new horse again

[Rhonda K Levinson <levinson1@juno.com>]

Hey, as long as the list is slow, can I ask more questions?  How quickly
is too quickly for a horse to lose weight?  My new mare is changing shape
quickly and dramatically.  She was in decent shape when I got her, I
thought.  But in just the last two to three weeks, she's really dropping
weight and getting hard -- to the point where the saddle that fit her
perfectly two weeks ago left small dry areas behind her withers after our
ride last night.  Is that normal?  
Should I slow down her rate of exercise?  Her legs stay cool and there's
been no swelling and I've been using a heart rate monitor.  I've
increased her feed and if anything, she's more pumped up in attitude than
when I purchased her, not less, so she's not acting over-worked.  Just
paranoid, I guess, and wondering if I'm pushing her too hard or if it's
normal for horses to change shapes this quickly.  None of my other horses
ever have, but then, I've never been this systematic or focused on
getting one in condition.  Kinda slap-dash always before, but ya'all have
inspired me -- I am determined not to get any of those barbed remarks
about taking a fat horse to rides anymore.

Rhonda and Special -- yep, I sure am and just watch me strut it!


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