I think I picked the worst week to buy 'poor' horse!

[nikCscott]

Moany post!

Bought my new boy on Wednesday, he's been out of work 6 months and although has a glossy coat, has been wormed, rugged and fed he's a bit ribby and has no muscle at all.

I've put him on conditioning feed with oils twice a day- not too much to start with, with the plan to build up gradually when I can see how he's going on it and also conscious that I don't want to pump him full of feed whilst I can't work him at all (long rein and lunge to start) because of weather , he's got turnout (short whilst snow) and ad lib hay- stabled at night.

Farrier couldn't get to me yesterday because of snow and and his next free spot is 5th Feb! I'm now ringing around trying to find another but because of the snow- no one's sure when they can get to me.

I know its only been a few days but I've really bonded with him already and I'm itching to get him looking well and improving his physique...and of course posting "How do you think were doing?' photos on NL!

Roll on the thaw!

Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows for those who go this far through my whining!

 

[Gingersmum]

Frustrating isn't it !

I hate slipping around in the snow, lugging buckets of water about.

I can't wait to crack on with my horses and prepare for the spring shows, bring on the sunshine !!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Rubbish post - no photos

I think anyone in outlying areas is going to be stuck for the next few days to get farrier out.
I collected NH nearly 6 weeks ago, I broke my leg same afternoon when farrier due & have had shoeing appt cancelled last week due to snow on Monday - next appt is this Monday & not looking good weatherwise.....
Shoes are still all clenched down & foot not overlong, so if all else fails I can get my DH to drive NH to local forge in around a week or so if roads passable.

Hope you get things sorted, but dont panic if shoes are still firmly on & foot isnt too overgrown at present.

 

[RainbowDash]

Hi OP,

I brought my lad about this time last year in poor condition.

Just gave him extra feed and spent lots of time with him everyday. Took about a month for him to regain weight - just in time for the snow to go and the work to start

 

[Missmac]

2 years ago i bought a 4 yr old and the day i went to get her the snow started then it froze - hard!
The first 6 weeks i had her she was stuck in. The fields were lethal and the lane to the school was sheet ice.
She was an absolute angel the entire time and i think spending so much time with her on the ground helped develop a really strong bond between us so dont worry just yet. It may turn out to be a good thing!

 

[nikCscott]

Ok here are some pictures- just remember I'm very aware that he looks poor his weedy neck etc- this will all be worked on in time, but most importantly for me he has the best temperament .

His feet are unshod- and are a bit long- nothing that makes you want to cry, but I don't have a school as such (i have an area that used to be a sand school in years gone by before me and although now grassed over the work that was point in means I have a well drained level area to use when its not sopping wet), so I do the majority of my riding on the lanes so need shoes, with a weekly lesson with my BD judge neighbour in her school and usually a hunt or comp each week too (obviously none of the above will happen before he is ready)

This was the ad photo taken in the spring (still a bit weedy in the neck IMO but a smart lad I hope you'll agree)

This is him the day I picked him up

Having a short walk on the lunge

With my daughter

Thank you - I'm loving spending time with him, the snow is a blessing time wise as in my daughters are perfecting a Snow-princess in the field so I get to fuss with him lots- his mane is now pulled short and tidy and he's so shiny from all the grooming and he gives the best cuddles and kisses!

Will add he was very well loved by his previous owner- he's just dropped a bit of weight

 

[Tinypony]

You could have a look at the threads about micronised linseed. My Arab drops weight every winter and ends up looking a bit too ribby. This year, on a very simple diet of Fast Fibre, micronised linseed (about 1 mug of each), a bit of chaff and ad-lib hay he's looking great. Almost too great to be honest...
Poor little horse, he's lucky he's with you.

 

[jacksmum]

He is beautiful and when the spring grass does finally get here he will blossom and then we will all be jealous
My big boy has just started dropping a bit of weight so got some linseed from charnwood and he loooooves it big style

 

[windand rain]

He looks good to me to be honest not too thin at all but I cant get hands on and feel what you can. Micronised linseed is wonderful stuff and does make them look good as does coolstance Copra when I fed mine it they looked great and I could tell just by touching a horse they had been fed it as it makes the coat, mane and tail really silky.

 

[Jools1234]

i think he looks better now and his neck looks really weedy in the first photo cos he is so fat.
he does look like his muscle needs building up and he could do possibly with a little weight but not much-i would hold of hard feed until you have got him going, i would feed adlib hay as it will keep him warm too, he looks like he will be a really smart bot once he has built up some muscle