5WEEKS ON & moving again- and diet ideas!!

[Brunie]

HELP We have had a right nightmare the last couple of weeks. Ihave had Henry for nearly 5 weeks - I now its not long, everything was going great, daughter rode him, irode him a little jumpy, put it down to new enviroment. Anyway the YO rode him for me as I couldn't get to exercise him in the week. She called me and told me that he would be too strong for me and my daughter(Sophie 12) Anyway we were gutted!!! to say the least this horse lets you do anything with him so lovely wouldn't hurt a fly intentionally!!

The yard we were on was no good for him, no proper facilities for exercise, just a grass school that was being turned over from all the horses (7) . He started being naughty in the field and biting fences think he was bored.

Anyway I have had to move him, at a days notice lst Saturday, to stables with a rubber menage indoor stables of which he has not had since I got him home, Not sure if he really likes the stable m but progressing ok.

Anyway any ideas on DIET reduction, as Henry just seems to eat and eat, he is only on a small amount of food, HORSE AND PONY NUTS and a small amount of happy hoof the rest is hay, he will be turned out the end of the week as he has been in due to worming programme.
he really needs to lose weight HELP PLEASE PLEASE, you all have helped me in the past I really need this now!!!

[Tizer]

Have pm'd you.

[nutkin]

As he has to remain in at present until the worming programme is done I suggest you cut out the horse and pony nuts altogether as he doesn't need them if he is overweight and not doing any proper work.I would also halve his hay and substitute it with straw.This will have the effect of making him feel full but without piling on extra pounds.I would also try to lunge him if you can't ride.Just 10 minutes a day for an unfit overweight horse will really make quite a difference quite quickly.

[nfamber]

Dengie good doer, its just chopped straw with vitamins an minerals, its a good bulk feed that ive used in the past with sugarbeet. think its about £8pounds but comes in a big sack, it takes them along time to eat it. I also have to watch my ponies waist line.:) :) :)

[LindaAd]

As he has to remain in at present until the worming programme is done I suggest you cut out the horse and pony nuts altogether as he doesn't need them if he is overweight and not doing any proper work.I would also halve his hay and substitute it with straw.This will have the effect of making him feel full but without piling on extra pounds.I would also try to lunge him if you can't ride.Just 10 minutes a day for an unfit overweight horse will really make quite a difference quite quickly.

I'd agree with this - he certainly doesn't need the nuts. I'd give him nothing but hay,or hay and oat straw if you can get oat straw, in a haylage net with small holes or a double haynet so it takes longer for him to eat.

I've never fed Good Doer, I'd cut it out if it's molassed, like mollichaff; if not, I don't think it would do any harm. If he's getting bored in his stable, you can give him fruit tree branches to chew, or cut nettles.

[NoviceNic]

Use haylege nets and double them up. Use hay and straw 50/50. Also put a grazing muzzle on him to reduce the amount he takes in. Worked wonders for my greedy Shetland..:)

[hackedoff]

Echo all above. Get rid of the pony nuts and Happy Hoof (it is packed with sugar) and you may find not only does his weight stabilise but he is a reformed character, also you may want to look into a probiotic.

[Brunie]

THANX THANX THANX FOR EVERYONES SUPPORT, I WILL CERTAINLY CONSIDER EVERTHING. HE is eating a haynet in seconds, he has a small holed one which he chews so he can get more out, i will try the straw!!good idea.
Nutkin:- the lunging is in hand as we speak that should start tomorrow/ thursday.

[NoviceNic]

Put one small haynet into another small holed haynet. Keeps them entertained for longer...

[CurlyWurlyRach]

echo a diet change. the happy hood has loads of sugar in it.
Try HiFi lite and a general vit and mineral supplement 9i swear by the Feel good 30 one) giving Henry hapy hoof is often like giving a small child E numbers!

[Dummer&Drummer]

aw hope things level out soon for you

what 'exactly' does the probiotic do - er drummer has just been put on some and some antioxidants :rolleyes: