Ribs....

T

tangoharvey

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 October 2009
Messages
843
Location
in the clouds
Visit site
I was chatting down my yard yesterday, and talked to one of the riding instructors and just said that if I ran my hand along my mares side, I can just feel her back 3 ribs - they dont stick out at all, and she has wobbly fat on her shoulder
blush.gif
but the RI said that you should never be able to feel the ribs on a big horse - is this true? I consider myself fairly knowledgable, but sometimes people can make you doubt yourself. She is clydesdale, on hay all day and has 2 large feeds a day of chaff, garlic and nuts - should I somehow increase her feed so he ribs disappear altogether?
crazy.gif
 
Rubbish!!! I had a big hunter type and you could always feel, but not see her ribs!! sounds like you have your horse in good condition - big horses on large joints don't need the stress of extra weight...
 
feeling ribs i was told is ok as long as they arent visible.
she is better bein a bit lean for when she comes into spring (optimistic) to fatten up again on spring grass.
As long as she has the energy for work done you are feeding her right!
(thats my belief on it anyway!!)
 
Thats what I was always led to believe that you should feel the ribs but not see them

However, a very knowledgable girl owns a horse where the ribs are very noticeable.......
confused.gif
 
Well my cob lost loads of weight through stress on box rest for laminitis not so long ago and I was seriously worried about him as you could see several ribs...having been overweight before. When the vet came out to give his feet the all clear, she said that whatever he weighed at that time on the weigh tape and how he currently looks is what he should be all year round. I questioned the outline of ribs, especially as he had a winter coat at that point and she said that she would prefer to see a few ribs on him rather than not...if I wanted to prevent laminitis again. So that it what I aim for...being able to just see an outline of a few ribs...which may turn to looking a bit too slim when he looses his winter coat...but I cannot risk laminitis again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top