Free feeding pot belly

[RockyMountainMare]

Hey y’all,

Recently starting free feeding my mares timothy and of course one of them immediately gorged herself on hay. She had been a little round before since I’m just bringing her back into work after ulcer treatment. This mare has always been a bit troublesome with her gut (past colic surgery as well) so of course I figure free feeding is the best choice!

She current looks like she’s doubled in size. She’s pooping like crazy so I know there’s nothing stuck in there. When does this bloat go down? Will it ever? She’s only been free feeding for about 2 days and has already regulated somewhat, she does walk away from food and hangs with my other mare and I’m pretty sure she gets the idea that the food isn’t going anywhere but she’s still SO round I am actually concerned.

I feel silly for asking this question but I can’t be the only horse owner who’s free feeding for the first time and low key panicking their horse is gonna pop like a balloon.

[lenapesadie]

I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed anything like you describe. It seems unusual to notice a drastic change in just two days.

I’d probably be low key panicking too! I’d keep a close eye on her.

[RockyMountainMare]

I’m hoping it’s just bloat, maybe she swelled a bit since her gut is more full of hay? But I have no idea honestly this is the first time I’ve ever free fed my horses, I’ve been in a boarding barn up till now. My other horse looks fine, no change, but she regulated even on a scheduled feed and never finished her hay.

[lenapesadie]

I’m not sure what the cause might be but it’s good you are noticing it so you can continue to monitor her. She’s drinking plenty of water?

My new horse was on a ration of hay at the boarding barn and I started keeping hay in front of him all the time when I brought him home. He didn’t blow up at all (but he’s old and skinny).

Hopefully she’s just stuffed full and will settle down!

[RockyMountainMare]

She’s been drinking really well, much more than she used to ive noticed. She’s also pooping much more, both mares are about equal in piles. She doesn’t seem to be belly sensitive either. Just looks concerning but I am praying that’s just the way she is!

[S1969]

I have never experienced what you are describing either. How is she today?

Free choice hay is not necessarily the best option for all horses. What are you feeding (round bales? small squares?)

While you want horses to eat often, you don’t want them to eat too much. It can be tricky to get it right - and might be better to feed more often but not free choice.

[lenapesadie]

She’s not pregnant is she?

Good for you for keeping an eye on her.

[Weezer]

It seems strange to me that she blew up so quickly but if everything else seems normal, I would keep a cautious eye on her but not call a vet. I know lots of people are starting to sing about free-feeding but I think it’s really specific to the horse. My horses were free fed for several years and no amount of exercise could get them close to an ideal weight. Their idea of self-regulation is about the same as mine if you give me a tub of ice cream. I hope your mares do find a good balance.

[candyappy]

If she was already somewhat round then spending several days eating non stop would produce what you are seeing. What is your reasoning for supplying free choice hay? If your one mare is classified as even a somewhat " easy keeper" I would not supply her with unlimited access to hay or pasture.

Some horses will spend 23 hours at the feeder and not move which is not healthy in my opinion.

[RockyMountainMare]

I decided to switch to free feeding because my easy keeper mare had ulcers recently and I was noticing that on an empty stomach she was flightier in the saddle and more aggressive about her stall around feeding time. I was hoping if she could have hay regularly she would self manage and it would support her gut health and keep ulcers at bay!

She’s clever with hay nets and flings them all around so she devours two flakes of hay within 1-2 hours and then sits all night with nothing. So this was my next option to see if shed be healthier this way. I also believe she was free fed before I got her initially and I changed her to scheduled am/pm feedings at the boarding barn. However she had stones, a colic surgery, and now her gut seems to be quite sensitive. I was hoping this would help her.

[RockyMountainMare]

She’s the same! Devoured her overnight hay and left nothing but maybe I didn’t put in enough to start?
I’m giving them timothy hay in hay nets in the shady parts of the turnout and a massive hay net with about 3-4 flakes in it in a big Rubbermaid feed bin with the net tied down so they can’t fling it around. I go top it off every so often but usually I don’t have to until the late evening. The smaller hay nets I replace once a day.

[RockyMountainMare]

Nope not pregnant! Or at least should be, there aren’t any stallions for miles lol. She does get quite bloaty around her season time or if she isn’t too mobile for a day. I’m walking her out every so often to help her pass gas just in case.

[lenapesadie]

Horses like to make their owners panic. I’m fairly sure it’s a game amongst horses.

That’s good you’re hand walking her. Good to monitor how she’s feeling etc.

[RockyMountainMare]

That they do, this mare especially. If it’s not one thing it’s another. I’ve only had her 2 years and she’s gotten colic surgery and ulcers in that time!! She’s lucky I love her.

As of now no change, but they’ve both gone off to play on the hillside of our pasture so at least they’re bored with food for now.

[S1969]

I’d like to see a picture. My guess is she’s just fat but with a full belly it’s just more noticeable. There really isn’t a condition of “bloat” that isn’t colic.

[RockyMountainMare]

She might just be, I noticed she was putting on a few pounds beforehand but after the first day of free feeding, where she ate for most of the day and night, she was VERY chunky, like she was having a food baby. She’s also not getting as much exercise since I’m bringing her back to work from being off for a few months from ulcer treatment, until now she just roams the pasture with her buddy and there’s a hill they climb.

[lenapesadie]

Colic surgery and ulcers! Gosh that’s terrible.

My homebred gelding came in today with one side of his sheath swollen and my senior gelding is lame. My vet is probably tired of my panicked phone calls. Sigh.

[4horses]

I would assume she is over eating. I have one mare who is an easy keeper and she doesn’t self regulate if given free choice hay. She will eat until her belly is huge and tends to gain weight easily. I put up small m esh hay bags and she eats out of those. She is not a horse I would ever give unlimited hay.

[4horses]

If you use small mesh hay bags, you might need to double the mesh, or buy smaller mesh.

[malriis]

If what is going in is coming out, I would give it a little longer (a week or so) before I started getting too worried. It’s normal for them to gorge themselves if they don’t know that it won’t go away. You might need to get slow feed hay nets. Free choice doesn’t have to mean all you can eat.