My vet just told me he thinks my 9 year old TWH is showing signs of insulin resistance and is in danger of founder with new spring grass coming on. My horse, a gelding, gained a lot over the winter because I stupidly kept feeding the same amount of pelleted feed even though he wasn't working. He's really fat and his neck is very cresty and he has fat around his sheath and tail head. Should I put him on some emergency diet? The vet told me to take him off ALL grain and give only a little of my grass/alfalfa hay. I don't want to throw him into stress by starving him. What should I do?

Where are you from? homer, IL

How did you locate this forum? web search

Hello Becky,

Yes, you definitely need to work on a weight loss plan for him. And, I agree with your vet – take him off of all grain. Since he is insulin resistant, you are asking for problems by feeding a high starch diet.

Give him plenty of grass/alfalfa hay and at “meal time” offer him alfalfa pellets mixed with some beet pulp.

You should also offer him a vitamin/mineral supplement, if you aren’t already doing so – one that is designed for high alfalfa diets (since alfalfa is high in calcium) – Select I is one that I recommend.
Keep in mind that weight loss takes time. So, be patient.

As far as the spring grasses go – let him graze in the morning hours, but take him off pasture in the afternoon when the fructans (sugars) in the grass are at their highest.

Let me know how he’s doing.

All the best,

Dr. Getty