Simple Systems MetaSlim?

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What are people's opinion of MetaSlim? I'm thinking of feeding it to my horse who I'm trying to get some weight off. He's ridden 4/5 times per week mostly hacking, gets soaked hay (not ad lib - I monitor it) and a few hours turnout a day.
I know it's expensive but is it good value for money? Haven't weighed him but I'm guessing he's about 650 kg and he's overweight.
Thanks
 
I am skeptic with regards to any food that claims to assist in losing weight.
This product isn't going to get weight of your horse though imo.

Increasing work reduces the excess fat and builds up muscle. You need a weightape to give you a rough idea and also so you can worm accurately.

The website says it's for -
  • THOSE PRONE TO LAMINITIS
  • OVERWEIGHT EQUINES
  • FAT PADS & CRESTS
  • METABOLIC ISSUES
But my thinking it's aimed at those with medical reasons for being in this position. Insulin resistant, injury, etc.
Have you had them tested?
 
Think I'd be skeptical too about claims of weight loss. I can't see how anything other than exercise coupled with soaked hay weighed etc is going to work. It would be nice if there was something out there that got weight off. As newforest says, maybe it's aimed at a medical condition? Maybe it can blast fat pads away but I'd check with my vet and ask their opinion first.
 
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There is something to be said for feeding some horses slim, if they are on a hugely restricted diet and not getting vital nutrients they body goes into starvation mode and holds on to fat, so when supplemented with nutrients from a suitable low fat/sugar nutrient dense source it can trick the body into coming out of starvation mode BUT that only works if they are lacking nutrients to start with or have a metabolic issue preventing the body from dealing with what they are getting properly. The answer in most cases is less food and more exercise :)
 
I'm very sceptical about it too, though I must admit that EquiLife's NoMetSyn helps a lot with my IR welsh cob. It's part of a package though, he's usually ridden 5/6 days a week, is out all the time on very poor grazing in the summer (I find being stabled doesn't help him at all) & has a low calorie balancer and soaked hay. At the moment he's almost too light & I've had to start feeding a bit!!!

What work does he do when he's ridden? Hacking can mean almost anything from a short plod to long active rides with a lot of fast work.

How long are you soaking his hay for, and what sort of hay is it? I have a friend who swears she soaks her hay, but putting it in a leaky barrow & throwing a bucket of water over it isn't soaking. Experience has taught me to avoid rye grass hay & instead feed meadow hay. How much are you feeding?

Sorry, more questions than answers there AliceKate!
 
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If you need to restrict the diet they do need nutrients. So this product would I guess allow that without adding too much sugar etc.
I was still surprised at the volume you need to feed, but that would be be the ideal weight of the horse not the current wouldn't it?
Interestingly mine gained weight on restrictive grazing, because she wasn't moving around as much just munching. She then got depressed and studies have proved that the release of stress hormones cause weight gain. So we ditched that idea after just two weeks.
 
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I am skeptic with regards to any food that claims to assist in losing weight.
This product isn't going to get weight of your horse though imo.

Increasing work reduces the excess fat and builds up muscle. You need a weightape to give you a rough idea and also so you can worm accurately.

The website says it's for -
  • THOSE PRONE TO LAMINITIS
  • OVERWEIGHT EQUINES
  • FAT PADS & CRESTS
  • METABOLIC ISSUES
But my thinking it's aimed at those with medical reasons for being in this position. Insulin resistant, injury, etc.
Have you had them tested?

Thanks for your reply. I think it aids with weight loss as it speeds up their metabolism, which when combined with regular work, helps them to lose weight. I've weighed him with my weigh tape and it read 725kg but I'm guessing he's probably about 650kg as a weigh tape isn't entirely accurate in my view.

Thanks for your opinion.
 
There is something to be said for feeding some horses slim, if they are on a hugely restricted diet and not getting vital nutrients they body goes into starvation mode and holds on to fat, so when supplemented with nutrients from a suitable low fat/sugar nutrient dense source it can trick the body into coming out of starvation mode BUT that only works if they are lacking nutrients to start with or have a metabolic issue preventing the body from dealing with what they are getting properly. The answer in most cases is less food and more exercise :)
Thanks for your opinion. The meta slim is a balancer so I'm guessing it will provide him with all the vital nutrients he needs and won't deprive him of anything. He will get it alongside turnout, hay and thunderbrooks healthy herbal chaff.
 
If you need to restrict the diet they do need nutrients. So this product would I guess allow that without adding too much sugar etc.
I was still surprised at the volume you need to feed, but that would be be the ideal weight of the horse not the current wouldn't it?
Interestingly mine gained weight on restrictive grazing, because she wasn't moving around as much just munching. She then got depressed and studies have proved that the release of stress hormones cause weight gain. So we ditched that idea after just two weeks.
Yeah I agree I think the ideal weight of the horse is the feeding guideline amount. My friend told me her 20kg bag lasted a couple of months I think.
 
I'm very sceptical about it too, though I must admit that EquiLife's NoMetSyn helps a lot with my IR welsh cob. It's part of a package though, he's usually ridden 5/6 days a week, is out all the time on very poor grazing in the summer (I find being stabled doesn't help him at all) & has a low calorie balancer and soaked hay. At the moment he's almost too light & I've had to start feeding a bit!!!

What work does he do when he's ridden? Hacking can mean almost anything from a short plod to long active rides with a lot of fast work.

How long are you soaking his hay for, and what sort of hay is it? I have a friend who swears she soaks her hay, but putting it in a leaky barrow & throwing a bucket of water over it isn't soaking. Experience has taught me to avoid rye grass hay & instead feed meadow hay. How much are you feeding?

Sorry, more questions than answers there AliceKate!

Thanks for replying. I've got a plan too, he gets hacked 4/5 times per week including hill work and power walking too. We don't just plod out. I soak his hay for a couple of hours and it drip dries before feeding. I feed 6.5kg of hay (2 x 3.25kg nets when he's in) plus a few hours turnout, usually 4-5 hours.
 
How big is he AliceKate, and what type or breed? I see you assume the weightape is overstating his weight, but be aware it could be understating it too.

If you're looking to get him losing weight I'd make sure all the walk work he does is power walking, with the possible exception of downhill if it's steep. Plenty of trot work if he's fit enough, canter if the ground permits it.

I'd be soaking the hay for longer than a couple of hours, 6 hours minimum & then drain & rinse with clean water. What's the grazing like that he's on? Would it be possible to muzzle him to have him out longer? That way he'd be moving about more.
 
How big is he AliceKate, and what type or breed? I see you assume the weightape is overstating his weight, but be aware it could be understating it too.

If you're looking to get him losing weight I'd make sure all the walk work he does is power walking, with the possible exception of downhill if it's steep. Plenty of trot work if he's fit enough, canter if the ground permits it.

I'd be soaking the hay for longer than a couple of hours, 6 hours minimum & then drain & rinse with clean water. What's the grazing like that he's on? Would it be possible to muzzle him to have him out longer? That way he'd be moving about more.
He's an Irish cob x with a bit of draught in him. I've only had him a month so hence why I'm unsure. He does lots of power walking and hill work and trot work too.
Time constraints and me working means I can only really soak for a couple of hours.
The grass is good quality but he's in a smaller paddock sectioned off, he does still have some grass to eat but he is prevented from eating too much. I don't really agree with muzzles due to the fact they often rub in the heat and can encourage horses to gorge on the grass once the muzzle is removed.
 
I get the problem with muzzles, but sometimes they're a necessary evil & it's not like he'd be wearing it 24/7. Movement, even pottering round a paddock, does help & is healthier than being in. Could he go out muzzled overnight & then stand in during the day? You could then put his hay in to soak when he goes out & put it in his box when he comes in so it's soaked for longer. Even if you put it in to soak when he goes out for his 4-5 hours & then took it out when he comes in it would be longer.

725kg, give or take the 10% that people often allow for a tape & user error, is a lot. As a guide my 16.3 ID was put on a weighbridge when he was fit & very muscled & he came in at 690kg (my tape said 680kg so not much error there) & he was a solid type, not the sort that look like a TBx, plus muscle weighs heavier than fat.
 
I get the problem with muzzles, but sometimes they're a necessary evil & it's not like he'd be wearing it 24/7. Movement, even pottering round a paddock, does help & is healthier than being in. Could he go out muzzled overnight & then stand in during the day? You could then put his hay in to soak when he goes out & put it in his box when he comes in so it's soaked for longer. Even if you put it in to soak when he goes out for his 4-5 hours & then took it out when he comes in it would be longer.

725kg, give or take the 10% that people often allow for a tape & user error, is a lot. As a guide my 16.3 ID was put on a weighbridge when he was fit & very muscled & he came in at 690kg (my tape said 680kg so not much error there) & he was a solid type, not the sort that look like a TBx, plus muscle weighs heavier than fat.

Hi. Have found your post & wondered if you can help. I have booked my ponies onto a riding club Weigh in with Spillers. I want to train my wussy pony to walk onto a board which will be similar to a weighbridge so he doesn't get spooked by it. I have contacted Spillers to ask what size is their weighbridge is but haven't had a reply (rude IMHO). Am wondering if all weighbridges are the same size. Could you give me an idea of the size of the weighbridge you have used? Thanks. :)
 
Hi. Have found your post & wondered if you can help. I have booked my ponies onto a riding club Weigh in with Spillers. I want to train my wussy pony to walk onto a board which will be similar to a weighbridge so he doesn't get spooked by it. I have contacted Spillers to ask what size is their weighbridge is but haven't had a reply (rude IMHO). Am wondering if all weighbridges are the same size. Could you give me an idea of the size of the weighbridge you have used? Thanks. :)

Hi. I think the ones feed companies bring out just look like they're standing n a thick rubber mat so I wouldn't expect a problem. The one at the vet hospital Jim was at was more like a bridge & by the time I turned up they'd been trying to get him on for a while & were on the point of giving up. Insurance said only staff could handle horses but I persuaded them to let me try & managed it by weighing both of us then weighing me & taking that figure off - to be fair they had already tried that approach but he didn't know them & was having none of it so all they got was bruises!

Maybe have a look on their site or fb page & see if there's any pictures of visits?
 
The one brought to my yard was about 8ft long and 3ft wide and maybe 3 or 4" high, it had fake grass on the top and none of the 3 I put on it so much as blinked :) the lady did say she found most walked straight on the grass one, more than the rubber topped one.
 
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