How overweight is my gelding?

Question

My 17 yr old gelding is overweight. He is fed 2 flakes of coastal 2x daily and no grain. He is in a large pasture with light grass 24/7. For the past few days i have been doing 15 min of undersaddle trotting and some cantering. Is that enough exercise to get him to lose weight? Here are some pics of him from today. How overweight does he look?

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o51/Kdooo/100_3941.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o51/Kdooo/100_3947.jpg

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o51/Kdooo/100_3935.jpg

Answer 1

Sorry but he is pretty overweight. you can buy a muzzle that makes it so a horse can not chew or bite in the pasture. I think he needs to cut down on grass.

Answer 2

In my opinion he is not "fat" at all, he is a good size to me!

Answer 3

He doesn't look fat, just out of shape.  The grass belly will go away with more exercise, it just takes some time.  It won't happen overnight.  Start off riding him for short periods of time, then work up to longer periods of time (too much too fast isn't good).  Get to where you are riding him about an hour to an hour and a half a day, and you'll notice him starting to trim up and get more fit.  A lot of trotting is good, as it actually takes more work for them to trot than it does for them to walk or canter, so trotting will help him get fitter faster.

Answer 4

he's hardly over weight. He could lose a couple pounds, but mostly getting him in shape will do the trick. It'll make him lose some fat, and gain muscle. Once you can feel the ribs, but they aren't really stickingout, that's a good weight. That's a good riding plan to start w/ so you don't strain him, but i'd increase thetime each day.

Answer 5

Just simple riding him and working him will help tone him up.

Hes not really overweight just out of shape.  Happens to the best of us ;)

Answer 6

you think thats fat...hold on ill get a pic of my fattie patties

http://www.flickr.com/photos/party-time/...

i took tank and mac out of state that week so thats why tank isnt big

this is what happens when you let some one else feed YOUR horses when your gone

they where SUPPOSED to get one flake of a day

but they got 2

EACH one cup of rolled oats one time a day (half in morn rest at night) but they got a cup in the morn and a cup at night

i couldn't ride for a week  or so because they were so gassy

Answer 7

Okay, first off, your horse isn't fat, he is just out of shape.  To make his grass belly go away, you need to do exercises that will get him under himself.  When he starts getting under himself, then his belly will go away, and his back will lift.  It doesn't matter how long you ride, or work with him on the ground, but the work has to be quality.  What you are feeding him sounds like a little much for a horse that is only being ridden for 15 minutes a few times a week.  (and I am referring to being in a grass pasture 24/7).  BUT, when you start working harder on him, then what you are feeding him now sounds fine.  So I wouldn't change his feed since I assume you want to work him more now.

Here are some exercises you can work on to get him under himself:

Side passes

Bending

Serpentines

Tight circles

Collection (make sure your horse is still moving forward)

Go on trail rides, and go up and down a lot of hills

It mainly sounds like you just need to do more exercises with him.  But it is always better to have an overweight horse than an underweight horse, because in most cases, it is easier for a horse to lose weight then to put it on.  My horse has a hard time putting weight on, but I do a lot of these exercises to make sure he maintains his muscle and shape.  I also have to give him extra feed.  But if you just start doing more with him, then I am sure he will start getting in better shape.  I hope this helps!

Answer 8

He isn't that overweight but If you really want him to lose some weight you could cut his food down to only one flake.