Dropping weight in winter - major concern ?

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Spangles

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Would you be unduly worried by this ? I don't mean a bag of bones, just looking pretty lean and lacking muscle around quarters mainly. Energy levels not affected and jumping quit happily.
 
No I wouldn't be concerned as long as the horse is otherwise healthy. I like mine to drop a bit in winter - this is the way they are designed to live - but noticed a few weeks ago that a couple had dropped a bit more than I would have liked - due to the cold March and lack of new grass growth - so I've upped they hay and feed and they are back to where I want them to be.
 
I would be deliriously happy tbh, always a struggle to keep my highland near his ideal weight. I suppose it does depend on the type of horse you have though and whether you suspect anything underlying. Certainly for my native, as eggs says, it is how they are designed and leaves room for a bit of spring grass.
 
It depends on the horse. My share horse does this every year - which is a good thing as he puts a fair bit on in summer so if he didn't lose any over the winter he'd be the size of a house. My horse stays the same all year round, never changes, so if he started dropping weight I'd be very worried.

Is this your first winter/spring with him/her? If so, I'd be inclined to keep an eye but not worry too much and see if the weight goes on when (s)he gets some good grass (and act accordingly if it doesn't). If it's not and it's the first time you've noticed the weight loss I'd be more concerned and would maybe get it checked out, especially if the horse is getting on a bit.
 
Apparantly he loses a bit of weight each winter. I sent our vet a video of him and he said there was nothing he'd be worried about. Phew !
 
There is one horse here that drops weight as soon as it starts getting colder and doesn't put it on again until the spring grass comes through. But I keep him at a condition score 3 by feeding ad lib haylage (including in the field) and conditioning mix and lots of vegetable oil. However, he is a TB and I would not expect a new forest to drop weight in the winter if being fed enough for its work load. I don't let them get fat in the summer and so dropping weight would be concerning.
 
I wouldn't be super worried, but I would definitely be doing something to put weight back on.

Leaving could easily led to too much weight loss which really would worry me.
 
tashcat said:
I wouldn't be super worried, but I would definitely be doing something to put weight back on.

Leaving could easily led to too much weight loss which really would worry me.
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It would be very risky to increase the weight of a native pony with extra food just as the spring grass is about to come through. It would be asking for a case of laminitis.
 
Horses' metabolism has evolved to drop some weight over winter and gain over the summer, regardless of their breeding. IMO this is the best way, for the horses' well-being, to manage their weight, monitoring carefully, of course, so that neither loss nor gain is excessive.
 
Mine drops easily so while I would be concerned and increasing feed I wouldn't be worried. Mine always looks a bit too pointy in winter and can look ribby when she's hunted but when we have her weighed and condition scored they are always pretty happy. Most people are so used to seeing fat horses that my lean and fit horse looks skinny to them.

I wouldn't try loading up with feed unless you know that he won't get fat in summer or he is properly skinny, not just a bit ribby.
 
Not really, no. Especially in a native breed, it's a more healthy and natural way to keep them in my opinion rather than having to restrict intake as soon as spring arrives. The grass will be coming through soon, I would be concerned if the weight didn't start going back in the next few months though.
 
Not as major concern unless it was a lot of weight and pony doesn't put it on in the following months. Keeping a record of his weight would help you keep a close eye on it. We had a pony on loan who dropped some weight over the winter (as I like all my ponies to do!) but she didn't put any on despite having a field full of grass, vet visit confirmed my suspicions.

I have a few NF's too, they are a great breed. *WARNING - ANORACK ALERT* Does your pony have a green passport? What's his registered name?
 
Kat said:
Mine drops easily so while I would be concerned and increasing feed I wouldn't be worried. Mine always looks a bit too pointy in winter and can look ribby when she's hunted but when we have her weighed and condition scored they are always pretty happy. Most people are so used to seeing fat horses that my lean and fit horse looks skinny to them.

I wouldn't try loading up with feed unless you know that he won't get fat in summer or he is properly skinny, not just a bit ribby.
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This ^^^ especially the bit in bold - so many people think their horse is underweight when in fact they are the right weight. Someone made a comment to me the other day "Oh has G lost weight?" and I'm pretty sure they meant they think he's underweight as you can see his ribs. He's in fantastic condition at the moment, just they're used to seeing fat horses and don't appear to understand the health risks.

Also, I wouldn't use hard feed to get a horse to gain weight - ad-lib forage is the best way to do it. Especially with a native type!
 
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