Horse gaining weight

[Hometot]

We got a horse in the 1st week of November. And my neighbor got a new horse the week or so before. We had no idea but that horse had strangles. We kept them several acres apart. Made sure everyone washed hands. But… mine got it somehow… prob the dogs the ran in both pastures or possibly the day we got her and didn’t know what it was. Anyways. She busted under her chin 3x and out the side of her face where a bit would go once. She had a bad cough that went with it. It was pitiful but it never stopped her appetite. She seems all better now but she has gotten so fat. We were afraid to work her or ride her due to being sick and she didn’t move around much and stayed in the pasture. We would give her a small handful of oats morning and night and she always acts more hungry. She has access to a nice round bale of hay that many horses in my area are on and not getting fat on it. She sits at the gate waiting on that small handful of oats morning and night too so I’m not sure what to do. Shes in the pasture w a mini horse right now so she doesnt have a food competitor. Any suggestions ? Oh she also got lots of horse treats like prob 4 a day from the kiddos

I like her coming up out of the pasture morning and night … would it be better to not give oats and do a different hay? Or should I just start working her more (brrrr)

[Scribbler]

She is what is known as an easy keeper which IMHO is a good thing. But just like people you have to manage calories in and out.

Are you familiar with the 1 to 10 grading system on body condition? Look that up and do an estimation. Up to 6 is find for winter IMO but really obese will cause health problems.

Do you know if your horse has a history of metabolic syndrome, Cushing’s, or founder? All these conditions make managing their weight more crucial. You can research these on line easily.

Post a photo here would be useful too!

If she is truly only getting a handful of oats a day that will make no difference in her weight compared to all the hay she is eating. How is the mini doing? I’d expect the mini tobe obese.

The other thing is that if it’s mainly big belly you are seeing and not a fat neck and back, the horse is probably not overweight but maybe wormy. Or pregnant. It’s a mare, right?

I would ask your vet for an assessment.

[S1969]

When was the last picture taken - with the kid up? And when were the other 3? In the under saddle picture she looks too thin. The other three don’t look fat but not thin either…but it could just be the angle/saddle that make these pictures look different. If the u/s picture is current she is not fat, in my opinion.

Are you 100% sure that she is not pregnant?

[Hometot]

It was under a week ago. I’m guessing her belly blows up and pokes out mainly. it concerns me because when I look at her I can see her belly poking out. I’m very new to all of this.

she’s not suppose to be lol but since I didn’t own her I couldn’t be 100% but the seller is pretty honest and she never gave any implication.

[tazycat]

Only way to be sure she’s not pregnant, is have her checked by a vet. No she doesn’t look fat. Could also be a hay belly if hay is low quality.

[S1969]

@Hometot

It was under a week ago. I’m guessing her belly blows up and pokes out mainly. it concerns me because when I look at her I can see her belly poking out. I’m very new to all of this.

she’s not suppose to be lol but since I didn’t own her I couldn’t be 100% but the seller is pretty honest and she never gave any implication.

I don’t think she looks “fat.” She may be a little round in the belly - but all my horses are right now, too. They are not in work, they are eating lots of hay…and they are definitely not pregnant. But because I know they aren’t pregnant, I am not at all worried about them.

Since this horse is new to you, it’s worth having a general eval by the vet (maybe when you do spring shots) and ask about her weight, condition, deworming schedule, teeth, etc. - and see what they think.

[2DogsFarm]

Please clarify your description of “Belly blowing up & poking out”
“Out” from where? Her sides? Front to back?
“Blowing up” on & off or constantly?

Hard to diagnose this stuff online & from pix you posted she does not appear overweight.
Rather the opposite - could use some LBs.

As for your mini not competing for food - do you watch them eat?
My 34" mini has developed the habit of running my 13H pony off his grain.
Pony may pin his ears, but he allows the little bast**d to do it.
I feed grain in the stall - shared by mini & pony - & now stand guard to make sure pony gets to finish his,

Since you admit to being a Newb to horse care, why not ask your vet to give an opinion on mare’s weight & how to handle feeding.
Worth the price of a farm call to get good advice,

[Hometot]

Blowing up at the sides. I know overall she’s bigger than when I got her also… I could see a rib or 2 if I looked and now I can’t. She’s constantly bigger but sometimes her belly is super round and very noticible and funny looking and then it’ll seem less noticible the next day

the mini rarely will come up for the oats and if she does she stays out of the way until the horse walks off then she licks the bowl and I’ll try to sneak her some without the horse knowing. Otherwise the horse will run her off and eat it also ha

the horse likes to eat. If she hears us at all outside she runs full speed to make sure if any food happens. She is getting it. She’s very in your pocket type horse.

the vet is suppose to be coming sometime this month

[sdlbredfan]

Get a Veterinarian out to see her. She does not look fat to me.

[Scribbler]

@Hometot

Blowing up at the sides. I know overall she’s bigger than when I got her also… I could see a rib or 2 if I looked and now I can’t. She’s constantly bigger but sometimes her belly is super round and very noticible and funny looking and then it’ll seem less noticible the next day

the mini rarely will come up for the oats and if she does she stays out of the way until the horse walks off then she licks the bowl and I’ll try to sneak her some without the horse knowing. Otherwise the horse will run her off and eat it also ha

the horse likes to eat. If she hears us at all outside she runs full speed to make sure if any food happens. She is getting it. She’s very in your pocket type horse.

the vet is suppose to be coming sometime this month

As I said in my first response here ignore the belly entirely when you are evaluating weight. Look instead at the top line, the neck and back and hips. Looking at these the horse is more of a 4. Not overweight, a bit under muscled.

You are describing a stomach that appears to be bloating.

This could be gas in the belly from hay.

This could be mild episodes of gas colic.

This could be worms if your first wormer didn’t get all the species.

This could be pregnancy of course.

Mares get accidentally bred all the time from ungelded colts.

Also being unfit can cause a saggy belly as can poor nutrition.

Consult with your vet.

I repeat though your horse is not overweight and don’t look only at the belly.

[candyappy]

The pictures of her not wearing a saddle show a horse that is lacking fitness. She looks fine weight wise and I would not want her to drop any weight.

The picture with the kid aboard shows an underweight horse, so if that is the most recent photo, than I would say your hay is lacking in nutrition and I would add 2 grain meals ( AM PM) to her daily routine. You can feed oats and start out at 1 pound per meal . You can also look at other feeds and they will give you guidelines on amounts to feed .

Always start out small and work up by a pound per week so she can adjust.

When the vet comes out I would have him do a fecal and check teeth in case they need floating.

[PeteyPie]

I was surprised to see the pictures, expecting to see an obese horse. I agree with everyone else: she does not look fat to me.

[Color_of_Light]

Not fat, looks like needs better nutrition, and maybe is pregnant? The location of the belly swelling from both angles makes me think “needs a preg check asap”. I hope you can have the vet out much sooner than a month. A vet can determine if she is pregnant and advise you on what to feed her. The first photo she looks under fed, under weight, like not getting adequate nutrition and is not at all as healthy as she should be. She doesn’t have good muscle or body fat, The other photos she looks the same thin weight, but with a larger belly.

If she is eating for two, she need to be in much better body condition. Same, if she’s not. Whether she is or is not pregnant, it is very important that she is receiving proper nutrition and enough good food. Besides the occasional handful of oats, does she get any vitamins? What kind of hay is in the round bale?

If this is how she looks when she has “gained weight”, what did she look like when you got her in November?

[Color_of_Light]

@Hometot

both are still grazing and surprising not just sitting on the hay bale but the grass is pretty much gone at this point of winter. I’ll post pix of her today

If they are not sitting on the hay bale, that usually means they don’t like the hay for whatever reason. Maybe its not good quality, has weeds, was put up too wet or is sun bleached, or maybe it just doesn’t taste good. So, she’s not wanting to eat much of the round bale and the grass is gone at this point in the winter. I think this is why she is always running up to the fence and hoping you’ll bring food. She is hungry!

A horse needs to eat between 1.5-2.0 % of body weight each day in high quality forage (hay) to sustain a healthy body. Depending upon her height and weight, this around 15 to 20 lbs of quality hay per day. If she ends up being pregnant, she will need more than that.

[tazycat]

@Color of Light

If they are not sitting on the hay bale, that usually means they don’t like the hay for whatever reason. Maybe its not good quality, has weeds, was put up too wet or is sun bleached, or maybe it just doesn’t taste good. So, she’s not wanting to eat much of the round bale and the grass is gone at this point in the winter. I think this is why she is always running up to the fence and hoping you’ll bring food. She is hungry!

A horse needs to eat between 1.5-2.0 % of body weight each day in high quality forage (hay) to sustain a healthy body. Depending upon her height and weight, this around 15 to 20 lbs of quality hay per day. If she ends up being pregnant, she will need more than that.

If there’s any kind of grass horses will choose it over hay,even if hay is good & liked. My own horses are choosing grass over hay. They do go eat hay also but it’s about 50/50 deal.

[Color_of_Light]

@tazycat

If there’s any kind of grass horses will choose it over hay,even if hay is good & liked. My own horses are choosing grass over hay. They do go eat hay also but it’s about 50/50 deal.

The OP said there is no grass and the horses aren’t eating the hay very well either.

Not all horses will choose grass over hay. It depends on the horse, the quality, kind and cutting of the hay, and the type, stage of growth and the time of season for the grass. If it is a top quality hay, most horses will stand there and scarf it down, then go back to eating grass. If the hay is mediocre quality, if the grass tastes better than the hay, they’ll be more inclined to choose grass first.