Right condition for a WB 2yo going into winter?

[becca1305]

Im a little worried about getting my fillys weight right, shes a (good) 16.2hh 2 1/2 yo hanoverian who I picked up 2 weekends ago and is my first WB. Have included some pics to try and help though most are not the best quality and it is difficult to get a true representation .Sorry about the size I dont know how to make them smaller! As a description I would say you can feel her ribs but you cant really see them unless she moves- throws her head right in the air walks round in a circle etc. I dont want to overfeed her as Im aware that can help lead to the development of joint issues etc particularly with WBs and big horses but at the same time I dont want her too skinny particularly going into winter!

At the minute she is out in the day and in at night (shes lightly rugged). She gets approx 12/13kg net of hay and haylage overnight (awaiting delivery of munch stations so she can eat from natural low level), and is grazing on a 5 acre field with 3 others which has enough grass for continual grazing (they will be moved fields, have hay put out etc if it gets low). She has 2 feeds a day which totalled are - 2 handfuls low cal chaff, 3 cups of baileys lo cal balancer, 2 handfuls of badminton hifibre nuggets, an apple and some garlic. I have a bag of dodson and horrel stud balancer in ready for if she needs more calories.

Pictures

looking her skinniest with her head up

and approx 5 weeks ago when she was out in a vast field with 20 or so other youngsters and mares, and had access to adlib hay.

Her coats thicker in these pictures as it was before she was stabled.

She seems to be looking a fair bit tubbier in those photos 5wks ago but I dont think shes lost any weight since arriving with me 2 wks ago. So should I get some more weight on her (swap her feed to stud balancer) or would that risk complications down the line?
Any advice from people in the know (experience with WB youngstock) welcomed I want to try and get her at the best weight/condition possible for her development.

 

[BillyBob-Sleigh]

Sorry not much help but just wanted to say she is gorgeous . I have an ISH x DWB and he is taking quite a bit to keep weight on over the winter (he's 4). I'm sure someone more knowledgeable with the youngsters will give you feeding advice

 

[becca1305]

Thanks theres some photos of her in the picture gallery, well I say some...bit of a picture overload really ! . Im anticipating her needing more calories through winter too but Im just not sure whether to swap to the stud balancer yet or whether to leave her unless she drops condition! Babies are so worrying, but lovely

 

[Tallante]

I feel your pain. I had the same concerns and dilemma with my lad when he was 3.

I don't pretend to be an expert on youngsters but can offer the benefit of hindsight from keeping a 15.3 Spanish 'ned living out over a cold, wet winter.

I recommend feeding with chaff/balancer/mix daily so that she has all the vitamins and minerals she needs and provide as much hay as she'll eat. That way you provide warmth from the process of digestion, some entertainment and as many low octane calories as she needs. Bailey was given half a bale of hay, twice a day one scoop of alfa-oil + half ration of Bailey's low cal twice a day. Feeding chaff and mix twice a day was my choice, once a day would have been just fine but I think that if can feed hay twice a day it helps keep them warmer and less hungry looking.

Bailey came out into spring looking well but not fat. He was rugged in a mw weatherbeeta and brought in if the forecast was for pouring rain overnight. He didn't bat an eyelid at snow or frost so long as the hay arrived on time.

 

[becca1305]

Thanks she is in at night. She isnt fed mix but is fed balancer at the recommended quantities so should get any extra vits/minerals she needs from that in theory. Adding calories isnt a problem as shes on a local feed im just not sure based on her condition whether she needs them or not!