Am I horrible and mean??

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flump

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Meet Burt my 16.2hh ISH. Normally through winter burt is in work/fully clipped etc stabled and rugged. This year have been mad busy so turned him away with my retired tb..Had him rugged in a rambo optimo but he trashed it! So he has just had a masta 200g m/w turnout on, he hasnt been cold once even through wind/rain/snow/frost... So my question is does he look to fat? I have taken rug off today but meant to get cold again, should i re rug or will he be ok out naked? Heres a pic of him.
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And heres just a pic of my other boys for anyone who cares!
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If he's been rugged over the winter I'd at least rug him when it is cold (it's to be - *C this weekend)? He looks a little heavy but I think it unfair to make them lose weight by being cold...surely they would then put more fat down for insulation, lol.
 
cheeryplatypus said:
If he's been rugged over the winter I'd at least rug him when it is cold (it's to be - *C this weekend)? He looks a little heavy but I think it unfair to make them lose weight by being cold...surely they would then put more fat down for insulation, lol.
Click to expand...

^ this - he look very well for being turned away
 
He is fat, I agree it's not fair to make him cold to lose weight but he may be too warm, suggest a lightweight T/O and stop feeding hard feed, looks like a bucket there? Just some forage if there's no grass.
 
He gets fed fast fibre and mollichaff, not a lot just something to eat as he's out with my tb so he has to have something while goggs eats! Pic is a bit decieving as its actually 40 acres of field so they just get fed hay when its snowy or frosty!
 
If he was mine I would cut down on the food a bit but still rug him!!! The weight will come off when he is in work again!

He looks quite well pleased with himself, so he does not unhappy with the situation.

I thinks it's easier when you need to feed them lots......good doers are really hard work at times!
 
I'm going to go against the grain here, my TB/Welsh D and ID/Welsh D have both got a bit porky lately, so I've put the TB/Wd in a lightweight rug (and he's fully clipped), and my other trace clipped horse is naked (and was naked in the snow too). Given the choice I think they'd rather be more active and burn calories keeping warm than having their diet restricted. Keeps the gut healthier too! :)
 
I would leave with out rug but just make sure they have plenty of ie hay etc if its below 5 centrigrade as they need to keep eating and as hay is low calorie but bulk I would ad lib hay if grass is poor.

If he has been rugged really his coat will not have grown sufficiently to form that warm layer but its hard to tell from the photos.

I dont know how to put pics on but mine is out 24/7 looks like a bille goat gruff and very hairy..I can bury my fingers in his coat, has just started to moult ++ and once he loses his winter woollies he looks a lot slimmer..a lot of folks think I have clipped him in the summer.

I wouldnt give hard feed if they are not being worked. Just lots of bulk and a mineral cheapy £2 block of salt/mineral.

My sisters hardy mare sec D I remember physically shaking in the bitter weather despite living out 24/7 the rug went on when we started getting to the 0 cent and minus! She was fine then. If he seems happy as larry would leave alone and keep an eye on him.
 
Thanks for everyones replies! His coat his quite thick and he is moulting!! It just looks quite flattened as I'd just pulled rug off, he has lots of grass and altho there is prob no goodness in it they will eat it. They won't eat hay unless its snow/frost. Maybe I should just pull my finger out and bring the big oaf back into work!!
 
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