how does my 3 year old look? condition score please

R

rowy

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 February 2010
Messages
2,548
Location
leicestershire
Visit site
Hey
This is my 3 year 4 month 1/4 appaloosa 1/4 tb and 1/2 welsh d youngster
He is currently 14.3hh in front and 15hh behind. Does he look like he has a lot of growing to do? Do you think he will make 15hh by next spring as i really wanted to do young dressage horse classes with him!
his dad is 16.1 and his mum is between 15hh and 15.2hh.
Also i am a little worried about his weight, there is a grazing muzzle in the post which i am going to keep on him when he is out in the day and take off at night.
005.jpg

013.jpg

006.jpg

thanks :)
 
Gosh I like him a lot!

I don't think his weight is too bad tbh, bit of a grass belly but doesn't have a crest. Can you feel his ribs?

Good idea to plan ahead though and I think he will drop any excess weight going into winter anyway :D
 
Sorry to say this, but too much weight for his limbs. Also, you REALLY need to sort his feet out.His pastern/ hoof axis is wrong and he looks to have collapsed heels as well. The weight will not be helping! I have youngsters myself, and its so important not to overload their limbs when developing. He looks to be a very good doer, so you may need to take harsh measures.
 
I agree with CG - a 3 year old shouldn't be carrying that much weight - not good for bone development. He has a gutter rump and the fat on his thighs make his legs look too short for his body. Also I'd say that he does look cresty...

Sorry to sound harsh :(
 
He has definately filled out considerably since you posted some ridden pics of him. Not sure how long ago that was but he looked fab then :)

Yes, you want a nice covering going into winter if last year is anything to go by, but not excess fat (and on such a young chap).

I would restrict wherever you can feed wise and grazing and in 6 weeks or so he'll be reaping the benefits!

Sorry, not sure on actual condition score though.
 
Lovely looking horse, i love the spotties!!

I would agree that he is rather overweight. Its so important with the youngsters to not have too much on them when they are growing. Rather than a grazing muzzle i would just restrict his grazing more - fence off part of the field or something. I dont mind them a little heavier than normal going into the winter, thats a good thing, but he is rather fat, bless him!

This is how i had mine last year as a 3yr old. Some people said she was too slim but i think she was about right, and she has grown well and is a nice 4yr old now just starting work :)

121_3585.jpg


Re the height, i'd guess he might make about 15.1-15.2 ish but you never know! I got my pony as a rising 4yr old standing at 14hands and by 5 years of age he was a full up 14.2.
 
He's ''looking well''....thats a code me and my mate use when we think a horse could do with shedding a few pounds.:)

Don't worry.....my highland appears to have chunked out in the last few weeks- my grass isn't long but I think its fairly lush ATM. He'll drop it over winter especially if you keep him in a grass-less paddock and unrugged.

Handsome chap tho:D
 
Thanks for the replies, dont worry i need the harsh words! Another forum, they all said he looked fine but i was looking and thinking, i dont think he is!!
Yea the reason i bought the grazing muzzle is because he has to go out with our VERY poor-doer tb mare who definitely needs all the food she can get! we have started bringing him in for a little while though.
its so hard though! I dont know whether to bring him back into work to try and shed the pounds? may try and slim him down a bit first.
Ohh and regarding the feet- he really needs his feet doing, they were looking fab a few weeks ago but being on fresh green grass has caused them to grow loads :P he actually has fab feet, or so they look/ farrier says so!
this is what he looked like when i just literally turned him away end 1st july:
131.jpg
 
Last edited:
He looks brilliant in that last picture, perfect! :D

I do see what was meant about his feet. He is very down on his heels and that is very bad. I would recommend getting another farrier in for a second opinion if your farrier is not worried about it as that seems a bit odd...
 
no i meant when he was done 6 weeks ago they looked great, now they def dont! and in the old july photos that was when we had a rubbish farrier do them. they were fine when he had shoes, they just grow so quick. I will ask the farrier properly next time he comes. He is apparently the best in the business and charges loads (travels to all different countries to train younger farriers) so i think he should know.
He did say my other mares feet weren't great as she has rather upright feet.
this is from a few weeks ago:
009.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top