Pot Belly Horse

[TooMuchRebel]

Last summer my horse had a major pot belly. She was being worked hard at least 5 days a week and was on absolutely no grain, we were actually having to limit her pasture with a grazing muzzle. I’ve noticed she’s still got a little pot belly, but not as bad as summertime. We actually thought she was foundering because she was getting so fat. I know it’s not worms because we worm her and we actually just wormed a week or two ago, and it’s definitely not ulcers. She’s getting back into work after a 6 month layoff and is doing good. Any idea on why she’s got a bit of a potbelly and what can I do about it?

I’ve got one image from a short while after her layoff so she had lost a bit of muscle (and she’s got the wrap on her leg). A more recent picture was also included.

*And just to clarify, that’s not her pasture that’s just the arena. Her pasture is around 8 acres I believe.

[S1969]

She could just be fat. Hard to say from the pictures but she’s definitely not too thin.
Could be low quality hay (a “hay belly”)
Could be Cushings…
Could be worms - even if you deworm. Have you done a FEC/what is your protocol?

You say you had to “actually had to limit her pasture” as if it would surprise you that she could get fat from being on pasture…or even while in work. Many pastures are way too much for most horses. My TB mare can get really fat on grass if I let her; my easy keepers are fat enough on hay. I have to limit them a lot on grass.

I’d probably have your vet give you his/her thoughts about her weight and whether there might be a cause other than too much grass…it’s really hard to guess from pictures.

[TooMuchRebel]

@S1969

She could just be fat. Hard to say from the pictures but she’s definitely not too thin.
Could be low quality hay (a “hay belly”)
Could be Cushings…
Could be worms - even if you deworm. Have you done a FEC/what is your protocol?

You say you had to “actually had to limit her pasture” as if it would surprise you that she could get fat from being on pasture…or even while in work. Many pastures are way too much for most horses. My TB mare can get really fat on grass if I let her; my easy keepers are fat enough on hay. I have to limit them a lot on grass.

I’d probably have your vet give you his/her thoughts about her weight and whether there might be a cause other than too much grass…it’s really hard to guess from pictures.

I originally thought “hay belly” too but (sounds silly) didn’t think it was really a thing.
With the pasture, none of the other horses had to be limited and they were also being fed grain and they were actually ridden much less than mine. And with how intense and long her workouts were we all agreed (vet included) there was no way she could still have been gaining that much weight on it. And she was on a 22acre pasture in her previous home with only 4 other horses with grain and was on the lean side.

I’ve been thinking about cushings too. Her neck hair has been a little “wavy” and it seemed her coat took forever to start shedding out, but she also went into winter a little thin and we’ve had sporadic weather so it wasn’t too surprising. I have not recently done a FEC but she had been “good” everytime we’ve gotten one done, and we wormed with a “kill-all” for lice prevention the last week (our other one got it and so we had to be sure this one didn’t). Can’t remember the name of it.
Thank you

[TooMuchRebel]

I should mention that all the other horses she was pastured with were extremely easy keepers

[Scribbler]

Look up Henneke body condition scoring. You will see that obesity is not measured by the belly size but rather by fat pockets on the neck withers and tailhead as well as if you can feel ribs.

Horses can be unpleasantly thin and have pot bellies or they can be quite chubby and have a trim underline.

Pot bellies can be caused by poor quality hay that causes a lot of gas, or worms. If there were enough worms to cause a pot belly horse would generally be looking poorly though.

Pot belly can also be caused by lack of correct fitness. If a horse lifts his belly, lifts his back, uses his back legs and moves correctly under saddle this will develop both the abdominal muscles and the top line.

OP when I look at your horse I see slightly sunken hips and a thin neck. The horse has a weak topline and the belly is dragging down.

I’d bet this is a horse that may put in the miles but is probably going forward in his own preferred way of moving just slouching along. So the miles are doing nothing to build muscle. Lots of dude string trail horses look just like this as they drift along every day with no schooling.

I would suggest looking at the diet for vitamin mineral balance, maybe adding a ration balancer. Better quality forage. And some schooling work to get horse carrying himself properly.

[TooMuchRebel]

@Scribbler

Look up Henneke body condition scoring. You will see that obesity is not measured by the belly size but rather by fat pockets on the neck withers and tailhead as well as if you can feel ribs.

Horses can be unpleasantly thin and have pot bellies or they can be quite chubby and have a trim underline.

Pot bellies can be caused by poor quality hay that causes a lot of gas, or worms. If there were enough worms to cause a pot belly horse would generally be looking poorly though.

Pot belly can also be caused by lack of correct fitness. If a horse lifts his belly, lifts his back, uses his back legs and moves correctly under saddle this will develop both the abdominal muscles and the top line.

OP when I look at your horse I see slightly sunken hips and a thin neck. The horse has a weak topline and the belly is dragging down.

I’d bet this is a horse that may put in the miles but is probably going forward in his own preferred way of moving just slouching along. So the miles are doing nothing to build muscle. Lots of dude string trail horses look just like this as they drift along every day with no schooling.

I would suggest looking at the diet for vitamin mineral balance, maybe adding a ration balancer. Better quality forage. And some schooling work to get horse carrying himself properly.

The picture for last summer was after she had lost muscle from injury layoff so it wasn’t a great representation, but she definitely had some fat. She looked almost mutton withered and there was no such thing as a rib. But she also had lots of muscle, which is what I could’ve confused some of the fat for. She would work down into the bit and “frame up” as some people put it, but not in the fake way where people crank their heads to look like it. She had actual impulsion from behind and could rate between gaits and held herself well working barrel turns. Worked beautifully. Also did lots of pole work and cavaletti, just didn’t develop a topline as well.

I will try looking at her diet. We buy Tractor Supply Bermuda so I’m not sure how quality that is lol,

[Scribbler]

@TooMuchRebel

The picture for last summer was after she had lost muscle from injury layoff so it wasn’t a great representation, but she definitely had some fat. She looked almost mutton withered and there was no such thing as a rib. But she also had lots of muscle, which is what I could’ve confused some of the fat for. She would work down into the bit and “frame up” as some people put it, but not in the fake way where people crank their heads to look like it. She had actual impulsion from behind and could rate between gaits and held herself well working barrel turns. Worked beautifully. Also did lots of pole work and cavaletti, just didn’t develop a topline as well.

I will try looking at her diet. We buy Tractor Supply Bermuda so I’m not sure how quality that is lol,

If she is indeed working correctly but not developing top line then I would consider adding protein to her diet, either some alfalfa hay, cubes, or a ration balancer with the important amino acids. Plus getting the VM into her.

[BeckyS]

Is her pasture sandy? Horses with a sand load can look similar to wormy horses.

I would feed her sand clear for a week and see if it makes a difference.

[PeteyPie]

How many foals has she had?

[JB]

@Scribbler

If she is indeed working correctly but not developing top line then I would consider adding protein to her diet, either some alfalfa hay, cubes, or a ration balancer with the important amino acids. Plus getting the VM into her.

I second this. A horse who is such an easy keeper that they not only don’t get concentrates, but are muzzled while on grass, can easily be nutrient-deficient, including protein.

I would absolutely suggest a good v/m supplement, and added lysine and methionine if necessary. A few heftier v/ms have a good AA profile, those that come in serving sizes of 4+ ounces are more likely. You just can’t pack adequate amounts of things in a 1-2oz serving size. Think - Uckele U-Balance Foundation. Otherwise you can use a “regular” v/m, and add Nutramino/Tri-Amino.

But her weight doesn’t look to be a serious problem, so I would try a ration balancer first and see how that works.

[S1969]

@PeteyPie

How many foals has she had?

She does look a little like she has been used as a broodmare, but my TB mare has had 6 foals and once back healthy condition (had been neglected while pregnant) really doesn’t carry a baby belly at all anymore. (I know that all horses aren’t the same, of course.)

I agree that she looks pretty out of condition in this picture - which is interesting if she had been in reasonable work up until an injury. I have two horses that have hardly worked in the past year and they don’t look as unfit.

So I would consider supplements, as suggested, but in the back of my mind might keep a thought about Cushings if things don’t improve. Loss of topline/muscle and pot-bellied appearance are two classic signs.

OP how old is this mare?

[TooMuchRebel]

@Scribbler

If she is indeed working correctly but not developing top line then I would consider adding protein to her diet, either some alfalfa hay, cubes, or a ration balancer with the important amino acids. Plus getting the VM into her.

Now that you mention it, I believe someone told me to do that last year as well. I’ll try and find a way to get it in there. Thank you!!

[TooMuchRebel]

@S1969

She does look a little like she has been used as a broodmare, but my TB mare has had 6 foals and once back healthy condition (had been neglected while pregnant) really doesn’t carry a baby belly at all anymore. (I know that all horses aren’t the same, of course.)

I agree that she looks pretty out of condition in this picture - which is interesting if she had been in reasonable work up until an injury. I have two horses that have hardly worked in the past year and they don’t look as unfit.

So I would consider supplements, as suggested, but in the back of my mind might keep a thought about Cushings if things don’t improve. Loss of topline/muscle and pot-bellied appearance are two classic signs.

OP how old is this mare?

She’s never been used as a broodmare. Cushing has been in the front of my mind recently since coming out of winter as well.

As for age, she turns 12 April 30th.

[S1969]

@TooMuchRebel

She’s never been used as a broodmare. Cushing has been in the front of my mind recently since coming out of winter as well.

As for age, she turns 12 April 30th.

It’s not an expensive test, and the sooner it is diagnosed the less long-term damage it can cause. Might be worth testing either to get a dx or rule it out. If you rule it out, it will be just as useful going forward.

[TooMuchRebel]

@S1969

It’s not an expensive test, and the sooner it is diagnosed the less long-term damage it can cause. Might be worth testing either to get a dx or rule it out. If you rule it out, it will be just as useful going forward.

How much does it cost on average??

[paintedpony]

Scribbler is right. Lacking in nutrition. Add protein and ration balancer. Do not mistake calories for nutrition.

[China_Doll]

I do not think it is a “pot belly”. I think she looks like she is lacking protein and overall good nutrition. Also look at the dip behind the withers and top line.

She is not being worked correctly so her stature is showing that she is not round and not using the correct muscles which is making her look poor.

If she was off grass a few days she would really look thin. The water in grass plumps them up.

[S1969]

@TooMuchRebel

How much does it cost on average??

I think I paid $80. Less than $100 for sure.