ex racers show me yours, condition worries !!!

R

racebuddy

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 January 2011
Messages
1,816
Visit site
hi have a ex racer been through a lot with him , his condition is good but he does tend to drop weight and then slowly put it back on , he has a lovely shine to his coat and bright and happy in himself, ulcers have been ruled out as we have had him scoped already , the only thing that worried with him is that his ribs are still visiable !! , he is on grass, adlib haylage , ready mash extra corn oil , alfala gbeet and ad lib haylage, does anybody else have exeracers who struggle with there condition and can see ribs ? xx thanks
 
hey iv got a thread on the condiditon on my Tb lol its sparked a lot of varied replies... you can see my TBs ribs most of the time, but hes fit healthy and got a lovley coat and hes more than happy... hes a worrier and weaves alot if not maintained and in a routine so he drops weight quick and take a while to put it back on.

have you got a picture :) he sounds fine to me though as long as hes happy in him self and not underweight i wouldnt worry :)
 
Used to really struggle with mine but very good grass solved it, what sort of grazing do you have?

Have you had any bloods taken? There could be other underlying issue as to why he is ribby or his conformation could just make him look that way.
 
heres my new girl, I would like a little more weight on her and some top line.

021-3.jpg
 
It could just be his conformation - some TB's are ribby, others don't hold much condition over their croup and some struggle to pack weight across their neck/shoulders.

What sort of work are you doing with him? Has he been wormed recently? If he's eating fine and outwardly everything looks ok, might be worth having bloods done.

What you're feeding him sounds okay, but I'd probably try and get some more calories in there somewhere - although that will depend on workload/how hot hard feed makes him etc etc.

For high calorie feed I can thoroughly recommend winergy conditioning (with micronised linseed and grass nuts also):

January 2012:
Screenshot2012-06-03at163755.png


June 2012:
Screenshot2012-06-03at163704.png
 
I have the opposite problem!

Restricted grazing, no hard feed and plenty of exercise and lunge work and she still carry's too much weight. Even in winter when she's in over night she has the smallest double net I've ever given a horse, it swear it lives on fresh air. :o

IMAG0985.jpg
 
nikkimariet said:
It could just be his conformation - some TB's are ribby, others don't hold much condition over their croup and some struggle to pack weight across their neck/shoulders.

What sort of work are you doing with him? Has he been wormed recently? If he's eating fine and outwardly everything looks ok, might be worth having bloods done.

What you're feeding him sounds okay, but I'd probably try and get some more calories in there somewhere - although that will depend on workload/how hot hard feed makes him etc etc.

For high calorie feed I can thoroughly recommend winergy conditioning (with micronised linseed and grass nuts also):

January 2012:
Screenshot2012-06-03at163755.png


June 2012:
Screenshot2012-06-03at163704.png
Click to expand...

you have done a good job with your horse. thats what i aspire mine to look like!
 
pixiebee said:
you have done a good job with your horse. thats what i aspire mine to look like!
Click to expand...

Thank you :)

We have good grazing too, ex dairy pasture, they're turned out every day, which I think really helps. If a bit of a picky eater try putting some alfalfa hage out for them - our 2 TBs chomp that down as soon as they come in!!

Agree with Kenzo, yours is a gorgeous colour!!

P.S. Kenzo, I think you're the only person I know who struggles to keep weight *off* theirs :eek:
 
This is my boy:-

525913_10150803067175210_1152749770_n.jpg


This was taken a couple months ago, I think he has beefed out a bit since this :o.

I think they are all different but tbh I have never had much of a problem keeping weight on my horse. He was very slender when I got him but it was more lack of muscle than anything.

I find that when they have enough fibre and they are happy, relaxed and not in any pain then TB's can be quite good doers! Tbh I do find though if they drop off its because for some reason they aren't eating up all their hay/haylage for whatever reason. Its good to get their teeth done reguarly.

Mine is just on chaff and pink powder at the moment with soaked hay when he is in his stable during the day. The grass at our yard is quite good though.

In the winter he gets as much soaked hay as he can eat (i just dunk it quickly so it doesnt lose nutrients), grass during the day, hifi, fibre nuts, oil and pink powder.

If anything my boy is a bit fat and lazy at the moment! Not really the typical skinny stressy stereotype but it has taken a couple of years to get him looking like he does :).
 
picture.php


That's my ex racer (the one standing up ;)). It can be a real struggle to keep weight on him, but I've found a minimalistic approach works best. Add lib forage, and a small fibre based feed with micronised linseed for extra calories. I've also found feeding a good mineral supplement has meant he now needs very little in the way of feed :).

The other one's only half TB, and is a fat git!
 
Kenzo said:
I know... it's embarassing *hands head in shame* I swear it's a cob on TB legs but I have Wetherby's Passport to prove she's not lol :D
Click to expand...

Don't worry kenzo mine's the same too - i always get asked what he's TB crossed with and i say another TB, lol - he only has to look at a blade of grass and his girth has gone out another hole lol will get some recent photos now phone is working and post tomorrow - don't worry your not the only one in the TB's that look like cobs club lol
 
Firewell said:
525913_10150803067175210_1152749770_n.jpg
Click to expand...

Gorgeous

Sorry I’m now drooling over everyone’s TB’s but it’s so nice to see all these ex racers looking well and off doing other things, puts a lump in my throat it does (or is that just the Haribo I’ve not swallowed properly) anyway you get my drift!:D
 
Kenzo said:
Gorgeous

Sorry I’m now drooling over everyone’s TB’s but it’s so nice to see all these ex racers looking well and off doing other things, puts a lump in my throat it does (or is that just the Haribo I’ve not swallowed properly) anyway you get my drift!:D
Click to expand...

Aw thank you :). I know what you mean. I love ex-racers. I know they aren't to everybodys taste but I haven't come across a bad one! They have such big brave hearts.
 
K, mines a little porker too. Tbh he has such a relaxed lifestyle and doesnt do much work, hes more of a big pet really, although we do hack and school a little. Now Ive figured out the best diet for him, grass in summer, fibre all the way in winter, he never drops much weight. I have been asked on more than one occasion if "hes a proper TB". I have his passport and the videos online of him racing otherwise I might not believe it myself!!
 
This is my new one, shes 4 and ran her last race 4 weeks ago, Ive had her for 2 weeks shes been living out 24/7 on good grass and on Winergy Condition

She has filled out alittle already as her ribs were just visable when i picked her up!
h3.jpg
 
Another vote for Winergy condition. It was great at putting condition on my ex racer. I was really struggling to get weight on him, was accepted onto Winergys trial of it and was the only thing that worked. he now has half and half condition and the wingery medium energy, but fed at about half of what was needed to start with.
 
I think depending on the TB some do come up quite ribby, so like others have said if he is good in him self and eating enough i wouldnt worry too much, if you can get some muscle build up then i think that does help. Im very lucky that i have a lot of grass (9 ac for 2 horses) and we struggle to keep it down.
I bought an ex racer last year for next to nothing he had a lovely temp but not really what i was after but just felt sorry for him, he was underweight, scruffy and HUNGRY. I fed him adlib hay, grazing every day, and hard feed of beet pulp, chaff, D&H conditioning cubes, boiled barley and just left on his stable floor parsnips (as we grow them on our farm)
After 5 months he looked alot better and i managed to find him a great home where he is spoilt rotten and doing so well!
LEFT: when i got him RIGHT: 5 months later
picture.php
 
in contrast this is my lovely new TB who came out of racing 2 years ago. Hes 11yo and quite well built in the engine department. Although he does show a little rib but i think that is just his conformation.
picture.php
 
Interesting thread and would welcome any thoughts on this lad who I have on trial currently, been in field since Dec, cribs fair bit (teeth ever so slightly worn at front), I suspect ulcers, Vetting suggested xrays to rule out kissing spine, vet thought very weak backend, can barely get any feed in him as so fussy, literally just handful of chaff and he won't always eat that, forget anything wet. Good covering on ribs/ belly but no topline at all...

I have no idea what to do and whether I should get him or not, so welcome any opinions!

ETA: he's 6, never raced as too slow, sweetheart to handle and work with
100_2612-1.jpg
 
Swoooon
h3.jpg
[/QUOTE]



Orrrrrrrrh, another gorgeous one!

Adds a chestnut TB and a grey TB to my shopping list!

ps....and I’ve just spotted JVB’s grey too, I can’t look anymore, you’re making me far too jelous!
 
This lad is still work in progress, but this was before I picked him up, 8 months out of racing sat in a field:
f21b2741.jpg

1818b4e3.jpg


He'll always be hampered by his poor conformation, bless him. I also think he's going to be one of these tb's that holds all their weight around the tummy area, and nowhere else... meaning ribs will probably always be on show.

Here are a couple of more recent pictures of him, but he still has a way to go:

7f38a358.jpg

b9f947e6.jpg


ETA: He was 4 in April, raced once.
 
Last edited:
My ex racer looks more like a warmblood! I echo someone else best thing i found is grass in summer 247 turnout and keeping him settled, in winter he is on adlib haylage all day and night. He does loose it quickly if he stresses.
 
JVB said:
Interesting thread and would welcome any thoughts on this lad who I have on trial currently, been in field since Dec, cribs fair bit (teeth ever so slightly worn at front), I suspect ulcers, Vetting suggested xrays to rule out kissing spine, vet thought very weak backend, can barely get any feed in him as so fussy, literally just handful of chaff and he won't always eat that, forget anything wet. Good covering on ribs/ belly but no topline at all...

I have no idea what to do and whether I should get him or not, so welcome any opinions!

ETA: he's 6, never raced as too slow, sweetheart to handle and work with
100_2612-1.jpg
Click to expand...


Beautiful horse :D
 
i feed my 12 year old alfa alfa,speedi beet,spillers topline conditioning cubes with pink powder,corn oil, and apple cider vinegar! will be changing oil to micronised linseed once it arrives! : )

im trying to post pics but it wont let me....i dont know why. any tips?

he is a chestnut gelding and i love him! x
 
Gorgeous horses on here but pixiebee your's is a real stunner. And she has the same cheeky eye as mine I think.

I don't think it's abnormal to see ribs on a TB and I wouldn't ever worry about it unless they were poor elsewhere. Infact, I expect to see ribs on any fit, hard working horse.

I guess I'm just a weirdo :p

And LLL, you are so mean about him. He's not that badly put together. Poor sausage. I'll take him off your hands if you like ;)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top