CobsGalore
Well-Known Member
We have been working really hard over the last 6 weeks to get his weight down to a safer level. I think he is now a good weight for going into winter, but what do you think? What would you say his condition score is?
Please condition score my horse
- Thread starter CobsGalore
- Start date
ihatework
Well-Known Member
A good 6, approaching 7 / 9
Wagtail
Horse servant
I would say a 4 out of 5.
nikicb
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure what he looked like before, but if he was mine he would need to lose a lot more before I was happy with his weight. Good luck.
CobsGalore
Well-Known Member
Do you think that's acceptable going into Winter, or do we need to work even harder?
Have a look at my previous post to see how big he was when i got him - http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=564302
Have a look at my previous post to see how big he was when i got him - http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=564302
Emilieu
Well-Known Member
4 out of 5. I'd want him to lose as well.
nikicb
Well-Known Member
No I don't think it's acceptable, and yes he needs to work harder and eat less. Sorry.
ETA just looked at your other pictures and I actually think he looks like he's put a bit on since your previous 'after' picture. Might be the light/picture though. Are you measuring his weight loss or just going with what you see?
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CobsGalore
Well-Known Member
Don't say sorry! I know he needs to lose more weight, I just wanted others opinions on what his current score is.
Can I just add that I have only had him 6 weeks and according to the weight tape he has dropped over 30kg!
nikicb
Well-Known Member
I didn't want you to think I was blaming you as I know you haven't had him that long, but wanted to be clear. Good luck, I know it can be hard work with some of them.
Wagtail
Horse servant
He doesn't really look to have lost much weight. Sorry. I know it is really hard. I would much rather care for a poor doer than a good doer. They are a nightmare. Having my own yard where I can confine the fatties to smaller barer paddocks makes things much easier. I actually find winter the hardest as I turn out in the all weather and so their entire forage is high fibre haylage. I have to feed them five small (weighed) nets a day to keep their weight down but their guts moving. It's a PITA.
be positive
Well-Known Member
He is looking much better than he did, be careful about trying to get weight off him too quickly, yes he has a way to go but if you are working him he will lose the fat gradually and muscle up over a period of time you should then be able to maintain a stable weight without starving him. Plenty of slow steady hacking will help him muscle up, the fitter he gets the more faster work you can do he will look super when fit and slim.
CobsGalore
Well-Known Member
Really? You don't think he has lost much from the first picture?
Wagtail
Horse servant
His belly looks to hang lower to me. He has perhaps lost a little from his top line. It maybe the angle of the photograph though. Are you using a weight tape? If so, what does that tell you?
CobsGalore
Well-Known Member
When I got him it said 546kg, now it says 511kg
Wagtail
Horse servant
How long a time period are we talking about? I expect to be able to shift around 10 - 15 kg a week off a horse that I put on a diet. That is the equivalent of a human shifting around 1.25 kg a week or 3 - 4 lbs. The more overweight they are, the quicker it comes off.
CobsGalore
Well-Known Member
Gosh that's a lot. I have had him 6 weeks.
Wagtail
Horse servant
That is a winter estimate. It is much harder in summer for most people whose horses are on good grass, even with a grazing muzzle. The single most effective way of shifting weight is lots of schooling (or hunting/fast hacking). I had a horse drop 30 kilos (by weight tape) in one week when I schooled him every day.
mturnbull
Well-Known Member
I think your going in the right direction but as others have said there is more to come off. Also realistically is he going to lose a lot of weight over the winter? He looks a hardy boy! Keep going OP and dont succumb to any puppy dog eyes for an extra carrot!
tiga71
Well-Known Member
I agree with 'bepositive' that you shouldn't worry about getting the weight off too quickly.
I had the same problem when I got my cob who was massive. I did lots of long lining and in hand hacking till he lost enough for a saddle, then lots of work. He was on ok grazing and limited haylage but it was the work that got the weight off.
How much are you working him? Hill work is great.
BUt it looks and sounds like the weight is going in the right direction. It is so hard!
I had the same problem when I got my cob who was massive. I did lots of long lining and in hand hacking till he lost enough for a saddle, then lots of work. He was on ok grazing and limited haylage but it was the work that got the weight off.
How much are you working him? Hill work is great.
BUt it looks and sounds like the weight is going in the right direction. It is so hard!
CobsGalore
Well-Known Member
I am exercising him every day with long hacks at the weekend - maybe I still need to step it up!? Thanks for the kick up the backside
lol
Wagtail
Horse servant
I am exercising him every day with long hacks at the weekend - maybe I still need to step it up!? Thanks for the kick up the backside
It really is so hard! One year my haylage supplier sent me high energy haylage instead of my usual hi fibre/low energy stuff. I couldn't understand why even the poor doers started to look pregnant (in the middle of winter!). Mystery was solved after I rang the supplier with the bale codes on my haylage and they descovered their error! Just shows how one small thing can make a massive difference. It was also the year when I stopped feeding ad lib forage to the fatties.