Hard Doer Breeds?

[notsoluckyhorseshoes]

I'm currently making a very thorough plan on getting a horse but stuck on breed... I don't want to be too fussy but also want to limit myself.

I know that Welsh and cobs are very easy keepers but what are some other breeds that are good doers?

 

[windand rain]

Its not the breed but the horse in front of you most native breeds are good doers as are some warm bloods but to be honest breed is least of your worries when looking for a horse

 

[MuddyMonster]

Any type of native (and probably native x) most likely. Put it this way, my native is clipped & muzzled still and although an OK weight could still lose more.

However, I'd caution against calling them an 'easy' keeper (I know it's an American term to mean 'gets fat on fresh air) but there's nothing 'easy' about keeping him slim!

 

[[153312]]

Don't limit yourself on breed.
Draw up a list of criteria in order of priority, so
Something like

- height
- age
- what it's currently doing/ability/record
- good doer
- breed

Etc

 

[little_critter]

Its not the breed but the horse in front of you most native breeds are good doers as are some warm bloods but to be honest breed is least of your worries when looking for a horse

Agreed, I’ve had 1 native, 1 pure TB and 1 very nearly pure TB and none of them have needed much feed. (Maybe I don’t work them enough ?)
In fact, calorie wise none of them need hard feed, I just give a balancer to ensure they have vits & mins.
And I agree, it’s hard work trying to keep them a healthy weight.

 

[teddypops]

Any type of native (and probably native x) most likely. Put it this way, my native is clipped & muzzled still and although an OK weight could still lose more.

However, I'd caution against calling them an 'easy' keeper (I know it's an American term to mean 'gets fat on fresh air) but there's nothing 'easy' about keeping him slim!

That’s what I thought! It’s very hard work to keep them slim!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Every horse I have ever owned has been a good doer and they are TB x, warmblood and Arab's so I think you can't ever think a certain breed will not be in that category unfortunately.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Don't limit yourself on breed.
Draw up a list of criteria in order of priority, so
Something like

- height
- age
- what it's currently doing/ability/record
- good doer
- breed

Etc

Yup.

OP, I have currently 2 native breeds.
Both poles apart for 'doing'. One can live on ad lib decent grass all year round, plus ad lib hay in winter and 2 hard feeds and maintains performance and lithe condition.
The other only has to look at a blade of grass and is chubby, so lives in a muzzle when out with the one above, stabled at night all year round.

There are types within breeds, not all breeds have exactly the same animal make up throughout.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I'm going to ask: Is a "good doer" REALLY what you want??

Bear in mind that IF you are looking for a "good doer" that will literally live on air, there are certain drawbacks to that sort of type which are usually (but please note not always!) natives and/or cobby types.

I have had cobs for many years - they are my ride of choice and I love them to bits. However, with every single cob I had they were a "good doer" and my main concern has always without fail been the dreaded "L" word, i.e. LAMINITIS. Also related to this is Equine Metabolic Syndrome (sort-of equivalent to human diabetes). OK so yes you can get these things with any horse, but good-doers like cobs & natives are naturally predisposed to these sorts of veterinary issues, simply because in the wild they'd be living on very sparse grazing, and constantly moving around with the herd. Contrast this with very rich pasture, very little exercise, and owners who just don't realise that this is the very worst combination for horses of these types!! Coupled with the fact that they are probably rugged to death as well and never allowed to get cold and shiver their fat off naturally - and you have the perfect combination for laminitis & EMS to prosper!

It really is a horrible condition that can suddenly strike without warning and in spite of your best care and attention to try and prevent it. One time too much out on the grass, one morning where they are out on frosty grass when the sun is rising on it (the photosynthesis of these two factors causing very high fructan levels in the grass and can kick-start laminitis), and you've suddenly got a problem. I have lost the sweetest most gorgeous horse to this horrible condition and I wouldn't ever wish it on anybody else.

Currently I have a gypsy cob and I am constantly having to watch her weight and check on her weight (weigh tape every week if not more). At my yard we have found that a Track system is the most efficient way of managing weight and providing the best environment for our horses - strip-grazing alone wasn't sufficient and our vet advised us to consider a Track system to keep our horses the right weight and healthy.

Therefore I am going to respectfully ask whether you REALLY really want a horse/pony that is a "good doer"..........

Sorry if coming across as negative, but these are the issues you'd need to think about.

 

[shortstuff99]

The worst poor doer I've ever had was a cob! She was very difficult to keep weight on and I found it miles more stressful then keeping weight off my New Forest who had EMS.

You get far more judgy comments if someone thinks your horse is skinny, and it is so stressful trying to work out what your horse will eat to try and put some weight on.

 

[exracehorse]

My warmblood x tb is a very good doer. And my Welsh x tb. But the best one is my American Saddlebred. Grows a coat like a wooly mammoth.

 

[Pippity]

Any type of native (and probably native x) most likely. Put it this way, my native is clipped & muzzled still and although an OK weight could still lose more.

However, I'd caution against calling them an 'easy' keeper (I know it's an American term to mean 'gets fat on fresh air) but there's nothing 'easy' about keeping him slim!

Agreed. I want to get 40kg off Blue and I've got no idea how to do it. I miss my old share horse and knowing I never had to worry about him being overweight!

 

[Cob Life]

Any type of native (and probably native x) most likely. Put it this way, my native is clipped & muzzled still and although an OK weight could still lose more.

However, I'd caution against calling them an 'easy' keeper (I know it's an American term to mean 'gets fat on fresh air) but there's nothing 'easy' about keeping him slim!

This ^

the irish cob is on soaked hay only, clipped, no feed and worked hard at least 5times a week and i Still want him to lose more, it’s harder to keep the weight off him than it is to keep it on the tb!

 

[Winters100]

As others have said don't make the mistake of thinking that a good doer is more easily managed than others, my experience is that the opposite is true. It is so much easier for me to give a few extra feeds to my poor doer than it is to make sure that my good doer gets enough exercise to keep him in good shape. If you have a good doer you will spend your life soaking hay, worrying about how much grass he has, and exercising him every day. It is doable, but not easy.

 

[scats]

I find good doers a nightmare! It’s a constant battle with their weight and the dread of laminitis is always there.
I’ve had a couple of poor doers in my time and to be honest, I’d take them anyday over a good doer.

 

[vmac66]

My mare is a cob cross and a good doer. She's such a good doer that she had laminitis 3 years ago. I watch her weight daily now, luckily she is on a fairly bare paddock with another horse that had laminitis. It does limit where you can keep your horse as do many yards have cattle grazing which is totally unsuitable for a good doer. Give me a poor doer anyway

 

[Littlebear]

I agree with others, I wouldn't ideally want anything like that. I watch people on my yard having to limit hay/ grazing, use muzzles, be vigilant with weight and exercise etc.

My WB goes out for as long as he likes, eats as much hay/grass as he wants and weight is fine, has lived out fine and I don't have to worry (not saying you never have to worry about those types) but life is a lot easier for me that i see a lot of people on my yard deal with for their 'good doers'.

 

[Bluewaves]

I'd have to agree with a lot of these posts.

I have a cob who is a pretty good doer but my retired gelding is a european warmblood with at least 50% TB blood, very fine neck and legs but always has a huge tummy. The only time he was ever slim was on a small paddock shared with sheep.

Also my cob costs me in respiratory supplement every month. Try to find a horse without dust and pollen allergies!

 

[Surbie]

I know that Welsh and cobs are very easy keepers but what are some other breeds that are good doers?

HA! My hard feed bill might be minimal, but cobs can be pretty high maintenance. I know mine is.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I have a tb and a warmblood. They can be fed lots of hay ( adlib) and do well on grass and hay in the summer. A friend has 3 good doers and its a constant battle to keep their weight down. Given the choice I wouldn't go for a good doer first and foremost. I would be looking at other things that are more important to me.

 

[JoannaC]

All my Arabs have been very good doers but not every Arab is, touch wood none have ever had lami but do very well on adlib grass and hay with a handful of chaff with a scoop of balancer. I don't rug them in the hope they slim down over the Winter.

 

[I'm Dun]

I've got a cob, native and a TB. I love having the TB. I stuff him full of hay and give him bucket feeds. Its lovely! The other two are on a permanent diet and probably work out more expensive as they end up on hay all year round living on a track to try and keep their weight down.

The TB was a deliberate choice, partly as I wanted a more sporty model, and partly as I wanted to move away from the constant dieting and worry with cobs and natives