Has she put on weight?

[EquestrianFairy]

This is my new girly- shes been with me for about 3 weeks now and has come from a place where grazing was sparce and stabling for long hours.

Shes come to me where the grazing is plentiful, has adlib excellent quality hayledge and is on speedibeet/conditioning cubes and pink powder plus oil.
She obviously needs muscling up but this will take time, her weight (i felt) was on the thinner side so my initial response was to increase her weight gain and then work on the muscling/schooling.

I understand its early days but i cant make up my mind if shes putting on weight or not?

Shes a 4yo cobxarab and around 15.1hh.

**not the best photos as i had noone to hold her for me**

BEFORE:

AFTER: (3 WEEKS)

 

[forestfantasy]

Definitely put weight on, you could just see her ribs in the lungeing pic, now they are nicely covered so well done

Best thing to do is get a weight tape and measure her every few weeks for comparision

 

[Holly Hocks]

Wow what a stunning horse!! And yes she has put quite a bit of weight on.

 

[Kat]

Yes I can see an improvement!

I'm having the same battle to get weight on my 4 year old at the moment, so will follow with interest. Last time I tried to weigh tape her it reduced her to a quivering wreck covering in the corner of the stable so I won't be measuring her, just feeling ribs and hips!

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Yes I can see an improvement!

I'm having the same battle to get weight on my 4 year old at the moment, so will follow with interest. Last time I tried to weigh tape her it reduced her to a quivering wreck covering in the corner of the stable so I won't be measuring her, just feeling ribs and hips!

How weird: i have the same issue! However.. we also seem to have an issue with being washed and this is something im going to have to work on as she reduces me to a quivering wreck once she see's the hosepipe! Never seen anything like it before, little mite!
Thanks though

 

[Kat]

ha ha I've not got the only freak horse then! It utterly stunned me as she is normally so brave! Mine is fine with the hose, and with things like lunge lines, so I have come to the conclusion that she is just being a lady and doesn't want everyone knowing what she weighs!

 

[EquestrianFairy]

ha ha I've not got the only freak horse then! It utterly stunned me as she is normally so brave! Mine is fine with the hose, and with things like lunge lines, so I have come to the conclusion that she is just being a lady and doesn't want everyone knowing what she weighs!

Good ole mares!

 

[el_Snowflakes]

Yes I would definitly say so! She has a lovely face- gorgeous girl

 

[jhoward]

I dont think she has gained any weight, yes ribs would show when she is moving as body is more stretched out, you can actully still still her ribs in the very last picture aswell.

 

[EquestrianFairy]

I'm not sure what else I can do for weight gain, I don't want to pump her too much full of hard feed and she's having as much haylege as she can eat.

 

[Jesstickle]

Does she really need to put on weight? If she were mine I wouldn't be concerned tbh.

I don't think she is overly thin, just lacking muscle.

Is she rising five this year? Or four? It's the time of year when she could be described as both!

 

[Paddy Irish]

I'm not sure what else I can do for weight gain, I don't want to pump her too much full of hard feed and she's having as much haylege as she can eat.

Just give it a bit more time , weight gain is a long slow progress which shouldn't be rushed and don't forget that in the colder months she will be having to use some of that food for warmth . Keep going with the feed you have her on and slowly but surely you'll see a difference...

 

[JFTDWS]

I wouldn't be worried about putting weight on her, tbh. She'll look better muscled up when she's fit and working properly.

 

[hcm88]

I don't think she's drastically underweight by any means, its just a case of muscle building which will obviously come with time. In 3 weeks you aren't going to be able to see much of a definitive difference, she has gained a bit of weight from what I can see but I wouldn't worry about increasing feed or anything like that. Keep her on your current feeding regime, build the muscle up and she'll be looking great in a few months.

Good luck

 

[jhoward]

carry on as you are, she is by no meens underweight, id only think of upping feed if the weather turns nasty, were only a few months away from spring, and IMO id rather they went into spring a bit under allowing for the spring grass to pick them up .

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Ok thanks all, I'll keep going with it and see how we go.