Posted by M. W. Myers, D.V.M. on August 25, 2003 at 21:36:28:
In Reply to: over weight posted by Debbie Foster on August 14, 2003 at 22:57:48:
: This is on another horse I have he is a 8YR. old buldog quarter horse he weighs 1250 about .His neck is thick .But he is not showing any sings of founder .HE needs to loose 100-150lbs.I have took him out of the big pasture and put him in with Blue.Verry small pasture.He gets now a diet of 2 cups oats and 1/2 flake of grass hay for all day.any advice.
: Debbie
A 1250 pound "bulldog" Quarter Horse is generally at a normal weight unless he is generally pretty small (less than 15 hands).
The diet you have him on will trigger a "starvation response" and leave him in a dangerous situation if he escapes to a lush pasture. Put him on a higher protein diet with a good balance of nutrients. I prefer 16% or better, the higher protein requiring less volume for maintenance. Feed a legume mix hay or bermuda grass hay in a reasonable quantity - a couple of flakes twice daily. A little exercise with this mix should produce the horse he should be.
M. W. Myers, D.V.M.