Horses losing condition in the winter

Horses losing condition during the winter is usually down to poor management

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why1040 said:
Well just for a start, you resorted to calling me rude and "histrionic" despite there being no rudeness in my original answer to you, only facts (yes, I took the piss out of that particular reaction originally because quite frankly I thought you were trolling...I still do). And even though I didn't in fact put any rudeness in my post, I STILL apologised for you managing to take it that way...you have yet to do the same to me for calling me names. Darned lucky I wasn't holding my breath, isn't it? ;)
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No, I said that your POST was histrionic - big difference. The first part of it was quote:

'diatribe you then spouted'

There is no way on earth my OP was diatribe, and to use the word 'spouted' is hardly polite. Therefore your post came over as histrionic to me. I didn't at first read past the first paragraph because of this initial rudeness. However, the rest of your post was absolutely fine.

You will find that I am always polite and will listen to anyone who is polite and sticks to the subject at hand. I even changed my views as a result of a succinct and well informed post made by Touchtone yesterday.

I am not here to exchange insults, though I do find that a certain minority on here resorts to them as soon as anyone disagrees with their views, or they take a disliking to someone for whatever reason. I guess my mistake is to engage with them.
 
Wagtail said:
Wrong, Papa. I voted the third option myself (as did almost 50% of respondents) Around 12% felt even MORE strongly than I do that horses losing condition over winter is USUALLY down to bad management. So that makes a majority of around 62% that either agree or feel even more strongly than I do.
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Look at it this way.

This thread has had 477 replies (several of them from the same people, in fact, Wagtail, you probably make up a third of them - no, I haven't counted them) but 11,860 views.

But, it's a big but - there has only been, out of all those viewing, only 243 voters.
Of those 243 voters, only 29 agreed, 90 disagreed, 121 said there could be exceptions and 3 were unsure.

Unless you get the majority of the 11,860 to vote too, not exactly representative but the majority of those that voted did agree that there could be exceptions to it being bad management alone, possibly due to the individuality of each different horse.

Not sure your poll actually tells us anything that experienced horse keepers didn't know already - each horse is an individual and should be treated as such all year round.
 
I think everyone is coming at this from the wrong angle. I think, ideally, horses should be maintained at their optimum weight/condition all year round. Surely the OP should be asking "Is it OK for us to allow horses to gain condition over the summer". Generally, not really, so if we were to practice good weight management over the spring/summer and not allow horses to get fatter, we wouldn't really want to be allowing them to lose much condition over the winter. or they would be poor, IYSWIM.
 
Maesfen said:
Look at it this way.

This thread has had 477 replies (several of them from the same people, in fact, Wagtail, you probably make up a third of them - no, I haven't counted them) but 11,860 views.

But, it's a big but - there has only been, out of all those viewing, only 243 voters.
Of those 243 voters, only 29 agreed, 90 disagreed, 121 said there could be exceptions and 3 were unsure.

Unless you get the majority of the 11,860 to vote too, not exactly representative but the majority of those that voted did agree that there could be exceptions to it being bad management alone, possibly due to the individuality of each different horse.

Not sure your poll actually tells us anything that experienced horse keepers didn't know already - each horse is an individual and should be treated as such all year round.
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I expect that out of the 11 thousand odd views, most were people viewing on many occasions. I think that 243 voters is actually a very good number for a statistically significant result. I am happy with that. 121 voted the same way as I did.

I agree that each horse is an individual. Of course it is. I treat (and feed) all of mine differently (though in the same routine/feeding times of course).

This poll result does not mean that I am right or that those opposing me are wrong, just that around 60% of respondents tend to agree with the original premise. We have had some interesting exceptions along the way. For example a horse that just will not eat hay or haylage (even though her teeth are fine). This is a new one to me, and of course this poses huge problems in winter. So as I said right from the beginning, there ARE some exceptions. :)
 
Flame_ said:
I think everyone is coming at this from the wrong angle. I think, ideally, horses should be maintained at their optimum weight/condition all year round. Surely the OP should be asking "Is it OK for us to allow horses to gain condition over the summer". Generally, not really, so if we were to practice good weight management over the spring/summer and not allow horses to get fatter, we wouldn't really want to be allowing them to lose much condition over the winter. or they would be poor, IYSWIM.
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Yes, in retrospect, I agree I should have asked that question. I could start another poll?

Should the poll have been:

Do you think letting horses get fat over summer and then thin over winter is a usually result of poor management?

Yes, horses should be kept in optimum condition throughout the year
No, it is perfectly natural and healthy for horses

Maybe not, after the scrapping on this one. :(
 
general no

Biscuit number 1 lost weight scouring she went down to bone and fur and i mean that no exaggeration wont post pictures upsets me she was on codeine tables to slow gut down had all test done never found the cause I did everything i could for as long as i could even vet applauded me in the end due to her weakness she had a stroke and couldn't get up we stayed all night with her till vet came in morning and PTS

my other horse last year would not eat stopped eatin would go out in field and stand all day same when in she went vvvvvery thing cause viral , bought alpha oil and other expensive feeds to tempt her, eventually after 3 months she turned corner. those are the only 2 cases here
 
Sounds like they were both poorly. One of my mares had a mystery illness one summer. No other horse had it, but she was severely ill. Thankfully she recovered well, but it was several months.
 
As someone said each horse is individual.
Specimen feed table circa 1960;
WINTER
16.2hh Hunter. Stabled, clipped and rugged. Hunting 2 days per week.

7am. oats 2lb, bran1lb with chaff, hay 2lb.
12 noon. oats 3lb, bran 1lb with chaff, carrots.
12.30 pm. hay 5lb.
4.30pm. oats3lb, bran1lb, linseed jelly 1lb, chaff.
7.30pm. oats 4lb, bran 1lb, chaff, hay 7lb.

SUMMER
16.2hh hunter
At grass, no work.

Grazing only. Late summer Oats 4lb or cubes 4lb with bran.
 
Wagtail said:
Wrong, Papa. I voted the third option myself (as did almost 50% of respondents) Around 12% felt even MORE strongly than I do that horses losing condition over winter is USUALLY down to bad management. So that makes a majority of around 62% that either agree or feel even more strongly than I do.
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Agree in part means also disagree in part with your original statement. Including yourself it would seem.
 
PapaFrita said:
Agree in part means also disagree in part with your original statement. Including yourself it would seem.
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Yey you are right there. 50% agree with me (option 3 that it is usually down to poor management with some exceptions) and almost 12% think that it is usually down to poor management with no exceptions. Have to get these things absolutely right. ;)
 
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