Thoughts on nutrition and condition

"Biggest Loser" competition winner!

In horse owner's life there are always matters to solve. I am deliberately not calling them problems because that would be putting a negative slant to it, which I don't wish to apply. As a new horse owner, I there are even more matters to solve! 

This week, my mind has been occupied on the nutritional front as well as saddle-fitting. The two are interlinked as Rainbow has recently lost condition. First I noticed that I was able to pull her girth in higher and higher holes. First, I was pleased about this weight loss, as she was a little porky when I bought her; well, she hadn't been used as regularly as I now use her. We don't do lots of heavy work, but she does get ridden and/or moved good part of the week, minimum 4 times a week and max 6. Usually the weekly work consists of one or two 1-hour long riding lessons, and two to three smaller sessions and one hack. If I am busy with other life (as one, occasionally, has to remember that they have e.g. a boyfriend or friends even...!), then I give Rainbow, for example, a weekend off, which she - weather permitting - gets to spend with others in the mares field. And now that we have our little paddock, I endeavour to let her in there for a couple of hours each day, minimum (it's quite boggy at the moment, so we need to limit the time it's used to avoid completely ruining it - so annoying). So, she leads a reasonably varied and active life, but not overly hard work, I would say. 

Since September, when she bucked me off spectacularly, I was advised that perhaps the once-a-day hard-feed (1/2 scoop of each: pony nuts, mix and chaff) should be taken away from Rainbow, as she was clearly feeling a bit 'too good in herself' and this was showing as being a bit naughty. Hard to say, as I am only starting out, so I took heed and stopped the hard-feed, keeping her only on hay. She is a good-doer, a Warmblood X - and I think the other part, the father's side, which we don't know about, is cobby - she's certainly sensible for her age and her horsey-looking-yet-delicately-sized head makes me think she is a part cob. 

But in the last month and half, the slimming has increased. Don't get me wrong, she is still looking good but I have noticed definite reduction in the condition - now not only the belly but also her shoulders, around the withers, and a bit of the rump too. So I decided to take action. I have reintroduced the hard-feed to her daily intake, but omitted the mix, which is heating, apparently. Then I have thought of adding a bit of oil in her diet. Annika suggested corn oil - and so do certain horse books - but with a little research on my dear friend Google, I found information which pans use of corn oil due to its high Omega 6 content, which is actually inflammatory (to joints, etc), whereas what horses need is more of Omega 3! Who knew? Apparently, Omega 3 is what e.g. fresh spring grass is full of and its properties are anti-inflammatory. In oils, apparently flaxseed oil is one of the best with ratio of 50% Omega 3 to 15% Omega 6.  (My main source, though I am not taking it as gospel and nor should you!: www.holistichorse.com/Nutrition/making-sense-of-omegas-flax-hemp-fish-oil-something-else.html)

I also spoke to my vet about the condition, etc. and though she admitted not being an expert on all matters nutrition, she said that what I am suggesting doing sounds sensible. She also recommended looking at sugar beet (a.k.a. beet pulp), as that helps with condition without adding fizziness. 

As Rainbow is smaller around her shoulders and withers, the saddle, which was personally made for her formerly porkier frame and we only got from the saddlers in August, is now sitting a bit too tight around the pommel area. When I sit in the saddle I can hardly push two of my fingers under the pommel, and my fingers are small! But, before I get a saddler to re-stuff and re-shape it for us, I have decided to use a Shires Gel Pad Riser to alleviate the situation. I hope it works, as I have a feeling the tight saddle is also affecting R's performance; she's been rather reluctant and almost too calm of late... Could also be that she's lacking in energy.

I am also now giving her more hay, when stabled, so she has a chance to munch on hay most part of the day - just like horses should, really.

I will take some pictures of the saddle on Rainbow tomorrow and send them to the local saddle doctors, so they can have a preliminary look at the positioning and thus help decide if the Gel Riser is enough at this stage or if I should improve the saddle sooner rather than later. But what if I get the saddle improved soon and then Miss Pony piles on the pounds again - am I finding myself back in square one with the saddle and another hole in my pocket?