CC please on Beau and our jumping

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blood_magik

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Hello again :)
Just thought I'd share some pictures of Beau seeing as I had a photographer for our jumping session.

First of all, this is how Beau looked when I first got him
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and this is him now.
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we're slowly moving in the right direction. He doesn't look as angular. How do we all think he's looking? :)

After the disaster that was yesterday (see other thread: Feeling a bit let down..), today didn't start much better. :rolleyes:
Someone decided to turn their pony out in the school so we ended up hanging about for ages while they faffed around trying to catch him.
I ended up sharing the school with two others and one pony took a big dislike to Beau and kept trying to spin round and kick him :mad: It's one thing, having a pony who kicks but it's another when you can't control him and let him go for another horse who isn't within kicking range.
I'm ashamed to say that after turning the air blue, I was all for packing in my session and going for a hack but the other two decided to go elsewhere instead. wonder why that was :cool:

CC is welcome :) I know that I over-fold over small jumps so I'm trying to sit up more. I probably could have done with putting my stirrups up a few holes over the last few jumps. I need to give a bit more with my hands as well.
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links to videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzZm1-TeOAU&list=UUyt5goPATJoFj9zZZ_AoxiQ&index=1&feature=plcp

Giant milkybar buttons on offer if you've gotten to the end :D
 
Can't really offer much cc from that pic but he seems to be enjoying himself. Do you ever lunge him with a Pessoa or something to build his top line?
 
I would, I think he'd look so much better with a better topline. If it's too small I attached a flash to the rings of the roller then attached the Pessoa clips to the flash instead because I don't like them being put on tight and my mare is 17hh
 
I would be having some flat lessons on him to get him working long and low to gradually build him up, the only reason he wont have topline is cos he is not using himself properly.
he looks like a very honest horse

how long have you had him?
 
he's 6 and I've had him for about three months. and yes, he's rather big :p

I'm having regular flat lessons. he rushes a lot so I've been concentrating on getting him to slow down and balance himself.
I had no brakes when we started :o

he finds long and low difficult so we've been asking him to increase the amount of time he's working in a low(er) frame bit by bit.

he's very honest and a total sweetie to handle, despite his size. :)
 
Well he looks like he's having the best time.

How long have you had him? Personally I'd want a significant amount more condition on him. And he doesn't look great in his coat (compared to the first picture interestingly).

How big is he? And what's your management of him. What sort of work having you also been doing?
 
He looks lovely, and I think you managed to get a good amount of condition on him in the short amount of time. Agree with others that he needs more topline, but this will come with time.

The only thing I noticed about the video is how much he is swishing his tail, does he always do this when you ride?
 
Actually, just watched the video - scrap what I said about condition, it looks fine.

Was he vetted? In my original post I commented that he looks like he's having the best time - but interestingly watching the video he doesn't......:o

Any lameness problems?
 
Just watched the video. Before you Pessoa him I'd get him checked over. I don't know if he's sore maybe hocks or back but he does look very unhappy over every jump. He looks genuine so it's best to get it checked in case he is sore and starts to get bad associations, especially as he's young.

After watching the video the only cc I'd offer is he would benefit from schooling to teach him to sit on his hocks, he chips a short one in because his canter is not together enough. I think you could be much stiller in your seat and get back after your fences quicker. Your hands aren't doing enough to balance him, they're on his wither not collecting but then over the fence you don't give with them.
 
yes, he was vetted. he flew through it.
that's interesting - I've had his saddle checked recently but that was ok. he had his back checked after I'd gotten him but I'll get the girl to have another look.
he's due the last of his jabs so ill mention it to the vet.
he's not been lame at all.

definately best to get everything checked :)
 
blood_magik said:
yes, he was vetted. he flew through it.
that's interesting - I've had his saddle checked recently but that was ok. he had his back checked after I'd gotten him but I'll get the girl to have another look.
he's due the last of his jabs so ill mention it to the vet.
he's not been lame at all.

definately best to get everything checked :)
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Well that's all good then. Ignore my negative comment.

I would not put a pessoa anywhere near him, personally. Correct feeding and work will build up his top line. Although I suspect his overall conformation will restrict the amount to which you could build it up.

What are you feeding, and what work generally are you doing with him?
 
to be absolutely honest, i cant see any difference at all in condition between the first and second pic.

sorry if this isn;'t what you wanted to hear. Im sure it'll come though with correct feeding and more muscle/topline through correct schooling.

goodluck , he looks a nice sort.
 
I did work him quite hard yesterday and we argued throughout the warm-up.
I'm going to phone the back lady and get her to check him over anyways.

amymay - he gets 1/2 scoop of Alfa A, 1/2 molichaff, a scoop of alfabeet and some mix and nuts three times a day. he's out with my other two during the day and in at night with two big nets.

he's worked for 45 minutes to 1 hour five times a week. at the moment we're doing flatwork twice, hacking out once and doing a bit of polework and/or jumping twice a week.
I'm hoping to get him down to the beach once or twice a month to let him have a good blast.
 
blood_magik said:
amymay - he gets 1/2 scoop of Alfa A, 1/2 molichaff, a scoop of alfabeet and some mix and nuts three times a day. he's out with my other two during the day and in at night with two big nets.
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Mmm funny combination.

Why Alfa A and molichaff (which is actually pretty rubbish)?

Why not feed something like

Alpha A oil
D&D Build up cubes
and Sugar Beat?

I'd also get him out hacking more - if you really want to build him that's the way to do it. Doing as much hill work as you can.

But you have to feed him correctly.
 
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Is Alfa-beet not similar to sugarbeet but lower starch? :) my veteran gets alfabeet to maintain his condition so I'm using that as a conditioning feed at the moment.
the Alfa a oil is worth changing onto though.

I shall have a look at the conditioning cubes as well :)

ETA: he only started on Alfa A two weeks ago and also gets corn oil in each feed.
 
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i love this horse since you posted the videos from Ireland and I thought how handsome he was! However going by the photos (cant watch video in work) I dont think his condition is overly brilliant- I understand how hard it is to build top line but his coat isnt great either. Could you try adding something extra to his diet? I swear by linseed- my horse has never looked so well as he does now. I know there is no miracle feed that will build top line but like humans horses need protein if they are to build muscle correctly so maybe this is something you could look at when you are buying feed.
 
blood_magik said:
Is Alfa-beet not similar to sugarbeet but lower starch? :) my veteran gets alfabeet to maintain his condition so I'm using that as a conditioning feed at the moment.
the Alfa a oil is worth changing onto though.
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AlfaBeet is a combination of alfalfa and unmollassed beet - calorie count 10.5 MJDE/kg. Quite low in sugar.

Mollassed sugar beet usually has a calorie count of about 12.5 MJDE/kg but has about 20% sugar.

Speedibeet is micronized unmollassed beet and has a calorie count of about 12.4 MJDE/kg but only about 5% sugar.

All the above are low in starch.

I presume the scoop you are feeding is measured after soaking? Remember that chaff type feeds (which are rather airy) and soaked feeds can be quite deceiving in volume and although your feeds might look big there can be a lot of air and water in there! Bear in mind that a scoop of chaff can weigh about 500g whereas a scoop of nuts is usually about 1kg!

Does he eat all the hay he gets overnight? Have you tried him on haylage?
 
he's on haylage, actually.. sorry I didn't make that very clear. :o
Both nets are gone by the morning. I try to make sure he's always got a net when he's in.

I should really take a set of scales up and actually weigh his feeds. I've been going by the guide on the back of each feed bag.
It's taken me the best part of 6 months to find a feeding regime to suit my veteran so I guess it's a case of adjusting until we find the right one. :)
 
I don't mean to cause offence, but his coat condition in the first picture looks a lot better than the second one. His conformation is a bit "upsidedown" so it will require plenty of fittening/long and low work to improve the topline, but he does look a very generous boy who is doing his best for you. I think you are very wise to have his back checked again as he does seem a bit uncomfortable jumping.

I have found the Allan and Page "Calm and Condition" feed very good for putting on weight. It's a dry feed that you mix with speedibeet and water. I used this on a very poor tb and it worked wonders. She's now on Winnergy balancer and nothing else and her coat positively glows!
 
C&C shouldnt be mixed with sugarbeet... it's got sugarbeet in it!

I cant see the vid, but agree the condition still doesnt look good in the photos, but AM has said he looks better in the video.

Have you had his saddle fit checked, and the dentist out to him the past couple of weeks? If not worth getting these checked again.

I also agree with he needs more topline, and this will really help him to work himself in a more proper fashion. As AM has said the feed combination is rather strange. If I had free rein to feed, I would use Topspec Leisure Time Balancer, Topspec Conditioning Cubes, small amount of sugarbeet or substitue of your choice, Alfa-a oil, and Baileys Outshine will really help to put a nice shine on his coat.
 
Can't say that I can see any improvement in his condition between the two photos. I presume his worming is up to date ?

It could be worth feeding oil to improve his condition.


I would also be tempted to get your vet to check him over. One of my horses cannot put condition on if he is in sin anywhere - think bruised foot causes him to lose condition
 
thanks for all the advice, guys.

He had his wolf teeth out in July before he came to me and I had his teeth checked again two weeks later by my own dentist.
His saddle was checked two weeks ago and was given the o.k by the saddler.

I'm going to get his back checked and if nothing comes up, I'll give my vet a phone and have a chat with him.

Feed-wise, does the following sound better?
Bailey's topline conditioning mix
Alfa A oil
Alfa Beet or possibly Speedibeet.


His condition isn't the best, I do agree. Feeding is such a minefield.

ETA: yes, worming is up to date and due next week again. May get vet to do a worm count just to rule that out.
 
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