to have. :)