viceversa
Well-Known Member
Condition score my horse?
- Thread starter viceversa
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viceversa
Well-Known Member
Hopefully my photos work .. sorry I know they aren't very good, just wanted some opinions!
Horse is currently very feral as he sustained injury in august, had 3 months box rest and is now turned out in a tiny paddock during the day. He's now doing some walk hacking but is obviously still very unfit and lost all muscle tone. He is 15 years old and 15hh.
Horse is currently very feral as he sustained injury in august, had 3 months box rest and is now turned out in a tiny paddock during the day. He's now doing some walk hacking but is obviously still very unfit and lost all muscle tone. He is 15 years old and 15hh.
viceversa
Well-Known Member
Some photos from his better days!
only_me
Well-Known Member
A heavier side of 4 imo 
Exploding Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
A heavier side of 4 imo
Depends what scale, if you are 1 to 5, then I disagree, the cob is not overweight, though photos are not the correct method to use.
If it is scale 1-10, then cob is not underweight.
He needs some work to get him back in to shape, and does not need to be slimmed down first, he will tone up and lose a few [maybe 15-25 kilos] along the way.
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only_me
Well-Known Member
I'm only going by the photos, and using 1-5. I think the cob is overweight, especially when compared to the in work and fit photos. But of course it's hard to judge by the forum, and it's just my opinion. If using the 1-10 then I'd say a 7. Maybe just a 4 on 1-5. Definitely not a 3 in my view.
But imo is overweight, but wouldn't be overly concerned atm as when back in work the weight will come off
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be positive
Well-Known Member
He is obviously lacking in muscle especially on the shoulder and second thigh but topline is not bad, I think he looks fine, not over or under weight just ready to build up properly with increased work then the tummy should lift and he will look totally different, I wouldn't want any less weight on him as I think it would drop off his topline and he would look weak, if you clipped all the hair off he would appear considerably leaner.
Exploding Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
agree
cobgoblin
Bugrit! Millennium hand and shrimp.
I don't think he's overweight....just needs 'tightening up'.
benz
Well-Known Member
On a scale of 1-5 i thought the first pic he looks a 2.5-3due to the weak neck and shoulder.
His bum is round but no gutter so for that pic would say a 3.5?
So hard to say from pics can you feel his ribs? If easily felt id say a 3 overall, if not 3.5.
Looks exactly how i would expect with the history you describe
His bum is round but no gutter so for that pic would say a 3.5?
So hard to say from pics can you feel his ribs? If easily felt id say a 3 overall, if not 3.5.
Looks exactly how i would expect with the history you describe
Achinghips
Well-Known Member
Looks great to me, especially coming out of winter, upping his work naturally in the summer and restricting that Spring grass a tad and he's perfect. Lovely versatile looking cob, very jealous!
ozpoz
Well-Known Member
He looks fine to me, work will lift his belly and build up his topline. Cobs have thick coats and can easily look as if they are carrying more weight than they should be.
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
He's too fat for me I would put him at 3.5 .
D66
Well-Known Member
Coming out of winter I'd probably want him a little lighter, but if he's going to start proper work he's OK. Not grossly over weight or skinny.
Gazen
Well-Known Member
He is a beautiful boy. I think that he is a 3 -3.5 on a 5 point scale. He is out-of condition and unclipped which makes him look heavier than he actually is. If he is coming back into work he is in a good place to start. I would be concerned if he were any lighter as at this time of year the weight falls off the horses very easily especially as he is coming back into work.
JillA
Well-Known Member
All those responses have demonstrated how unsatisfactory it is to try and do it from photographs - for one thing you need to palpate IMO, over ribs, crest, tailhead and any gutter
SusieT
Well-Known Member
I'd say he's under muscled, but a good weight. a round 3/5
Moomin1
Well-Known Member
I'd say 3.5.
fattylumpkin
Well-Known Member
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
All those responses have demonstrated how unsatisfactory it is to try and do it from photographs - for one thing you need to palpate IMO, over ribs, crest, tailhead and any gutter
Of course you need to see a horse to score it properly its almost impossible to score horses carrying very little body fat from a picture .
When I did my body scoring training I was the only person to pass the racehorse as no cause for concern when they tested us everybody else flagged it up as concerning ( which was wrong ) however l don't think any of us were ever going to asked to score that years gold cup winner which was the horse in the picture used for the test
windand rain
Well-Known Member
Bit too fat coming out of winter would have been happy to see him like that going into winter. I like to be able to count ribs with a sheet thickness over them at the end of winter. I like my labrador analogy for cobs ribs covered by a sheet thickness of fat lean able to put on a bit, ribs covered by a blanket thickness of fat perfect weight, ribs covered by a duvet thickness or more of fat too fat and needs to drop weight. Ribs undetectable a laminitis risk
AmyMay
Situation normal
I think he looks fine.
Sparemare
Well-Known Member
Me too.
viceversa
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your responses I realise you can't do it properly through photos alone, I was purely doing it out of interest!
To me, he isn't overweight. He's definitely changed shape as he's gone from being quite fit and well muscled to losing lots of muscle and some top line, his barrel has dropped and become rounder, but his neck isn't at all hard or cresty and there is no gutter along back or rump. His bottom is rather round although I think all the hair makes this look more so! This is his first winter with me unclipped in 8 years and he's grown a hell of a coat!
Was unrugged on box rest now in a 100g.
He's having more or less ad lib hay and a balancer, I don't see a need to limit his hay as he is at the minute.
Regards going into / coming out of winter, I don't think this makes much difference at all to him tbh. They are stabled at night all year and his paddock grows barely any grass so he eats hay in the field all year. If anything I'd say he usually looks a bit fatter in winter due to less work!
Will be moving at end of Feb to a paddock so obviously keep an eye on weight as he will have some (not lush) grass there. Should hopefully reduce my hay bill
I realise you can't do it properly through photos alone, I was purely doing it out of interest!To me, he isn't overweight. He's definitely changed shape as he's gone from being quite fit and well muscled to losing lots of muscle and some top line, his barrel has dropped and become rounder, but his neck isn't at all hard or cresty and there is no gutter along back or rump. His bottom is rather round although I think all the hair makes this look more so! This is his first winter with me unclipped in 8 years and he's grown a hell of a coat!
Was unrugged on box rest now in a 100g.
He's having more or less ad lib hay and a balancer, I don't see a need to limit his hay as he is at the minute.
Regards going into / coming out of winter, I don't think this makes much difference at all to him tbh. They are stabled at night all year and his paddock grows barely any grass so he eats hay in the field all year. If anything I'd say he usually looks a bit fatter in winter due to less work!
Will be moving at end of Feb to a paddock so obviously keep an eye on weight as he will have some (not lush) grass there. Should hopefully reduce my hay bill