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| Author |
Message |
    
Kathy Howitt
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2000 - 11:37 pm: |   |
Hi Dr. O and Everyone...
My 9 yr. old Icelandic gelding got very fat this
Spring and I am trying to get the weight off him
without making him miserable. He's 13.1hh and weighs about 860# at present and should weigh around 780#. He has a substantial hay belly, too. For a variety of reasons I won't go into he has not been ridden since last Fall, so I know lack of exercise is part of the equation.
I am currently giving him 9# brome hay daily, plus vitamins and a couple of carrots as training treats. I'm distributing this amount over 4 feedings and he seems OK with the regimen. I am also increasing his exercise with lungeing and some turnout in a smallish pen, the best I can do at present.
I'm wondering what sort of time frame I can expect regarding his weight reduction. I guess it will take most of the summer to bring him down to his ideal weight. Does anyone have any info about what to expect? BTW, Icelandics are not particularly prone to laminitis, but I am concerned about the health risks associated with obesity. Icelandics are notoriously easy keepers, a factoid I've learned about first hand. Thanks, Kay in AK |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2000 - 9:05 am: | |
The time frame is very variable you just need to be sure you are always heading in the right direction.
DrO |
Janet Burrell
Member
Username: Shylow
Post Number: 13
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 28, 2002 - 5:07 pm: | |
I need to get a grazing muzzle for my 21 year old Morgan. She has pasture foundered in the past, so I keep her in until Nov. and let her out until April. I'm not sure what kind to get. I can only find the Best Friends model. are there any others? If I get one for her can I let her back in the pasture for a few hours in the spring and summer? I'm afraid she will rub the one with the velcro off and lose it in the pasture. Does that ever happen? |
mindy franklin
Member
Username: Mindy
Post Number: 55
Registered: 11-2000
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 28, 2002 - 9:01 pm: | |
I have the best friends model with the breakaway halter. I had problems with it rubbing but you may not. I think the muzzles are great because they are out exercising and their eating is greatly limited. You are only supposed to leave it on for 12 hours a day to keep it from rubbing. Then you need to put them up and feed enough hay to supply enough roughage. My horse can eat alot of grass in an hour or two without a muzzle on. You may not be able to let your horse out without it on. Maybe you can experiment with your routine until you find something that works. What worked for me is out 12 hrs with the muzzle on. Then in a corral with 1% of ideal body weight in hay, a salt block and water. I didn't have any problem with my horse taking the muzzle off and she can take a fly mask off easy. |
