my mare is older. about 18 or 20 ish. she has a big big belly she is healthy except not having any top line she is sunk in around her spine and withers. she is on alfalfa 2 times daily she gets 2 flakes in the morning and 2 flakes at night and she also gets senior and beet pulp. i have tried everything but i dont know what else to do.
she gets rode like everyday and its hard to get her on the bit because she dosnt like to be pulled on and she will rear. she has a naturally low head seat. and she gets wormed regualary like every 2 to 3 months. she just has a (hay) belly
yes i know about horses i own 7 and she is the only one with this problem and i dont know what do do
Hey. We had a mare with this problem. She was a lot younger, but had really struggled, so I guess the same applied. Our feed merchent was able to find us a food supplement to add to her hard feed which was specifically for improving topline, and our mare went from looking like a cow (all hips and withers) to looking like a horse again ! I don; t know the specific name of it, but with some research you could probably find something similar.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Obviously, your mare's age is the main cause of her condition - many older horses lose topline, and it is often impossible to get it back, so don't worry that she is ill.
However, by far the best cure for this would be some really good grass. Hay and hard feed can only do so much, so try and find something green for her to eat, even if you have to rent a paddock.
You can't cheat a topline.
The only way to build muscle on a horse's neck and back is to BUILD the muscle. Up/Down transitions will help with this. So will hillwork.
If your mare knows how to go on the bit then she will go on the bit. If she has not been trained correctly and she does not have the muscling then she will resist (IE rearing). Start from the basics. Getting her stretching long and low at the walk, trot, canter and THEN start to ask for collection. If she is at a good weight and soundness then her age should matter little.
I would, firstly, have the vet check her for soundness and make sure there isn't anything seriously wrong with her spine.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
If she is rearing, I'm wondering what she is responding to. If it's when you pull on the reins, your bit may be too harsh for her (You'd be surprised how a hard-mouthed horse will soften right up to a french-link), I would try a french-link (Maybe a D ring), if you aren't riding her in one already. Next I would be wondering if her back is hurting her. A saddle is crucial to a happy and well behaved horse, as well as building muscle. If you use the same saddle on all 7 horses, chances are it does not fit her and is bridging over her sway back, putting pressure points behind her withers and on her loin. Having pressure points will cause her to hollow her back and rear because it hurts to move under the saddle. It is not uncommon to see muscle atrophy where a saddle has been misfitting for long periods of time. Chances are the saddle does not fit, mostly because no saddle is really built for a horse with a sway back (Some dressage saddles will fit better because they have very rounded bars in the back that come off of a horse who has a flat topline).
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
For this mare, I would recommend lunging her over cavalettis for a few weeks in just a halter. If you really want results, 5 days a week would be ideal. I would set up trot poles (5 or 6 in a row) and have her trot those, and then raise them a little bit as she gets stronger and is easily navigating them. This will do wonders for her topline and also help any arthritis that is deveolping. Do this without a saddle and watch her back and see if she is using it. Watch her neck to see if she is bracing against the extra movement (which indicates pain somewhere) or if she lowers her neck and stretches her topline. I wouldn't bother riding her during this period, think of it as an experiment to see if you can get her back in better shape before getting on her.
Also, you can do tummy tucks, which you basically tickle under where her girth goes until she lifts her back. If tickling doesnt work you can scratch until she lifts her back. Do this 3 times for every session you do with her-this will really help build those belly muscles that hold up her back.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com There is tons of books on cavalettis out there, just make sure to take it slow and don't push her too hard at first, she is an old gal and deserves some extra special treatment.
