Opinions on condition + winter feeding

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celia

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I'm going into my first winter with my TB and was hoping people could give me an indication of how he was looking condition wise. The two ponies are both good-doers so I'm not used to having to worry about whether they're maintaining weight or not! He's doing very little work atm as his shoes are still off (feet are improving though *bounces*) and is currently being fed a couple of large handfuls of chaff with formula4feet and black sunflower seeds. He lives out on fairly good grass 24/7 and is well rugged.

The photos below were taken about two weeks ago but he's in fairly similar condition atm - although it was a dull day so his coat doesn't look as good as usual! I'm used to looking at chubby ponies (such as the one in the background
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) so would appreciate opinions on whether he's carrying enough weight. Generally I don't like to alter their diets unless they seem to need something extra but was unsure as to whether I need to be upping his feed in some way in preparation for the much colder weather? (He definitely is not in need of more energy btw!)

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Thanks for looking - sorry it's a little long.
 
I think he looks pretty well going into winter , Just keep monitoring him throughout the winter, if you find hes loosing weight then perhaps put him onto a conditioning feed , such as baileys topline mix/ cubes .

Do you rug him ? what age is he ?
 
I have the exact opposite problem to you - I've just got a pony thats a good doer and I'm used to my TBx!! Your fella looks pretty good - I have probs keeping weight on my TBx mare during the winter and have to stuff her with hay as too much of the hard stuff and she's impossible tio handle
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You might want to start upping the hay etc in preparation for winter as I've always found condition is easy to drop in winter and hard to get back, esp in TBs.
How old is he? 16+ is a good conditioning feed and I've never found it heating (tho some people dispute that
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) but its a very hard feed and needs to be fed with water.
 
He's 6 and wearing a mw full neck rug atm - which he's nice and cosy in! He was wearing a lw until just over a week ago but I whipped it off as it was a warmish day and I wanted some pictures!
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I've always found condition is easy to drop in winter and hard to get back, esp in TBs.


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How very very true..... personally I would like to see him carrying a little more weight if he was mine (but mine currently looks like a barrrel!) and I'm now on my third winter with him, but he is kept in now, the first winter he was out and lost condition Feb onwards.... last winter he was in Dec to Feb.... and wasn't too bad.... this time things are going to be completely different as if he has too much grass he gets colic, so spends most of the time in with half and hour to an hour turnout every day..... Keep shovelling as much hay down as you can..... but also agree 16+ is a good conditioning feed!
 
Handsome boy.
He looks a perfect weight and condition...but I normally like them to be a bit plumper going into the winter on the assumption that they will lose a little by Feb/March.
Not all TB's are bad doers, though - my 18yo lives out 24/7 and generally keeps weight well.
S
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hes a good looking boy!! I think he looks fine at the moment, but would keep a close eye! Adding oil to feed is great as its non heating, just pure fat and great for coat condition, plain sunflower oil from supermarket is ok.
 
He is a very similar shape to my horsey. I would like to put a bit more weight on mine as its the first winter I have had him. I am feeding him loads of haylage (in the stable and in the field), D&H build up cubes, micronised barley, Alpha Oil and pink powder. Hopefully he will not get any thinner over the winter and might even put some weight on!
Your horsey is very handsome and healthy looking so I wouldn't worry, just keep monitoring!
 
Your boy looks good, just make sure you keep an eye on him, last winter I blinked and it seemed my boy lost loads.

I'm already worrying about my TB's weight
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He's fussy with his hay so doesn't eat that much and I'm piling him with Hifi and speedibeet with high fibre cubes and pink powder but he just doesn't seem to gain any. I have to be careful with what I feed him as most things blow his top (alfa-a oil turned him crazy!)
 
I think he looks great.

The most important considerations for me would be - warmth (rug), good shelter (hedgeline or field shelter) and of course ad lib haylage.

Do you have hay out for him to eat??
 
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