Condition Critique Please

J

JessPickle

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Hi All,

trying to decide how to progress with the lovely Pickle. in July he was very chubby, we moved yard which helped with cutting down grass. So I set to ensure more exercise and less food. The result is below, however now I'm not sure how to progress! as feel he's now a good weight, so could perhaps up his hay intake. What are your thoughts?

FYI he is 17.1hh clydesdale x and is 22 years old, in full work. Hacks most days, jumps 1/2 times a month. Occasional fun shows.

Pickle in July. Looking very chubby

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Pickle Today (shortly after he bronked across a field with me, reminding me don't ever fully trust even a 22yo after a full clip!)

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He's lovely but I am biased as I am a massive Clydie fan. I agree that he is a good weight now to go into winter but would allow him to naturally lose a little more through the winter, so that he has room for a bit of weight-gain in the Spring.
Well done on the weight-loss, so far, it's not easy.
 
He looks fabby for an old boy.

Does he loose weight in the winter? My fatty used to put it on because he was on haylege!

I'd want to.maintain him at that. Is he still slowly loosing weight? If so, and as a long term fatty by the sound of it, I'd let him until he starts to look a bit lean then up his hay/grass. It does fatties good to be allowed to drop to lean as there's evidence it 'resets' their metabolism.

If of course he struggles over winter than I'd maybe start slowly feeding him back up to ' well covered'.
 
Love said:
He's a lovely lad! Love the comment about the clipping! xD
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haha, its so true. Was regretting the cavesson noseband on tonights hack, could have really done with the Grackle as he merrily locked his jaw, stuck his head between his legs and proceeded to squeal and bronk all the way up a hill haha.
 
JessPickle said:
haha, its so true. Was regretting the cavesson noseband on tonights hack, could have really done with the Grackle as he merrily locked his jaw, stuck his head between his legs and proceeded to squeal and bronk all the way up a hill haha.
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Love it! I was riding one of my YOs ponies who is 24 when my lad was on box rest a few months back. Thought it would be a nice quiet hack. Got to the start of the bridleway. Squeal, buck, head down and we were off! He pulled up straight away bless him. Good job he did, I was laughing that hard I think I'd have come off anything faster than walk!
 
Cracking looking boy, what a difference. I agree with the other posters, I wouldn't up his hay intake until closer to winter.
 
Thank you everyone, genuinely shocked at how lovely everyone has been about the old lad!

Hay will remain the same for time being. Hoping I may be able to have him fit enough for my first go at hunting this winter ;)
 
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