Overweight Mare

[luthien]

Hi there,

I have a 16hh Anglo Arab mare who is 7 years old. I have recently bought her, she was for sale as a broodmare as unbroken and had apparently twisted her back initially when being broken (reared & went over backwards).

The problem is she had been a field ornament for over 4 years, not handled much & running with a mixed herd.
Anyways I have had her initially on trial but love her dearly and purchased her.
She is overweight (and it seems she has put on more in the last few months as moved to a larger field with less horses).
I realise she has to lose weight but I have spent a couple of months just getting her used to wandering around the farm. She is brilliant now but initially she was very spooky.
Today, we progressed to going through a tight uphill lane and into a forest...she was very good but had her nose to the ground, then head in the air and very alert. I had to keep slowing her up as she was about to march ahead...she is very good and will stop if I stop, or say wait.

However, I am thinking, I really need to get her walking for about 30 mins a day, then 45 mins, an hour and hopefully 2 hours regularly - not ideal as we stay in the Highlands and it's going to start snowing soon. Given its taken me 2 months to get her accustomed to wandering around the farm (she is fine with traffic and other animals now). I need her to be ok with going walks in the forest.

Is there anything else people can suggest to assist in building up her fitness and losing weight.
I have photos but not sure you can upload here.

[ladyndibs]

If the weather turns bad what about mini le trec at home, an obstacle course, walking over poles anything that keeps her moving will help, also raised cross poles will help a little building muscle, plus if she's busy she can't eat.
Is she rugged? Maybe slightly less rug weight though I have an arab and he likes to be really warm he gets very grumpy otherwise.

Pictures are great, we love them but I can't remember how to add them.

Good luck with her.

[luthien]

Thank you, that's a great idea...& actually it would be nice to have some fun with her.
Made me laugh at keeping her moving so she isn't eating, I take her little walks around the farm but this primarily consists of her looking for the best spots to graze.

I spoke to the people at the yard & we are going to see what we can find, poles, barrels etc...the other horses can have a go too. I think it will be good to have a focus & she appears to enjoy learning, I have a feeling she would be good at it as she is very attentive & smart :-)

[ladyndibs]

That will be so much fun if more of you are having a go and easier if everyone else helps, pics would be good and don't forget to let us know how you get on.