Exercise Program for Overweight Horse

morgangirl · 03-14-2006, 10:02 AM

I need some help putting together an exercise program for my overweight horse. She has recently foundered (3 months ago) and the vet said she needed to lose weight. We have her on a diet now and she is losing some weight but come spring I want her on an exercise program. I just don't know how to start. Should she be worked until she sweats or do I start her off slowly with a few minutes of lunging each way. I don't want her to have a heart attact or anything. Or should I just be walking her for the first little while. She has pretty well been a pasture ornament for the last couple of years, I think that is why she got so fat in the first place. Just to let you know how fat she is, she has a cresty neck, can't feel her ribs, she has fat over her back, she almost looks swayback but she is not. I know that this is very serious now and I want to get her back into shape. Also she is roughly in her late teens, the vet couldn't be exactly sure. I hope that is enough info.

JBandRio · 03-14-2006, 10:46 AM

What sort of "diet" is she on? She sounds like she is likely to be Insulin Resistant as well, with the cresty neck and the recent founder. With that "fatties", you have to be careful about reducing calories too much, or you cause other problems. It's not all about the calories - it's usually about rearranging the source of the calories.

imacowgirl2 · 03-14-2006, 10:49 AM

I would consult with your vet, or a horse nutritionalist...they would be your best bet for a good exercise program that she can handle.

I also second that she might be insulin resistant, and that should be looked into.

morgangirl · 03-14-2006, 12:12 PM

The vet has seen this horse and has been out three times treating her with the farrier. Wouldn't she have mentioned it if she thought the horse was insulin resistance. Some of what I have been reading suggested this but I figure if the vet thought that she would have said something and arranged for a blood test. She is just on hay. We use to just dump a round bale in and let them eat free style but now we feed them some in the morning and some at night.

Shotgun93 · 03-14-2006, 12:17 PM

Your vet might know, it's important to trust your vet, but you are also allowed to question them too.

Is she cleared by your ferrier for work? That would be a big concern of mine. Too much impact isn't good. That being said, I would start out slowly, working her up from 3 minutes eachway, to 4, to 5 and so on.

JBandRio · 03-14-2006, 12:26 PM

Not all vets, I'd say less than 50% based on my experiences, are even aware of IR in horses, much less symptoms of it.

Shotgun93 · 03-14-2006, 12:35 PM

My local vet hadn't heard of the test for it. I had to go to my good vet another town over to get my horse tested.

morgangirl · 03-14-2006, 12:39 PM

Jeepers! I never thought that my vet wouldn't know about IR. Should I ask her to do a blood test on her. But if I do will she even know what test to run. From what I have read you shouldn't put IR horses on a diet. Now I am worried. Should I phone the vet and ask her about the possibility of Lucky having IR or wait till she comes out at the end of the month or should I have another vet come out.

Blistering Winds · 03-14-2006, 04:26 PM

Ask her... WOuldn't hurt to ask if it is an IR issue.

As for exercise, a good, soft, solid ground is essential. Start with walking. Walk till they sweat up. After they hvae done that for a bit, and the vet ok's it, some trotting would do them well. MIND you, the vet/farrier must agree, the feet can handle the trotting.

03-14-2006, 10:02 AM	#1
morgangirl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,191 Images: 36	Exercise Program for Overweight Horse I need some help putting together an exercise program for my overweight horse. She has recently foundered (3 months ago) and the vet said she needed to lose weight. We have her on a diet now and she is losing some weight but come spring I want her on an exercise program. I just don't know how to start. Should she be worked until she sweats or do I start her off slowly with a few minutes of lunging each way. I don't want her to have a heart attact or anything. Or should I just be walking her for the first little while. She has pretty well been a pasture ornament for the last couple of years, I think that is why she got so fat in the first place. Just to let you know how fat she is, she has a cresty neck, can't feel her ribs, she has fat over her back, she almost looks swayback but she is not. I know that this is very serious now and I want to get her back into shape. Also she is roughly in her late teens, the vet couldn't be exactly sure. I hope that is enough info.

03-14-2006, 10:46 AM	#2
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,447 Images: 143 Blog Entries: 12	What sort of "diet" is she on? She sounds like she is likely to be Insulin Resistant as well, with the cresty neck and the recent founder. With that "fatties", you have to be careful about reducing calories too much, or you cause other problems. It's not all about the calories - it's usually about rearranging the source of the calories. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

03-14-2006, 12:17 PM	#5
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,786 Images: 132	Your vet might know, it's important to trust your vet, but you are also allowed to question them too. Is she cleared by your ferrier for work? That would be a big concern of mine. Too much impact isn't good. That being said, I would start out slowly, working her up from 3 minutes eachway, to 4, to 5 and so on. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

03-14-2006, 12:26 PM	#6
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,447 Images: 143 Blog Entries: 12	Not all vets, I'd say less than 50% based on my experiences, are even aware of IR in horses, much less symptoms of it. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

03-14-2006, 12:35 PM	#7
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,786 Images: 132	My local vet hadn't heard of the test for it. I had to go to my good vet another town over to get my horse tested. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

03-14-2006, 10:49 AM	#3
imacowgirl2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: here, there, and everywhere! Posts: 2,820 Images: 234 Blog Entries: 17	I would consult with your vet, or a horse nutritionalist...they would be your best bet for a good exercise program that she can handle. I also second that she might be insulin resistant, and that should be looked into.

03-14-2006, 12:12 PM	#4
morgangirl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,191 Images: 36	The vet has seen this horse and has been out three times treating her with the farrier. Wouldn't she have mentioned it if she thought the horse was insulin resistance. Some of what I have been reading suggested this but I figure if the vet thought that she would have said something and arranged for a blood test. She is just on hay. We use to just dump a round bale in and let them eat free style but now we feed them some in the morning and some at night.

03-14-2006, 12:39 PM	#8
morgangirl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,191 Images: 36	Jeepers! I never thought that my vet wouldn't know about IR. Should I ask her to do a blood test on her. But if I do will she even know what test to run. From what I have read you shouldn't put IR horses on a diet. Now I am worried. Should I phone the vet and ask her about the possibility of Lucky having IR or wait till she comes out at the end of the month or should I have another vet come out.

03-14-2006, 04:26 PM	#9
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,979 Images: 831 Blog Entries: 17	Ask her... WOuldn't hurt to ask if it is an IR issue. As for exercise, a good, soft, solid ground is essential. Start with walking. Walk till they sweat up. After they hvae done that for a bit, and the vet ok's it, some trotting would do them well. MIND you, the vet/farrier must agree, the feet can handle the trotting. __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

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