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T O P I C R E V I E W
egzotyka
Posted - 04 Sep 2010 : 8:06:42 PM Any suggestions on how to strip a mare down - my mare is far too over weight and she just keeps getting bigger - i thought leaving her out rugless would help but she seems to be holding on to it or even putting more on - would coming in be better, with work? Hay? soaked or not? I am desperate as i want to get her in foal next year but i wont have any hope if she doesnt lookse weight soon - at the mo i dont work her and she is jsut on grass. I want to strip her right back, she has a horrid cresty neck and i think getting her neck back she is going to ahve to be stripped right down?
All suggestions would be greatly appreciated - i have never had grass like this before and they all survive on it a bit too well..
4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Freya and Ceece
Posted - 07 Sep 2010 : 6:57:34 PM I would try to restrict her grazing over the next 2-3 months, taking her off the grass from as early as you can in the morning until mid-late afternoon and giving her ad-lib well soaked hay or a mix of 1/3 hay to 2/3 straw in a small-holed haynet to eat when she's off the grazing. When the weather turns, I would leave her out with no extra feed and a light-middle weight rug so long as it's above -3C. When she's out, try giving her just a long, thin strip of grazing at the edge of the field (about 10ft wide). Only give her more grass by a foot at a time once the ground is completely bare. Then she will have to work a bit more for her food. Work is the best way to get the weight off, but do it slowly. There's no point in taking her out for hours when she's not used to it and she's probably going to have time off for a foal next year anyway. Fingers crossed for you!
Dot
Posted - 05 Sep 2010 : 6:45:11 PM Assuming you are not going to put her in foal till next spring do not rug her at all this winter and bring her back gently into work. Limiting her grazing would also help if there is excess.
Theo
Posted - 05 Sep 2010 : 11:14:02 AM Hi Sam's quite right, but I would be cautious not to make her drop weight too quickly as it may bring on complications such as laminitic shock... Personally, I'd do her in the routine as if she is laminitic, when she's in I'd replace her hay with adlib dried (12 hrs) stinging nettles as I find this brilliant for detoxifying the system. Also look into using some magnesium/potassium supplement to redress the metabolic balance. If sound, then regular gentle exercise. Restrict turnout area. Good luck! T x
s.jade
Posted - 05 Sep 2010 : 09:05:22 AM Try bringing her in during the day, and working her too, seemed to work for my fat gelding!
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