Condition critique?

Casey76

Casey76

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My 2yo, how is he looking?

He has just spent a month in the holiday field, and I was getting concerned he would be getting really fat. Fortunately he doesn't appear to have put any weight on (ribs are easy feelable with the flat of your hand)

Currently standing approx 15.1h (at the front!)

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Well, compared to my 2yo of the same height, I'd say it was very well covered. However, they should put on weight naturally this time of year as long as they are getting natural exercise. Just make sure he doesn't stay so well covered over winter as this is proven to increase chances of getting metabolic syndrome as an adult. The weight gain/weight loss cycle is very important according to leading vets and charities who specialise in laminitis. Not to mention, stress on soft, fusing joints. At this age, the hocks and hips shoulders and vertebrae are still growing...
 
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He won't need to drop much weight - about 25kg - before you can see his ribs, he is actually fairly lightly covered.

Now that he is back on restricted grazing, I'm sure it won't be long :)
 
dominobrown said:
His limbs aren't brilliant to be honest, he is out behind and tied in infront. Hard to say from the pictures. what do you want to do with him?
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Well he us hardly stood up for a conformation analysis is he? Both of my Mérens like to graze with their hinds trailing for some reason, but they both stand up square when asked
 
If he were mine I wouldn't be worried as I would rather they had a bit of extra flab on going into winter as mine live out 24/7 with access to a barn for shelter, unrugged and get add lib haylage and a vitamin lick with no hard feed, but if you were feeding/rugging/stabling etc then I'd drop his weight a bit now. Mine will come out of winter lean and with ribs showing - hopefully! - and then get to go out onto spring grass without me having to worry about them getting too fat or having to restrict their grazing, it's what they are designed to do, being fat all year round is the problem not seasonally.
 
Hope you're ok db?

If he were mine I would want him thinner in honesty. Biut if he does well it is difficult with youngsters as obviously you want them to have all their vits and mins and not restrict them too much as they need to move around as well as stay lean!
 
Alexart said:
If he were mine I wouldn't be worried as I would rather they had a bit of extra flab on going into winter as mine live out 24/7 with access to a barn for shelter, unrugged and get add lib haylage and a vitamin lick with no hard feed, but if you were feeding/rugging/stabling etc then I'd drop his weight a bit now. Mine will come out of winter lean and with ribs showing - hopefully! - and then get to go out onto spring grass without me having to worry about them getting too fat or having to restrict their grazing, it's what they are designed to do, being fat all year round is the problem not seasonally.
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Not strictly true whilst they are growing. I think current consensus with youngers is that it is very important to try and keep them constant to avoid huge growth spurts and then lulls. What you want is for them to grow at a nice even rate and the best way to do that is to avoid fat/thing/fat/thin
 
Sorry for disappearing... it's been a very long week at work.

I weight taped him on Tuesday, and it measured exactly the same (454kg) as the beginning of Jun when this was taken:

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I wish I could get them (both) to a weigh bridge, except the closest one I know of is in another country, and I would need a 1200CHF deposit to take them across the border.

I'm planning to weight tape them each week now, just to make sure they aren't gaining, though neither of them are on any hard feed, just a measure of Baileys Lo Cal per day.
 
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