"Please don't bite!" Weight Improvement?

J

JHC

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 January 2013
Messages
228
Location
A tiny hamlet in Devon
Visit site
I posted a while ago about this horse's weight, having lost a lot of condition when I bought her and through stress continued to lose more.

I struggled to put weight on her, but I think I've got there?

(She is clipped as I am slightly allergic to horses, but this flares up when they moult).


At her worst -
8240c1c6-9f1b-4f08-b671-9590cb6afb1a_zps6270ad82.jpg


Yesterday -
606364aa-19ac-422e-8bb0-4dba940e1a4a_zps3d194c98.jpg
 
If you have to clip you have to clip! As long as she is well rugged she won't shiver any weight off.

Her topline still looks a little poor - are you able to lunge in a pessoa or similar? (I hadn't read your previous post) Otherwise she looks like a warmblood coming out of a very severe winter. I've got good do-ers looking lean atm. You've done well!
 
She does look a lot better but personally I Woyld say that she won't improve further without work

That's speaking from experience having shovelled food in to a very underweight pony all winter, he just started to develop a belly but his back and neck still looked like nothing in this earth! - now he is getting more exercise he is looking much better
 
I think the lack of muscle is making her look much skinnier than she is, bit of shape on her bum, filled out wither area and a toned neck I reckon she's look great.

Good luck OP, post some pics after the summer and I'll bet she'll have muscled up well if you do the right work :)
 
Yes definatly better.
Be very careful with the Pessoa ( or anything like it ) on a horse weak like this one .
I would start with a lunging rope .
Well done JHC keep at it.
 
Goldenstar said:
Yes definatly better.
Be very careful with the Pessoa ( or anything like it ) on a horse weak like this one .
I would start with a lunging rope .
Well done JHC keep at it.
Click to expand...

^^^

agree about pessoa they can be so damaging to weak horses. I would start with loose side reins and build up to pessoa 5/10 mins a day only. I know of a young horse worked in a pessoa everyday he now has damage to his back and has to have 6 months off and physio. The vet said people just don't realise unless used probably pessoa can be so bad.
 
She's only getting ridden 2/3 times a week as I'm so busy with lambing at the moment so is lacking a huge amount of muscle which will hopefully come once I have more time to work her.

I had the physio out and she's given me a sort of routine/timetable of how to use the pessoa etc.. Just starting off in walk and a few steps of trot and building it up.
 
Agree looks as if you have done a good job bringing her out of winter like this - I am one with a good doer with some visible ribs!
 
She looks good, just needs more muscle which will come with work now. Clipped is fine as long as she's warm enough!

Rather than a Pessoa I would use an equi ami though, they're much kinder IMO. Stretchy long and low and you can build up the time in it over a longer period as she gets fitter and stronger, its what I am doing with my welsh mare with little abdominal strength! Though she is improving with the help of the aid.

Oh, and I am also part of the 'my good doer is skinny' !
 
I'd build up the exercise slowly - especially lunging as that is tough with little muscle.

My good doer companion is having hard feed shovelled in and just about looking OK ish - the charity I loan him from came to check him a few weeks ago and said they had seen lots and lots of horses/ ponies in the same situation - in good homes and native hardy types just not coping this year - i guess the bad summer, poor grass= poor hay then this never ending winter is really taking it's tole.
 
She looks very similar to my cob who had a year off due to a surprise foal and then my illnesses, especially the weak neck. I've made a plan with an instructor and we both agree she's too weak to school at all, or lunge, and until she has a bit of muscle I'm just gently hacking her out. I was using an EquiAmi for 5 mins tops - it's quite mild - but I've decided to knock that on the head till she's a bit stronger. Good luck with her!
 
^^^^ Yes, surely she is going to burn calories that she can't afford to at this stage. Walking in hand and hacking would be better?
 
amymay said:
Agree with the gentle hacking. Lunging a week horse is of no benefit at all.
Click to expand...

NOOO!!! Lunging a horse is a huge benefit, especially if they are weak, and especially in a pessoa- check out some of Sue Dyson's latest papers. A lot of rehab work is now done lunging.
 
I dont expect Sue Dyson recommends lunging horses in a weak condition because of malnutrition though - does she??
 
A weak young horse needs work to develop otherwise you just end up with a still weak horse. horse looks in prerfectly reasonable condition now.. don't see what the issue is people have with getting her fit in a sensivble manner
 
She does look better, well done, and the clip wont matter as long as she's kept warm :)

I would not lunge yet though, just keep plodding away on the roads to harden her up and build up some strength and stamina. Lungeing is very hard work, you have plenty time to do it later when she's more able. I'd take this one really slowly, if she finds something difficult she might stress her self skinny again.

Wish i had that problem!
 
I think that there is a definite weight improvement there and like others have said doing the right work now will be the key to really improving condition and build top line. I also agree with the others who have advised against using a Pessoa, I wouldn't use one or anything alike on this horse just yet.

Never under estimate the pure greatness of hacking in building that initial top line and getting that basic fittening work in. My ex racers fitness has improved greatly purely from walking out hacking building from just 20 mins to now 3 hour hacks with no issues, and we are now introducing fast work

Here is just a few pics of my ex racer today. I know she still has little top line and is far from perfect but I think it may be useful to you to see just what hacking does, as my girl has just purely light hacked all winter, not a lunge line or school in sight and I think that she is now in a decent position to start harder work and schooling.

She used to be very ewe necked and was similar to your horses -

image-7_zpsad065815.jpg


Decent hind quarters starting to form -

image-7_zpsdd6e9c30.jpg


image-7_zps18c613b0.jpg


Good muscle over back, nearly flat -

image-7_zpsb7711c58.jpg


I hope this gives you some confidence and advertises the positive effect hacking can have
Good luck with your lovely horse!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top