anyone with an Irish D

[figgy]

Hi all please can I ask you how much your horses weigh ? Took my 17hh 6 year old to the vets yesterday his been under this vets for about an year last time he went I got told he needs to lose weigh about 6 month s ago , anyway got him off lorry yesterday vet said he looks like his lost weight and looks very well nice shine to coat , put him on weigh bridge and his put on weight then there telling me his fat and needs to lose weight :-( , I think my horse look good and find it hard to see his over weight he is a true heavy weight. Just feel that when vets weigh horses that dont take the type/ breed of horse. Horse has been out of work now for a year .

 

[Goldenstar]

We have an ID , he weighted in at 730 kilos. He's 16.2.
He was overwieght when he arrived a period of ill health and rest and steriods made the issue worse .
He was under 530 kilos at the vets last time he will be less than that now.
He's a much happy fitter healthier horse for it .
I was amazed that he lost so much ie that so much was fat it took me two years to get it off .
How much does your horse wiegh.?

 

[Passtheshampoo]

Photos would be good. I prefer to condition score myself rather than go by weight alone. IDs are big framed horses with plenty of bone.

 

[ebonyallen]

My girl is 15'3 and is 545 k, my vet has told me she should be 500k, but I think that is too low she would have a big bum and chest and nothing in the middle, they are not designed to be skinny minnies. Do you have any photos ?

 

[Goldenstar]

ID's where designed as hard working animals theywheredeveloped to work on small farms they ploughed harrowed pulled carts on the farm , went hunting when the farmer had time then pulled the family to church in a trap on Sunday .
They where not ' designed ' to be fat but to be good doers because they worked and worked and worked and got very little to eat because that was the econmonic reality of a horses life they bred from good doers because thats what was needed and produced a breed who gains wieght easily with in the modern world.
Saying they are not designed to be skinny Minnies misses the point

 

[pudz02]

I have an ID x but more ID 16.2hh mare, last summer when she was looking her best and weighed around 600kg. Shes lost a bit since then through winter but I think 550-600kg is about right for her but it also depends on muscle tone, bone etc they all differ

 

[alainax]

It really depends on the ID. I've seen some who are the proper old fashioned types, huntery types and some which seem really a lot finer boned.

Pics would help

My boy is 16.2 and a bit The vet puts him at 700-750kgs (no where near over weight, could even be doing with putting a bit more muscle on ) But he's a big lad

 

[ebonyallen]

ID's where designed as hard working animals theywheredeveloped to work on small farms they ploughed harrowed pulled carts on the farm , went hunting when the farmer had time then pulled the family to church in a trap on Sunday .
They where not ' designed ' to be fat but to be good doers because they worked and worked and worked and got very little to eat because that was the econmonic reality of a horses life they bred from good doers because thats what was needed and produced a breed who gains wieght easily with in the modern world.
Saying they are not designed to be skinny Minnies misses the point

I do not think that I am missing the point, theyas you rightly said were developed to work on the farm, so like wise they are not meant to be like a T/B who were not developed to pull a plough.

 

[Goldenstar]

I do not think that I am missing the point, theyas you rightly said were developed to work on the farm, so like wise they are not meant to be like a T/B who were not developed to pull a plough.

But they are not designed to be overwieght they are designed to work on very little food.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

ID's where designed as hard working animals theywheredeveloped to work on small farms they ploughed harrowed pulled carts on the farm , went hunting when the farmer had time then pulled the family to church in a trap on Sunday .
They where not ' designed ' to be fat but to be good doers because they worked and worked and worked and got very little to eat because that was the econmonic reality of a horses life they bred from good doers because thats what was needed and produced a breed who gains wieght easily with in the modern world.
Saying they are not designed to be skinny Minnies misses the point

I do not think that I am missing the point, theyas you rightly said were developed to work on the farm, so like wise they are not meant to be like a T/B who were not developed to pull a plough.

I agree with GS, they are often good doers and it is very easy for them to get too heavy. When I got mine she was almost 700kg on the weight tape and too fat. She hadn't been worked much by the previous owner and had been fed mollassed chaff. We took her off all hard feed and rode her more and she soon lost weight. We got her down to 600kg on the tape, which I know isn't accurate, and she looked much better. She was still a chunky build but not overweight.

 

[figgy]

Thanks all, my horse has a very big frame, I have to get bridles, saddle and headcollar s made to measure. Cant put pic up on phone. Thanks again guys .

 

[catembi]

I had an ID mare who was 17.1 hh & she weighed 730 kg. That was the correct weight for her - she was a big horse.

T x

 

[ebonyallen]

But they are not designed to be overwieght they are designed to work on very little food.

Have I said that they should be over weight, all I said in my post was that I thought 500 was too thin for my girl, she looks good at 545 you can see her ribs.I am also very aware that they are good doers, and have to watch her weight all the time.

 

[JanetGeorge]

Have I said that they should be over weight, all I said in my post was that I thought 500 was too thin for my girl, she looks good at 545 you can see her ribs.I am also very aware that they are good doers, and have to watch her weight all the time.

If your girl is a 16.2 pure-bred of 'traditional' type, then I'd suggest 545 is about the least she should be (if your weigh tape is an accurate one - I have 2 different types of weigh tape and one will show the same horse as 40kg heavier.)

Put it this way, my pure-bred rising 2 year old fillies, who've been out all winter on just some haylage (and not ad-lib haylage) weighed in for worming the other day at between 376 and 438kg. None of them are fat. And the rising 3 year olds - on the same regime - were between 484 and 530kg.