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My suggestion would be 1) cut out or cut WAY down on bran. If you have
to feed him the bran to get the vitamins into him, try mixing the
vitamins into a lower energy feed, like A&M, instead. 2) Don't try to
take all that weight off too quickly. Just like people, it took awhile
to put it on, it'll take awhile to take it off. Have you weight-taped
him? Does he really need to lose 200 pounds? I'd suggest (and it's
just a suggestion), cutting down the pellets but not TOO much, and
working off the extra pounds by increased exercise.
Although I agree that really excessive amounts of weight in the heat
might contribute to problems, something to think about also is that the
heat of fiber digestion is going to probably add more "heat" than
standing around with a bit of chub will. This is why horses in cold
climates can be kept warm by feeding more fiber. For right now, cut out
the bran and cut down on the pellets. By the time summer rolls around,
hopefully he'll have lost some of the chub. When he's at a good
weight and you want to maintain him at that weight by increasing his
energy intake, do so by adding back the energy feed (like bran or
grain), not by increasing the pellets. Fiber adds heat, while energy
feeds add calories without adding back in the heat.
Also remember there's some data to support the theory/belief that horses
do better at distance work when they're in good flesh---not fat, but not
a rack of bones either. Losing weight is fine, but don't go overboard.
Also be sure to take into account that a 1/2 QH is probably just
naturally going to look chunkier than a purebred Arab. Make sure you're
trying to take off the fat, not the muscle.
Hope this helps.
Susan Evans
Rita Al-Shammari wrote:
>
> Hi group!
>
> I have a 12yo 1/2 arab, 1/2 QH gelding. This is my problem: I live in
> Arizona, and the hot summer is coming. I keep my horse boarded at a
> place where he gets fed alfalfa/bermuda pellets with bran and vitamins
> morning and night and a snack of hay (really a large handful) at noon.
> Okay, he was fed too much, and he has continued to add weight (I've had
> him there approximately a year) since I've moved him there. He's ridden
> 3 to 4 times a week for at least an hour (walk, trot, canter), if not
> longer, and turned out at least three times a week for 1 to 2 hours to
> play. He's extremely active when he's out and about, he's just chubby!
>
> I've finally gotten the barn owner to listen to me regarding his weight,
> as I told her he had to lose at least 200 pounds in the next three
> months or I was afraid he would founder in the heat. She agreed, and is
> now feeding him 3 pounds of pellets morning and night (instead of the 6
> pounds he was getting), and I'm trying to ride harder/longer to ensure
> he gets a good workout.
>
> What is the fastest way to take some weight off a horse?
>
> Thanks,
> Rita
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