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Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum. Feel free to post a comment or question. I will be happy to address your concerns regarding your horses' health. It may take as long as a week to get back to you, but I will respond to your question. Thank you for your patience.
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Lilly's Mom
 IP: 67.53.132.132 Jun 6, 08 - 8:18 AM |
When is it IR versus just plain fat?!
I have a 13 year old TWH mare who has steady gained too much weight over the past two years. She hadn't worked much at all and lived with her 27 year old mom who required high quality alfalfa/grass mix, which she also got to enjoy over this time frame. Needless to say, she went thru winter just fine! She returns to the show ring this year and I've been lightly working her. She's lost some weight, but not much. My girlfriend came over to check our riding progress and noticed Lilly has fat pads behind each shoulder. I noticed that too but thought she was just fat. My friend boards an actual IR horse so she's very aware of these things. Me, not so much.  . She also pointed out that she thought her crest was bigger and that she had fat around her tail (I couldn't really see much difference there). Other then this, I can't relate any of my mares behavior to IR symptoms. I don't really think there's been too many changes at all! We worked her much harder yesterday then I have been. My friend says to work her like that at least 3-4 times a week, and hope that works. But she sounded very ominous if the fat pads don't disappear with exercise  Lilly gets a handful of grain-literally ONE handful!- (Nutrena sweet stuff) twice a day, 90 minutes of orchard pasture in the evening, and good quality grass/alfafa mix hay. Outside of adding the grass and cutting back on their evening hay to avoid feeding her too much, nothing has changed with her diet since 2005. So....I'm lost. Fat? IR? |
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Dr. Getty
IP: 66.118.192.138 Jun 14th, 2008 - 9:40 AM |
Re: When is it IR versus just plain fat?!
Hello Lilly, All overweight horses are insulin resistant since excess fat reduces the number of insulin receptors on the cell surface, making them less responsive to insulin. The result is more insulin, and hence, more fat storage. I have a few suggestions for you: First, do not reduce her hay intake. You are making her more fat by doing this. Ironically, when you take away hay, she becomes stressed. And, stress causes the release of the stress hormone, cortisol, which increases insulin resistance, making her store more fat. Give her hay -- all she wants -- and at first she will eat too much. But, after a week or so, she will relax and see that she can walk away, rest, and the hay is still there. This will calm down her stress level and she will self-regulate her intake. Second, do not feed any sweet feed -- even a small amount is like poison to an overweight horse. And, it makes it very difficult for her to lose fat. Give her a low starch feed, such as Triple Crown Low Starch, as a carrier for supplements. Third, give her a magnesium/chromium supplement called Quiessence. She needs 5,000 mg of magnesium for 250 lbs of body weight. So, if she weighs 1000 lbs, give her 4 ounces (each ounce provides 5,000 mg of magnesium) per day until you see her lose her fat pads. Then, go down to 1/2 the dosage each day as a maintenace dose. Most horses do not get enough magnesium and borderline deficiencies can result in fat storage. Exercise is wonderful -- be sure she's getting the nutrients she needs to support her increased activity. A complete vitamin/mineral supplement such as Glanzen-Lite Complete would be advisable. All the best, Dr. Getty 
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Lilly's Mom
IP: 67.53.132.132 Aug 28th, 2008 - 6:07 PM |
Re: When is it IR versus just plain fat?!
Hi Dr. Getty! Thank you for the reply and I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. Summer has a way of going by at warp speed. I will call the feed store to see if I can find the Triple Crown and the Quiessence is on order! Lilly has also started cart training...my vet said it's great work for the stifles (another long standing issue with her) and it will make her move and WORK! The hay I have is an alfalfa/grass mix...and probably more alfalfa. Is this OK for free choice? Her pasture mate is an 18 year old ex-harness racer who would certainly do well with free choice, so no concerns there. I just want to double check because of the alfalfa. I'd hate to switch hay suppliers...I spent two years getting moldy yucky hay until I finally found this lady 1 year ago. Her hay is consistantly good, no mold and no waste! I'm excited to have a starting place and Lilly and I both appreciate it! Hopefully in a month I can write back and tell you how fabulous she looks! 
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