This message is from: Bonnie Michelis <toula...@gmail.com>
I have had my fjord since he was a weanling. He is now 15. Keeping weight off this breed is a challenge and I think alot of them are very prone to insulin resistance,. If you go to www.equinemedsurg.com they have alot of great articles for managing horses that gain easily. My boy had laminitis for the first time this past summer even tho he is worked alot. He was still overweight and to diet him I would need to dry lot him and he would have to go long periods without eating to keep weight off, Now I manage him alot different thanks to what I learned at this site. He got the weight off and keeps it off very well by feeding a low starch/high protein pellet and using hay bags. I also use a muzzle. I know he doesn't like it much, but he does accept it. When you introduce it, be sure they aren't very hungry when you put it on at first. Put a small treat in it so they think treat every time you put it on - they don't fight it then. They have to learn to use it by picking it up and placing it straight down on the grass. It doesn't work with very short grass, but my guy will graze the taller stuff this way. Since I changed how I manage him, I am able to offer grass without a muzzle 2 hrs a day without weight gain. I hope I am able to increase that this summer as the quality of grass goes down. Check out this site! My horse is never hungry anymore. You can put a new bag up and he doesn't run to it - doesn't shake his head and acts agitated when other horses are fed anymore either. It made a huge difference for us! bonnie in wi Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
