feeding situation... also in horse care & feeding

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DoesDressage

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Am doing a bit of research and would like thoughts on this situation. I know people may agree/disagree. I also have my opinions

Horse is 15.2hh idxtb 6yrsold. to give idea of size takes a 6ft rug and weighs 500kg on a weigh tape. Has a blanket clip and is worked 5 days a week mainly flatwork with 1 jump and 1 walk hack. Horse has very relaxed disposition. Easy to do and a pleasure to be around. Can be a little sharp under saddle practically in the canter transition but only been broken 6 months. Teeth/saddle checked 2 months ago, vacs up to date. Work progressing well, w,t,c in an active uphill frame and jumping 80cm course

Horse is turned out during the day and in at night in a large stable in a barn.

Breakfast: 1lb low starch forage fibre ( 6% fat, 11% protein) 1lb high fibre grain (12% protein 8% fat) 1oz cool calorie sup (99% fat)

Daytime: no grazing but open access to round bale of hay. Seen eating most of the day. 1 bale lasts 2 horses around 3 weeks

Dinner: same as breakfast

Overnight hay: 4-5 slices (yard owner would like 2)

To cut a long story short said horse is a becoming a yoyo weight loser. With little adjustments to feed weight always comes back but can fluctuate from day to day. Said horse lost 150lbs according to weigh tape in a 10 day period but regained 75lbs in 4 days.

What are your thoughts? Not enough feed? Health issues...ulcers? poor management

Thanks
 
Could someone be short changing the horse when the owner isnt around maybe?

I would probably look at the most obvious thing first and to me that would be inconsistent management
 
Thank you. Owner makes feed/hay four days a week and tries to monitor other days but as on full livery can find it hard to add more hay. In my opinion I think a yard owner has to provide enough hay feed to maintain a horse in a healthy condition
 
Weigh tapes are hugely inaccurate and I would not bother using the, for frequent monitoring. If horse is looking good and working well then stick with what you're feed ng
 
Although weigh tapes are inaccurate to weigh bridge, they provide a good insight in general weight if used consistently.

OP you don't say if you are happy with the horses condition?

I would also say that it's a time of changes if just broken and starting more progressive work. I personally would want more protein in the diet to support muscles building up.
 
TheMule said:
Weigh tapes are hugely inaccurate and I would not bother using the, for frequent monitoring. If horse is looking good and working well then stick with what you're feed ng
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This...
Think you are weigh taping too frequently, they're just a rough guide and I have found can change alarmingly on a day to day basis. Got a bit obsessed by weigh taping when my cob was dieting, but after seeing that his weight was changing by 40kg from one day to the next (obviously impossible!), I stopped using it and reverted to eye and feel. Stick to using it once every 2 weeks or so and look for a trend, but unless the horse is looking/feeling poor, I wouldn't worry about what the tape says.
 
I'd also ditch the tape, just like any animal horses change shape daily according to how much food they have recently eaten etc. I can put a tape on my horse and it register fluctuations of around 30k every day but I don't because I'd loose the plot I'd think.
 
Thank you everyone. The only reason the tape came out was owner was worried about the horses condition. I agree they are not accurate but do think they can help you gauge how much condition a horse has lost. Currently horse has regained some weight with help from the fat supp in the feed. 2 weeks ago in the space of a few days people at the yard described the horse looking like it had been to a concentration camp. Skinny and lacking shine, muscle etc. horse is know looking in much better shape but still fluctuating. Just concerned this is happening to such a young horse
 
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