How do I get him to lose weight??

[mrbsmum]

Wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a fat little mini Shetland who seems to get fat on air!

We recently moved to a new yard with no winter turnout, so he's on hardstanding with two companions for the winter - no access to grass at all.

He gets one feed of 0.5kg of hi fi lite in the morning, and one 3kg haynet, and then the same in the PM. He currently gets 1/4 a scoop of in the pink powder in his feed too, not because I like what it does for him but because he likes the taste, and without it he throws his chaff on the floor and goes on a rampage throwing water buckets around and generally being a brat while the others are eating their feed (I should note this is the only reason he gets a feed and not just a bit more hay - the other Shetty and the icey need one, and if he doesn't get something too he throws the most mammoth of strops, so this is kind of keeping peace - ish!)

The other guys (another mini shettie and an icelandic) also get fed, separately to him, and then get haynets (3kg for the shettie, 6kg for the icey) - the haynets are acessible to all (although the 6kg is tied up higher so he can't get to it easily!) although we've been watching him and the others seem to be defending their nets

I'd say currently he's about a 4 - 4.5 body condition (hard to be really accurate with all his poofy hair)- and I was REALLY REALLY hoping to get some weight off him this winter before he gets even fatter this spring, but nope, he is staying resolutely fat fat fatty fat. We have a 'belly string'I use to measure how big he is (he's too small for our weight tape) and he managed to lose, and then re gain (goodness knows how!!) an inch this month, but otherwise he is not budging...

His hay is not soaked, but I'm not sure if I can go down that route with the other guys not needing their soaked (the downfall of shared turnout/hay). Anyone here have experience of how to manage soaked hay in a mixed herd where only one of them requires it?? I don't think I can cut him down any further as I'm worried about him not getting enough roughage otherwise.

He isn't in work - but I'm going to try and up his exercise, even if that means I have to stand in the arena in the pitch dark with my headtorch on chasing him about with a schooling whip...

Anyone else have fat miniatures who are too small to be ridden or do anything useful?? What on earth to I do with this little porker???

[VeronicaF]

mine can get fat too mrbsmum,its a hard one,can you separate,sorry spelling, but can you do that for the feeds
pink powder mmmmmmmmmmmmm,could be the problem? what about safe and sound for him?
he needs hay,thats important, mine have a turnout area which they run around crazy on,by themselfs playing
can you turn him out with another one in the arena to have a run around together?
you could use smaller square hay nets so it takes him longer to get it out.

other than that I can't help with anymore advice
sorry

its so easy to put too much feed in their feeds,my mistake when I am in a rush

[mrbsmum]

I can separate for as long as it takes for them to eat their feeds, but if I shut him up for any longer than that he goes a bit nuts - I don't think it will be the pink powder at present (although it isn't ideal), as he's only been on that for about 4 days as a last ditch attempt to get him to eat plain chaff previously he had baileys lo-cal which I stopped when I realised he was still not losing, and that is when we started to get the 'I don't like plain chaff' tantrums. Had him on happy hoof last year, but he gained on that too, which is why I switched to chaff with something I could mix in so I had total control...

Any ideas of stuff I could put in the chaff to make it tasty without adding calories?? I tried garlic and he made it very clear he did not like that (upturned his water bucket in protest and threw stuff about the stable!)

He's already on a greedyfeeder extra small hole haynet!

I'm going to start taking him up to the arena at night to run him round with my headtorch on - I can't turn him out in it as the sides are overgrown with weeds, and him and his pal just spend the whole flippin time eating them!

It'll be so much easier when it gets lighter in the evenings - at least then I'll be able to get him out for walks after work... Although then we'll be worrying about the grass growing instead I guess. :S

[VeronicaF]

what about safe and sound?








Safe & Sound--Ultra-low calorie to avoid weight gain.


In addition Safe & Sound is ideal for slowing down greedy feeders.


its not like happy hoof.



High fibre, low starch and sugar, forage-based complete feed for horses and ponies prone to laminitis.

Information:

Based on laminitis research, Safe & Sound contains the highest specification nutrition to support health, hoof quality and mobility, is highly palatable and can be used all year round.

Ultra-low calorie to avoid weight gain.

Less than 10% combined starch and sugar, so suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis.
Concentrated nutrition coupled with a high fibre forage base provides occupational therapy and maximises chewing, without adding extra calories.
Contains our patented QLC antioxidant package to ‘mop-up’ excess free radicals.
Added live Actisaf yeast to support digestive function.
Fully fortified with vitamins and chelated minerals, including B vitamins, effective levels of biotin and MSM to maximise health.
Feeding guidelines:
300g/100kg bodyweight
500kg horse = 2 ½ scoops (1.5kg) per day

VITS AND MINS B VITA MINS ANTI OXID ANTS
BIOTIN AND ZINC LIVE ACTISAF YEAST
Find out more...

Stockist Locator
Nutritional Analysis:
Est. Digestible Energy MJ/kg 8.5
Crude Protein % 8.0
Crude Oils and Fats % 4.0
Crude Fibre % 23.0
Crude Ash % 10.0
Composition:
Related Products:

[antares]

how big is the hard standing area?

my ponies seem to be in better condition in the summer (less fat!) when they are on their track system - in the winter they stand about more and get festively plump!!