Cob experts - how's she looking going into winter?

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Bojingles

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As I've posted a bit, I've been ill and have a mashed toe, and have decided to turn the comedy cob away for winter, preferably not rugged for as long as possible. How do you think she's looking at this stage? She had a surprise foal in May, which we sadly lost. I worked her for July/August before I got ill, and since then she's living out and mucking about with her mates. She's 5. I'm wondering whether she's actually looking a bit too trim at this stage? I can feel her ribs easily and see them when she moves (although not so much now she's getting her woolies). For winter they'll go into a fresh field, with a field shelter and ad-lib haylage. How do you think she looks?

Excuse the filth, it took me an hour to even get her to that stage :rolleyes:

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PERSONALLY!!!

I like my cobs with abit of cover. And for me she is too thin, no topline but she hasn't worked so thats expected.

No she is not emaciated but I would be rugging her up. Keeping warm and dry with plenty of hayledge will help her. I don't see your reasons for not having her kept abit warmer seeing as she has no excess to burn off??

She is far healthier than being very fat but I think she needs to be abit more on her for me!

ETS. I would say she shouldn't loose anymore, because then to me she would be thin
 
She does look trim.

However, with a fresh field of grass, and adlib access to hay once they've eaten that down you'll be surprised at how much she should put on.

Personally I wouldn't rug. But appreciate the decision is a personal one.
 
Going onto fresh land with adlib haylage she should be fine, otherwise I would say she is too light going into the winter. I would leave her without a rug, you can easily monitor her condition and if she does drop off when it get colder you can pop one on.
 
amymay said:
She does look trim.

However, with a fresh field of grass, and adlib access to hay once they've eaten that down you'll be surprised at how much she should put on.

Personally I wouldn't rug. But appreciate the decision is a personal one.
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This.
I only rug if absolutely necessary.

If doing ad-lib haylage (in OP), I'd pop out some hay too so it doesn't go straight through her.
 
Shes 5, looking a good riding shape at present.
I'd be keeping an eye on her & checking properly at least twice a week (take photo's if necessary) to ensure she stays the same as at present.
She doesn't need to put on more, and doesn't need to loose any IMHO.

Be prepared to up the hay or feed ration if she does drop off.
As to rugs - why bother unless she DOES need them if she does feel the wet/cold (you know your horse, we dont). Most gipsy cobs dont need them (but a few do).
Better to give more fodder to ensure she maintains her weight if possible :)

Good luck :)
 
i agree she is a bit trim for something not in work and being turned away for the winter, but i would not rug her but up her hay now till she goes in the new field, she should be fine in there with adlib haylage. as has been mentioned its much easier to keep an eye on her condition without a rug
 
Wish I could lend you some fat off my mare! Shes fat rain or shine, through snow, ice and torrential downpours!
Wish it was as simple as just posting you some 'Tubby Vibes!'
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. Yes, she has no topline - what with the foal and then my illness she's not been in work more than a couple of months at a time. Following advice from various sources and on here, I had been planning to rough her off, hence no rugging. She also hates wearing rugs and turns herself inside out with delight when they come off :rolleyes:. However, I am a little bit concerned. I think for the time being I'll leave her as she is and keep a close eye. They've been on their current pasture since summer so she will have a fresh field and haylage, as I say. If she doesn't pick up a bit I think I'll pop a rug on. Thanks for your advice as always :)

Amymay, thanks. That whole episode still hurts a lot. I would've written to the RCVS weeks ago but have been a bit too clapped out. I got a reminder for the bill yesterday so that's spurred me on to get on with it.
 
I think she looks good if she was being worked, but I would be worried that she is that slender without work and going into winter. I would want a tiny bit more weight on and would rug when the weather is wet or cold and windy, but not if it's dry and still.
 
She doesnt want to loose any more, that's for sure. I disagree with the poster that says she will put on weight with grass and forage, the goodness is going now. Lots and lots of high fibre food is needed, like ad lib hay and with 2 high fibre hard feeds daily, something like cool and collected with basic chaff, with a cup of veg oil, some succulrants wouldnt go amiss either, like a few carrots daily. IMO, obviously:).
 
Another who thinks she looks fine weight-wise, just a bit tucked up. I think people have actually forgotten what a "normal" horse should look like..................
 
I disagree with the poster that says she will put on weight with grass and forage, the goodness is going now.
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Providing there's a decent amount of grass - and they're getting adlib forage I would expect her to come out of winter as fat as mud (without any hard feeds). Horses managed well over winter out 24/7 should do extremely well.
 
amymay said:
Have you thought about having her blood tested, just to double check everything is A ok??
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It has occurred to me, but she otherwise seems very well and full of beans. When she went to Leahurst with the foal she was very trim (a slightly different shape obviously) and the vet there commented on how good it was to see a cob that had decent body condition. That said, she was nursing and I'd expect her to have put a bit on since then. I've been pondering a bit more and think I have a plan for the immediate future. Until they move onto fresh pasture I think for a few hours a day I'm going to move her into the small next-door paddock and give her some hay then turn her back out with the herd. If I'm not happy in a couple of weeks I'll rug her and if necessary bring her in at night (I'd been planning not to not out of laziness but for my own health reasons!). If she doesn't improve I'll call the vet (a different one I hasten to add!!!). I like to have a plan :)
 
What is this "goodness" that everyone is going on about? Could it be the high sugars that get all these fat little piggies into trouble?
 
Cortez said:
What is this "goodness" that everyone is going on about? Could it be the high sugars that get all these fat little piggies into trouble?
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haha see your point, but this isn't a fat little piggy. My definition of goodness, is nutritional value.
 
Now if op had said mare was in hard work then she wouldn't look bad, however she is gypsy cob (notoriously good doers) who has been out scoffing on autumn grass and is abit poor. What with loosing a foal not long ago, I presume after going full term, then she may be lacking and could just be doing with a spot of tlc...
 
PlanetHacking said:
It has occurred to me, but she otherwise seems very well and full of beans. When she went to Leahurst with the foal she was very trim (a slightly different shape obviously) and the vet there commented on how good it was to see a cob that had decent body condition. That said, she was nursing and I'd expect her to have put a bit on since then. I've been pondering a bit more and think I have a plan for the immediate future. Until they move onto fresh pasture I think for a few hours a day I'm going to move her into the small next-door paddock and give her some hay then turn her back out with the herd. If I'm not happy in a couple of weeks I'll rug her and if necessary bring her in at night (I'd been planning not to not out of laziness but for my own health reasons!). If she doesn't improve I'll call the vet (a different one I hasten to add!!!). I like to have a plan :)
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Good plan, its how I would combat it :)

Just don't be posting next may ''help my mare is really fat!!!!'' ;):D

Good luck!
 
Blimey, no wonder there are so many cases of laminitis these days if people think this cob is too thin!

She is perfect weight wise and I would not be be giving her extra hard feed at this point - I would like to see her stay at this weight throughout the winter. Given that she is going to have ad lib haylage available, it is unlikely that she will lose weight unless she is known to be a poor doer, has health problems or gets bullied of the communal haylage. However, her weight will need to be monitored and if she does start to lose, then additional feed can be given.

If she hates rugs and has access to a field shelter then I can't see the point of rugging her either!
 
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