Condition Score advice (please!)

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Scot123

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Evening all. I know there's a few of these sort of messages been posted recently but I really would appreciate knowing your thoughts. I've tried comparing the pony to the charts and photos that you get, but am still undecided how she scores. I thought that if I had a few experts points of views it could be a baseline to work on from now on. So thoughts appreciated :)

Not sure quite how accurate the photos are - when you look at her in real life there's a (minimal) outline of ribs and a fairly defined tail-head.

Hopefully you can see the photos OK - they are in the album on my profile (could NOT work out how to make them show here, sorry! :confused:)
 
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Really? From the condition scoring point of view, what do I need to look for to see that?

You see, when I've been doing the score she comes out on the slightly too thin side. I've struggled all winter to keep weight and condition on her and I thought she was still a bit under due to ribs being visitble and the tail-head etc. This is where the extra opinions come in very useful - thanks!
 
I am not an expert by any stretch, and very difficult from photos, but I'd say a little over 3 so for me I'd want some weight off.

The pick of her bottom looks just about starting to be apple shaped
She has quite a big hay belly
The pick of her neck without the mane - looks like she's starting to get a touch cresty in the neck - it could be muscle have a good feel and if it wobbles - it's not muscle!!
 
She looks well but definitely on the fleshy side. From the back end she does apprear to be getting a loin crease which indicates fat build up. I would say you definitely don't want her any fatter - especially as she is a native pony.
Size of belly has no bearing on weight. She would have a grass belly/hay belly if the grazing/forage is poor or if she is not in moderate/hard work - but OP I think you would be better laying off the hard feed/mixes and just have her on grazing/hay with a forage balancer.
Edinburgh university vet school run a free online equine nutrition course at www.coursera.org/equinenutrition and this covers body condition and weight management really well. They are inviting people to sign up for the next one, so you might like to have a look at that.
 
It's really really difficult to tell from photographs, it all depends on how she is standing etc. Check her against this http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Right-Weight and download their Right Weight leaflet. They use the 5 point system, there is a 9 point one used on the Coursera course (above) but I can't remember what it is called. If someone else can you can google it
 
Hi - thank you. Good to have opinions that are all much the same, makes it easier!

That gives me a good base point to work from if everyone's thinking she's about a 3. I think the photos skew it a bit as she's actually standing on a fairly steep slope, but can't imagine they'd change the shape of her belly or neck too much so hopefully they're accurate enough.

What you say about her belly is very true - she's not really in work AND is on poor, rough grazing, so am impressed by that!!

I think I might have been a bit thrown by the visible ribs/tail-head, so thanks for pointing me in the right direction :)
 
I think she's carrying a little too much weight and is under muscled. She just looks unfit to me.

The visibility of ribs and tail bone is more lack of muscle than being underweight. She's got a big grass belly, she's definitely not underweight. When in more work she would look more well covered as she muscles up.

I can always see my tbs ribs and tail bone, especially when she's not in work and also gets a big grass belly like yours but she certainly isn't underweight -

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I certainly wouldn't want anymore weight on yours, she will look great once in more work and gets fitter.
 
Thank you (I think - porker indeed!!;)) All makes sense & I'll try and get that BHS dvd. Gradually and slowly bringing her back into work, so I'll be interested to see how she progresses over the coming few months with a bit of muscle on. You've all be really helpful - thank you.
 
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