My mare's a porker!

chessy

chessy

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 June 2010
Messages
289
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
Hi all!

Just a question about my girlie's weight!

In the summer around August I had to move yards due to poor turnout at my old yard (no grass!). It was noted by someone on the new yard that Rosie looked a bit ribby and that I should add sugar beet or something to her feed, to make her put on a bit of weight for winter. I took this advice.

I am only feeding the guidelines for a horse in light work, also she has ad lib forage. She is stabled for two days a week, turned out for three, and ridden at weekends (mainly hacking). She is an exceptionally good doer. You can see the difference in pics below. She is only lightly ridden at the moment due to a combination of my ill health, fulltime job, and bad weather. I get comments at the yard like "you don't ride her enough, why don't you ride her more", etc etc. I lost my sharer who helped me exercise Rosie and it's been very difficult to find a new one. Of course, I plan to ride her much more come spring.

Sure enough she put weight on but I now think it's too much, as I notice that she has a slight gutter and apple bum. The girth is definitely more of a struggle to tighten. Another person on my yard commented today "woah she is a right porker!" (you've probably guessed that the residents of my yard are rather opinionated! ;))

We have no idea of her breed, it's not recorded on her passport. A lot of people both online and off have said that she may have Ardennes in her breeding. Feel free to state your own opinions on this - I welcome any guesses! :D
She has always been heavier at the front than the back.

Anyway, my main question is - Should I cut down on the sugar beet a bit, or cut it out entirely? Any general advice appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Here's my lady:

rosieweight.jpg


Phew! Cookies to those who got through that wall of text!
 
I don't think she looks over weight at all.
What does she feel like, can you feel her ribs, hips, etc, or can you feel fatty deposits, any where?
Running your hands over a horse is a good way of telling if there is a weight issue, and if you do it all the time, you soon get to know what is right, if you know what i mean.
 
She looks perfect to me in the summer, a bit heavier at the moment but then I would imagine she's got a very thick coat which will make her look bigger than she is.

At this point in the year she should really be at her lightest, you know her best, if you feel she's a bit heavy then I would cut out the sugarbeet, she probably doesnt need it.
 
My husband used to have an Ardennes mare. Yours looks very much like her but not quite so heavy. If she is an Ardennes cross, she is going to be genetically programmed to have a well fleshed back and hindquarters. That is not fat, it is the way they are made and your mare looks just right to me. She has a slight grass belly at the moment, but again that is not fat either. I suggest you use a weight tape once a week or once a fortnight and record the measurement. You can then judge for yourself exactly what is going on. You can also silence the busybodies by showing them your records! IF she has put on a small amount of weight since the Summer let her lose a bit near the end of February over a few weeks before the grass starts to grow again. Do it slowly checking regularly what is happening with the weight tape.
Do not let anybody spoil your enjoyment of your lovely mare. Ours was a very clever and kind lady and I have very fond memories of her.
 
cor you think youres is a porker - lol mines is naked 24/7 regardless of weather (out in day but sadly have to stable at night)and only fed 2 slices of hay at night ( 1 extra if snow on ground) and a little handful of healthy hoof and a carrot (for vits) morning and night and survives on fresh air - constant worry of laminitis AND BEFORE ppl say ride her more i am limited to riding on really bright days because of sight but always worrying
 
Fantastic weight that you had her at in the summer. She's beautiful looking with her colourings.

I'm struggling with mine's weight at the moment due to limited turnout as fields in poor condition (which would actually be a good thing for mine at the moment!) combined with being in on very good quality haylage for too many hours. And ltd time to ride apart from at weekends currently.
 
My boy is really fat at the min and he's only fed a handful of chaff to keep him quiet whilst the baby ha her dinner. he lives out 24/7 and is naked. I cant ride much at the min due to finishing work when its dark and not having the facilities. I've now given him a blanket clip and left him naked... before anyone says its cruel i check everyday that he's not cold, and he's still toasty warm...
You're mare to me looks a good weight, wish my boy looked like that... lol
 
She certainly looks at least part Ardennes, in which case she is looking good. They are very heavy horses and mine seems to exist on fresh air. It is a permanent battle to keep Fany on this side of obese. What are you feeding her? Fany gets haylage and straw mixed and that is it apart from her turn out.

FDC
 
Rosie thanks you all for your helpful and reassuring replies!

rosiefunny.jpg


She is currently fed Happy Hood with Speedibeet, carrots when I have them, and ad lib hay.

We are also thinking Ardennes crossed with something or other, she is a bit of a mongrel :D
 
Crumbs she looks fab to me slightly more weight in the second picture but i would be happy with that at this time of year.
Tell the opinionated old baggages to bog off and deal with their own horses as you are doing a fab job looking after yours
 
Would agree with the others really, she is a bit heavier than in summer but we are only part way through winter, if you need her to drop a little before summer swap the sugarbeet to speedi or equibeet a little further through the winter. She looks lovely!
 
I would say definitely Ardennes cross, much like the horse in my avatar!

I was actually scrolling down to try and find the fat pictures! Given that its winter and she's living out quite a bit I think she looks absolutely fine. If you are really concerned cut out the beet and just feed the happy hoof.

Do you keep her in a yard full of skinny TBs? (Nothing wrong with skinny TBs I hasten to add) Just wondered if they are not used to looking at a 'heavier' (again, no offence meant) type of horse or if they just like to poke their noses in other people's business????
 
I love this forum, it definitely eases my mind :D


jodie3 said:
I would say definitely Ardennes cross, much like the horse in my avatar!

I was actually scrolling down to try and find the fat pictures! Given that its winter and she's living out quite a bit I think she looks absolutely fine. If you are really concerned cut out the beet and just feed the happy hoof.

Do you keep her in a yard full of skinny TBs? (Nothing wrong with skinny TBs I hasten to add) Just wondered if they are not used to looking at a 'heavier' (again, no offence meant) type of horse or if they just like to poke their noses in other people's business????
Click to expand...

The yard is quite small, there are a few chunky horses kept there, but the comments usually come from those with the skinnies!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top