I'm becoming paranoid about my boy's weight

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blood_magik

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I thought Jerry was looking a little bit ribby last night so I "weighed" him using the weight tape - he's lost 17kg since last tuesday (3rd May - tape put him at 528kg) :confused:
I haven't increased his exercise or decreased his feed, he was wormed recently (26th April) and he's just had his teeth done (10th May)
If anything, he's been doing less exercise because of moving yards and my shifts at work.

What could it be?? :confused:
He gets 1/4 scoop chaff, 1/4 scoop nuts and 3 handfuls of spillers slow release mix twice a day and three large haynets. He's out between 9am and about 3pm.
I try to school 4-5 times a week for 45 minutes.

here's Jerry two weeks ago:
picture.php


and today:
picture.php


Please tell me I'm imagining him being skinny :o
Shortbread cookies to all who got this far :D
 
does not look like has has lost 17 kgs, just try measuring him at same time of day, and do it every day to see if you are mis-measuring
The second picture he looks a bit cramped somehow, is his temp and respiration and gut sound normal?
PS is it one of those tapes with pony on one side and horse on the other.
 
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He is resting a leg on the 2nd picture his weight is therefore on the other side?? That may be making him look skinnier than he is. I agree with other posts would much rather he be on the lighter side this time of the year (wish mine was!!) But keep an eye out to see if maybe he is coming down with something. :)
 
He looks fine, so I wouldn't overly worry.

You say you've just moved yards, it could just be that, a difference in the quality of grass maybe? Or maybe he's been a little unsettled or stressed with the move and therefore burnt more calories?

Just keep an eye on his weight, if it continues to drop, then you can act accordingly x
 
he does look slightly less but still very healthy, but it could be the stress of moving yards or change of feed (ie grass and hay) any number of things.. i wouldnt worry unless he starts looking underweight :)
 
I definitely don't want him to lose any more weight - i think he's about right but he's not fully fit yet so I'm guessing he might once we get back to where he should be fitness-wise.
I'm hoping it's because he hadn't settled and was due to get his teeth done - he wasn't finishing his feed but is back to demolishing it so hopefully he won't lose any more.
I think I'll speak to my ym about adlib hay and tape him once a week for a few weeks to keep an eye on things.
I'm so paranoid about keeping him looking/feeling well because of his age.
horses, eh?
thanks for all the advice - it was very helpful.
 
Got told my mare wasn't carrying enough condition at an in hand competition yesterday and she is very similar to yours, healthy and fit, how much do they need to carry fit or fat!
 
mon said:
Got told my mare wasn't carrying enough condition at an in hand competition yesterday and she is very similar to yours, healthy and fit, how much do they need to carry fit or fat!
Click to expand...
I am not an advocate of overweight show horses especially those of a working nature, but if showing in hand I would want my horse to be well muscled, with those muscles all in the right places, in this picture, and I am not being critical of the horse at all, the condition is not show condition, that is to say it is not at peak of fitness plus a little bit of condition to "work on"
Old fashioned show people used to feed beans and all sorts over the winter to make their horses overweight then start schooling them to muscle up a bit, to me this is one way of getting laminitis, respiratory conditions and all other weight related ailments.
One has to accept that showing is a strange hobby, working hunters are shown in summer but are not fit for a days hunting, they are to be judged on conformation and type, very few good hunters would also make the line up in a working hunter class where so much emphasis is on turnout and condition.
 
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personally, I think there is a fine line between show condition and overweight. jerry was carrying more weight when I showed him as a lightweight hunter and I didn't get any comments from the judge - the yard staff, on the otherhand, agreed that he needed to lose a bit and build muscle.
the vet was happy with his condition when he last saw him, which is a good start considering he's had several weeks off due to sacroiliac injury and a field accident.
I definately need to work on building more muscle, which should come in time if I keep doing what I'm doing.

typical of jerry to be awkward though :p
he put on weight during that horrible winter and decides to lose it when the weathers lovely and the grass is good
 
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