My miniature horse is gaining allot of weight?

Question

I just bought 2 miniature horses and one is pretty fat any ideas?

Answer 1

they get fat is is their way of life but they still need lots of socializing and activities

Answer 2

i once had a mini that was literally as big as a 50 gallon drum

Answer 3

minis are prone to this. This is how i slimmed mine down-

Cut back on grain and switch to a more concentrated grain like Legends low carb or starch. Minis need only about 3-9 oz. of grain per day. do not give hay if you have pasture. If you do not have pasture limit hay intake and quality. Do not feed alfalfa instead use a timothy or a mix of timothy. Feed at most 2 flakes per horse. Also spread meals out into small meals throughout the day. At least 3. at the meal time divide up their total daily meals by the amount of food. I.e if you feed 3 times a day and give 9 oz. of grain and 1 flak of hay at each meal give 3 oz. of grain and one third of a flake of hay. If they have access to pasture that is unlimited use a grazing muzzle at night.

Minis also tend to be neglected the proper exercise. They need just as much as the average horse. Use a round pen or small empty pasture. lunge them at least 30 minutes everyday. Up the workout to an hour per horse slowly with lots of trotting. They will loose weight.

Warning- failure to fix obesity in a horse can kill it rather quickly. They do get heart attacks, heart failures, strokes, etc. too. They can get arthritis, founder, and sway back. They are more prone to illness and infection. It is imperitive that you fix this problem immediately. A mini shold look like a full size horse as far as weight. The flanks should have loose flesh and not be full of fat. They should have good shape. You should feel their ribs very easily but not see them (unless they are bending or stretching)

good luck

also this is how a mini SHOULD look for referrance:

http://www.rarebreeds.co.nz/miniaturehor...

http://www.dentranch.com/DAINTYW.jpg

http://miniaturedreamparties.com/images/...

http://www.wardscreekranch.com/files/val...

the above should give you an idea of the proper weight. People who think minis are just fat are uneducated in proper equine deit and eventally their horses will fall victum to illness related to their obesity or lives cut short because of their weight.

good luck! you should see results in a month.

note- if after 6 months of this basic routine fails call the vet, the horse can hive problems that lead to obesity that are out of your control. Luckily most of these can be managed easily.