Last february we brought home Remmy, a gorgeous, but fat, little gelding for my daughter. I kept thinking that he'd slim down once he shedded out...lol...I was in denial I think.
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So, I have accepted it, and understand, that he is unbelievably obese. I've ordered a grazing muzzle, they sent it, it was defective, I reordered it and now it's back-ordered. So step one is in limbo.
Step 2 was to get him on a supplement for a calcified injury on his front fetlock that makes him gimp at the trot...I wanted him to be more comfortable with exercise. He started on Recovery EQ on the 1st of June, and so far he still gimps but I noticed this morning he was willingly trotting about and kicking up his heels. Hopefully thats a good sign that the supplement is starting to work. The biggest problem I have with the supplements is being in a powder form -- I have to feed him a little grain to mix with it -- Lord knows this pony needs no grain! I barely toss in one cup of Dynasty pellets (12%). and 1/2 cup BOSS. He also gets some Glanzen for his hooves and coat.
Okay...the next step is to implement an actual weight loss program. We have LOTS of grass here, so I have to rotate him on and off all day (not a problem as I'm in and out of the barn all day long). But what should I actually DO to get him fit? I started taking him on 45 minute walks. But what else can I do? Oh I broke my own cardinal rule about mixing little oneswith the big horses and put him with a TB and a QH gelding and they keep him moving more than the mini mares...he really needs that.
My daughter rides him about 20 minutes at a time on the lunge (she's a beginner), about 4 days a week.
Here he is - 42" tall and 63"" round...this picture does not do him justice, he is MUCH fatter in real life!
So, I have accepted it, and understand, that he is unbelievably obese. I've ordered a grazing muzzle, they sent it, it was defective, I reordered it and now it's back-ordered. So step one is in limbo.
Step 2 was to get him on a supplement for a calcified injury on his front fetlock that makes him gimp at the trot...I wanted him to be more comfortable with exercise. He started on Recovery EQ on the 1st of June, and so far he still gimps but I noticed this morning he was willingly trotting about and kicking up his heels. Hopefully thats a good sign that the supplement is starting to work. The biggest problem I have with the supplements is being in a powder form -- I have to feed him a little grain to mix with it -- Lord knows this pony needs no grain! I barely toss in one cup of Dynasty pellets (12%). and 1/2 cup BOSS. He also gets some Glanzen for his hooves and coat.
Okay...the next step is to implement an actual weight loss program. We have LOTS of grass here, so I have to rotate him on and off all day (not a problem as I'm in and out of the barn all day long). But what should I actually DO to get him fit? I started taking him on 45 minute walks. But what else can I do? Oh I broke my own cardinal rule about mixing little oneswith the big horses and put him with a TB and a QH gelding and they keep him moving more than the mini mares...he really needs that.
My daughter rides him about 20 minutes at a time on the lunge (she's a beginner), about 4 days a week.
Here he is - 42" tall and 63"" round...this picture does not do him justice, he is MUCH fatter in real life!
