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Post by waspblue on Jul 6, 2014 11:34:32 GMT
I am aware of all the obvious suggestions, but wondered if any of you clever Horse Gossipers out there had any other ideas. All suggestions gratefully accepted.
Also interested in the use of Metformin to aid speedier weight loss and peoples experiences of this.
Thanks in advance folks x
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Post by chalky284 on Jul 6, 2014 20:00:48 GMT
The best way to slim natives is exercise, interval training particularly helps, and reduced food intake. Many owners (myself included) find it hard to slim ponies down but turnout on a hill of rough grazing, or on a track system with no added feeds unless it's a simple vit and min supplement really, really helps. It's incredibly difficult when seemingly bizarre restrictions at livery yards are against what we ideally want to do, but over many years the above is what I have found the best way. I would avoid chemical assistance in weight loss, as this can lead to dependancy and an imbalance physiologically.
Just my experiences and opinion but I hope it helps!
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Post by hs on Jul 6, 2014 21:29:23 GMT
A combination of exercise and diet.
If you have lots of grass you need to find a way of limiting intake for example strip grazing, or starvation paddock, less turnout or grazing muzzle.
Soak hay and only feed feeds with a low DE or a balancer designed for good doers.
There are no new miracle solutions I am afraid.
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Post by fanfarefan on Jul 7, 2014 13:44:38 GMT
ive never heard of using Metformin for weight loss , only for the medical condition EMS , diet, exercise , and time
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Post by waspblue on Jul 7, 2014 21:19:43 GMT
Thankyou so much everyone, you have all helped solve a huge debate between myself and a friend, who is adamant that my horse should have Metformin to lose his weight, whereas I agreed with my vet that it was not a good idea to mess with his insulin levels when he is a healthy horse other than being overweight. I hate the though of chemical interference unless there is a very good reason, so thanks for reaffirming what I thought was a bad idea, is a bad idea. We will just do things the old fashioned way - both me and him lol xxx
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Post by honeypot on Jul 7, 2014 21:26:05 GMT
clipping, a horse uses up 80% of its food energy to keep warm , that's why it so much harder to get the weight off this time of year. So I would clip it out even in summer. Also replace half the hay for straw.
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Post by Philippa on Jul 7, 2014 21:26:35 GMT
My mare was on metformin for 4 weeks when she was xrayed and found to have slight rotations. She was not sound at this point and my vet said the metformin was exercise in a tub but should not substitute the real thing. So while ever your pony is sound exercise.
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Post by waspblue on Jul 7, 2014 23:37:07 GMT
clipping, a horse uses up 80% of its food energy to keep warm , that's why it so much harder to get the weight off this time of year. So I would clip it out even in summer. Also replace half the hay for straw. Thankyou for that, I am thinking about clipping him funny enough, just wasn't sure how much of a difference it would make in the summer, so you have answered that question for me and have just begun to gradually start replacing hay with straw a couple of days ago, so seems like we're at least on the right track. I am worried about impaction colic, when feeding straw, but I'm sure as long as I introduce it gradually as I am doing all should be ok, with a bit of luck. Thanks again.
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Post by waspblue on Jul 7, 2014 23:44:41 GMT
My mare was on metformin for 4 weeks when she was xrayed and found to have slight rotations. She was not sound at this point and my vet said the metformin was exercise in a tub but should not substitute the real thing. So while ever your pony is sound exercise. He is only about 2/10ths lame on a straight trot up and it is only visible in the right rein canter on the lunge on a circle. Vet says I have to exercise him for three reasons, one to see what happens when we ask a bit more of him and also to get some weight off him and to improve his cardiovascular system. Apparently he is not lame enough yet for a surgeon to consider operating, as although the rest has improved matters he is not 100% sound and they will want him to be lamer for surgery. I am finding this utterly heart breaking, as I feel I am hurting him and causing him pain, which I cannot bear the thought of, but to get him better we almost have to make him worse initially, which is very hard to do when you love your horse so much that you just want to do the best you can for him. Thanks for your input, it's much appreciated. Hope your mare is ok now.
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Post by slyvia123 on Jul 9, 2014 6:58:22 GMT
Hifi lite and speedy beet, one scoop of dry beet to a full bucket of water so you're sharing the 5% sugar that the speedi beet has between however many scoops you get out of the bucket. Soak you hay for 16 hours as this is the optimum time and removes the max sugar.. Regular exercise and paradise paddocks are brilliant... theres a product called Lamalert that breaks down adipose tissues - these are the cells that stick together and create fat pads and cresty necks, they give a full advise service and also give a money back guarantee results are great if you google them or find them, there is also a page on Facebook called affluent malnutrition with advice on grass - different types of grass and the sugar contents of each..
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Post by richvale on Jul 9, 2014 8:29:20 GMT
I have used Lamalert on my Section B mare with a very cresty neck and it worked and broke down the fatty tissues. Recommended.
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Post by waspblue on Jul 9, 2014 21:10:09 GMT
Hifi lite and speedy beet, one scoop of dry beet to a full bucket of water so you're sharing the 5% sugar that the speedi beet has between however many scoops you get out of the bucket. Soak you hay for 16 hours as this is the optimum time and removes the max sugar.. Regular exercise and paradise paddocks are brilliant... theres a product called Lamalert that breaks down adipose tissues - these are the cells that stick together and create fat pads and cresty necks, they give a full advise service and also give a money back guarantee results are great if you google them or find them, there is also a page on Facebook called affluent malnutrition with advice on grass - different types of grass and the sugar contents of each.. Hi thanks for that, however my horse can't have either alfalfa or sugar beet as they both upset his tummy terribly, so I can use only Just Chop to mix his Top Spec Anti-Lam and also am using Lamalert already, so far no change to speak of, though he has only been on it two weeks. He isn't yet 100% sound due to a suspensory ligament injury but my vet needs him to be brought back into light work to in effect make him lame enough for his surgery, but also to get his weight down and up his cardiovascular system at the same time. We apparently have to prove that our conservative approach to him recovering hasn't worked by testing his response to he once he resumes work again. As for Paradise Paddocks, I have tried mentioning this to my yard owner but it is a no go I'm afraid, despite my explaining why it would be an excellent idea for her laminitics as well as my overweight horse too. Thankyou for all your help, much appreciated.
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Post by waspblue on Jul 9, 2014 21:11:05 GMT
I have used Lamalert on my Section B mare with a very cresty neck and it worked and broke down the fatty tissues. Recommended. Let's hope it works as well for us too. Nice to hear of a positive result, thankyou.
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Post by chalky284 on Jul 9, 2014 21:24:45 GMT
I wonder if swimming might help your boy? Don't know where you are but a few hydrotherapy pools are popping up these days. Might help the fitness without further damaging his pulled ligament.
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Post by waspblue on Jul 9, 2014 22:37:18 GMT
I wonder if swimming might help your boy? Don't know where you are but a few hydrotherapy pools are popping up these days. Might help the fitness without further damaging his pulled ligament. Hi, yes swimming did cross my mind too, not too sure how much it is though or where to go. Any ideas anyone pls?
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Post by chalky284 on Jul 9, 2014 23:18:17 GMT
Whereabouts are you???
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Post by flo1 on Jul 11, 2014 15:23:03 GMT
I would avoid chemical assistance in weight loss, as this can lead to dependancy and an imbalance physiologically. Absolutely! The first line in weight loss should be less food, more excercise. Metformin CAN be used as a weight loss aid both in humans and equines but usually only in certain circumstances. Personally I'd only use Metformin for weight loss in horses that can't be excercised for whatever reason.
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Post by waspblue on Jul 11, 2014 17:32:39 GMT
I'm in Cheshire. I have had a suggestion of an amazing looking place up in Settle, North Yorkshire and also Higher Spen at Burnley. I have to say that the one in Settle sounds like they really know what they're doing, when I spoke to them today.
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Post by chalky284 on Jul 11, 2014 20:46:00 GMT
Yes was going to point you in the direction of burnley, probably equidistant really in terms of ease of getting there? Fingers crossed it works well for you!!
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Post by waspblue on Jul 11, 2014 23:23:06 GMT
Yes was going to point you in the direction of burnley, probably equidistant really in terms of ease of getting there? Fingers crossed it works well for you!! Thanks Chalky, I spoke to Higher Spen today, but didn't sound as good as other one. Have you or anyone you know used Higher Spen please?
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Post by chalky284 on Jul 12, 2014 9:42:55 GMT
Years and years ago when I stabled in cliviger, the yard owner used to take her horse there and was very happy. But usually with anything it's best to go with your gut instinct!
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Post by waspblue on Jul 13, 2014 21:06:42 GMT
Years and years ago when I stabled in cliviger, the yard owner used to take her horse there and was very happy. But usually with anything it's best to go with your gut instinct! I agree with that, as every time I ignore my gut instinct, something inevitably goes wrong.
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Post by teabag on Jul 15, 2014 19:49:07 GMT
I've used the pool at Rathmell, settle... They are very good xx
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