Where I take riding lessons all of the horses are very overweight. Is there a good website out there that tells me how much a horse should weigh for his height or breed?
2007-03-12 08:12:05 · 7 answers · asked by kkhurley1118 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
A horse should not weigh any particular amount simply according to height or breed. The horse's body scale should be assessed to determine whether the horse is over weight. On shaggy horses it's harder to tell but on a sleek horse you should be able to just barely see the outlines of the ribs and you should be able to easily touch the tops of the pelvis. If the backbone is exposed and ribs are prominant then the horse is under weight. If you can see no sign of ribs and there is a fat layer at the head of the tail, then the horse is over weight.
The only way to humanely take weight off a horse is to reverse the exact process that put it on. This means either more exercise or less calories. Better if you do both in moderation. Remember that concentrates (grains, sweet feeds, etc) were created for our convenience, not for the health of the horse. Horses are designed to eat all day so the best way to reduce caloric intake without stressing the horse is to reduce or eliminate the grains, and feed hay or grass. If the horse still does not lose weight, changing to a lower calorie hay or reducing hours on grass (or a grazing muzzle) will be in order.
Keep in mind that a horse that is overweight is in more danger of physical problems (laminitis,founder, colic, etc.) than a horse that is slightly underweight so erring on the side of a little too thin is better than carrying extra weight.
2007-03-12 08:22:23 · answer #1 · answered by SC 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
im not sure about a website, but if you want the horses to lose weight, then you could try riding them more often, like if you ride them 3-5 days a week try riding them everyday, and cutting back on their feed a little bit, but not all at once, just by like a 1/4 of a pound every couple of days.
also, ride them longer, and if you have any hills in the area, try riding them up and down the hills, and doing really long trot sets, and cutting back on the hay also.
good luck!
2007-03-12 08:20:11 · answer #2 · answered by d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let the horses have some fun ,or,you yourself can lose some wait yourself by taking them for a ride.
2007-03-12 08:24:13 · answer #3 · answered by katkilcrease 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A horse is like a human, it'll be as healthy as it's exercise and eating deem.
If you think the horses aren't healthy, mention it to the keepers. However they may be fine.
2007-03-12 08:20:09 · answer #4 · answered by Luis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
slowly take one hand full from their feed the first day then the second day take two handfulls and so on and so forth but if he starts neighing like he is hungry put one handfull and put it back in then you will know how muck to give then every day also riding as much as possible helps too!
2007-03-12 08:20:23 · answer #5 · answered by dancingqueenTP 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slowly decrease their grain and hay intake, even though grain is more fattening than hay. They should also be exercised daily.
2007-03-12 12:37:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well you have to feed them vitamins every day and take them out for an hour run 2 time a day
2007-03-12 08:17:10 · answer #7 · answered by amber (: 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋