Help ! Horse fitness and errm slimming ?

[Jenny--x]

Ok my horse is getting very fat Due to summer grass mainly. I am making sure I ride every day to get her back in shape and fitter. Will being fitter make her more forward going ? Also any exercises I could do to help ?

 

[Kittycat]

Round ponies present all sorts of problems don't they? You may find she is more forward going once fitter, my Fjord mare actually jogs in anticipation of a trot or a canter now she has built her fitness up.

Sustained trotting (if she can cope with it) is always good for losing weight. Plus you could do carrot stretches when you have untacked (always best to do them when she is warmed up from excercise) to help keep her supple.

Good luck!

 

[vimto92]

You need to up her exercise and restrict her food intake, not to the point she is starving though.

Exercise till she is hot and breaking a sweat, and don't feed anything other than hay if you don't need to. Give her a smaller paddock, or maybe put a muzzle on her.