Topline

[Alohapony]

Hello!
I’m looking for advice on how to keep a senior pony topline looking good.
I have a 28 year old 14.1hh pony. knocks on wood he’s still doing great with light/moderate work, he looks and feels good and has always been complimented that he looks great for his age!
I feel like he is slightly starting to look his age more so on his rump.
I was wondering what everyone would reccomend I can look into to try and combat that before it becomes anything more? I’ve always gotten great feedback from this forum and truly appreciate everyone’s help and expertise! Thank you in advance!!

PS: he gets .5 lb pro-elite grass advantage,1 qt standlee alfalfa pellets AM&PM. He gets 1 scoop of animeds aniflex daily and he gets hay multiple times throughout the day

[cayuse]

Has he been checked for Cushing’s? That can cause some muscle loss if they are positive.

[Renn_aissance]

Define “looking good”/what is the problem you are trying to solve?

Is the topline showing the predictable results of going from moderate to easier work, and he’s losing muscle because he uses his body differently?

Or does it appear that the muscle is wasting away despite similar exercise?

How is his overall weight and body condition? Skin and hair coat health? Affect?

For either, appropriate changes to exercise are likely a good place to start, whether that’s a weekly session of a marching walk over rolling terrain or belly lifts and tail tucks on the ground. But there are a lot of medical changes that could be at play, whether that’s because he’s processing and using his food differently now, changes to joint health that cause resistance to using the body correctly, metabolic disorders, etc.

[JB]

Testing for PPID should be a priority in the next 4-6 weeks. The odds are better that he has it, than that he doesn’t, so if he does, he needs medication asap ,then you can work on the diet