Ring Condition

[Diamore]

I genuinely hate to be writing this but........

Ring condition, my lil mare was super at the weekend won two showing classes and stood Ridden Champion.

However she is "light" and when on the move you can see her ribs a little.

She is on mega grass over night and in with adlib hayalage during the day.
She is fit and working 4/5 days a week, she's only 5 but as she has qualified for a lot of showing champs (which i was just doing for fun) i know that she needs to carry a bit more to improve her, plus September is a busy month and i dont think getting more condition on her now is a bad thing really.

More grass she just gets grass belly. She is fed on Simple systems with Blue chip concentrate balancer, and it is working well other than she isnt "ring condition"- and TBH i would like her to carry a bit more, she is ISH so I know that they grow slower but any suggestions?

She is barefoot so pumping full of cereals or sugar is not going to happen- people have suggested top spec?

No I don't want her fat show horse type but she does need a lil bit more.

Open to sensible suggestions.

 

[Casey76]

Just being able to see ribs while moving/turning away from you on a circle, is pretty much spot on body condition-score wise, especially with a sport horse type. Just make sure that she has plenty of muscle and topline.

 

[catkin]

Quite frankly if she's winning then there ain't much wrong with her condition.

She's only 5 please don't overdo it - she's not at her mature frame yet (well done to the judges you've been under who've recognised that) and if you try to make her look like that then you could easily set off metabolic or other problems for the future.

If you've got a busy September planned is it worth you both having a bit of a 'breather' during July/August - no comps just some quiet fun for a few weeks?

 

[be positive]

As already said if she is winning then why do you want more weight on her, many show horses are too fat and it is encouraging to hear that yours is doing extremely well despite being fit and having her ribs visible, judges are trying to get the right balance between having a decent covering with a good topline and the obese animals they are often presented with.

She will physically bulk up a little as she matures don't try and pile weight on otherwise this time next year you may be regretting it if not then later in life when she suffers from arthritis or metabolic issues.
If she is really fit a few days off here and there should help her maintain the condition with no detriment to her fitness, it wouldn't do any harm to barely ride between the big shows later in the season once they know their job just some easy hacking days should be enough to keep her ticking over and allow the weight to stabilise.

 

[Bernster]

Showing report please, it's obligatory when you win frillies, and especially so when you get whole actual sashes ! As others have said, she can't be doing much wrong to have done so well already ��

 

[Diamore]

Just being able to see ribs while moving/turning away from you on a circle, is pretty much spot on body condition-score wise, especially with a sport horse type. Just make sure that she has plenty of muscle and topline.

Thanks but she is showing as a Small Hunter

Quite frankly if she's winning then there ain't much wrong with her condition.

She's only 5 please don't overdo it - she's not at her mature frame yet (well done to the judges you've been under who've recognised that) and if you try to make her look like that then you could easily set off metabolic or other problems for the future.

If you've got a busy September planned is it worth you both having a bit of a 'breather' during July/August - no comps just some quiet fun for a few weeks?

Yes she is off comps for a month now- i am aware not to push her too much

As already said if she is winning then why do you want more weight on her, many show horses are too fat and it is encouraging to hear that yours is doing extremely well despite being fit and having her ribs visible, judges are trying to get the right balance between having a decent covering with a good topline and the obese animals they are often presented with.

She will physically bulk up a little as she matures don't try and pile weight on otherwise this time next year you may be regretting it if not then later in life when she suffers from arthritis or metabolic issues.
If she is really fit a few days off here and there should help her maintain the condition with no detriment to her fitness, it wouldn't do any harm to barely ride between the big shows later in the season once they know their job just some easy hacking days should be enough to keep her ticking over and allow the weight to stabilise.

Yep i do just keep her ticking over, i tried to give her three days off and she turned into a little monster to handle but am keeping it all light and happy for her.

My biggest concern is with a busy month she will drop off so would rather bulk her up a bit now and get that maintained rather than her lose lots in a busy month!

 

[PorkChop]

What Simple Systems is she on? I have mine on their Red Bag Grass Pellets and I add micronised linseed, which is a great way to give more calories without sugar.

I personally don't like balancers, I have also had success with Slobermash but it is cereal.

I would also maybe do a worm count, just to check this isn't stopping her gain weight, and teeth of course.

You are obviously doing something right!

 

[Pinkvboots]

to add show condition I have used cool stance copra, micronised linseed and equi jewel neither of my horses are fed grain or molasses and have a basic simple diet mainly fibre but they hold weight well so I mostly just up the linseed if need be, to be honest I am also not keen on balancers the few I have tried made my horse quite hot so I gave up with them some years back, if I were you I would just add some micronised linseed and see how you go.

 

[Diamore]

What Simple Systems is she on? I have mine on their Red Bag Grass Pellets and I add micronised linseed, which is a great way to give more calories without sugar.

I personally don't like balancers, I have also had success with Slobermash but it is cereal.

I would also maybe do a worm count, just to check this isn't stopping her gain weight, and teeth of course.

You are obviously doing something right!

Thanks Micronised Linseed hasnt made any difference to her sadly. And more grass just gives her a grass belly rather than weight where i want it!

to add show condition I have used cool stance copra, micronised linseed and equi jewel neither of my horses are fed grain or molasses and have a basic simple diet mainly fibre but they hold weight well so I mostly just up the linseed if need be, to be honest I am also not keen on balancers the few I have tried made my horse quite hot so I gave up with them some years back, if I were you I would just add some micronised linseed and see how you go.

Thanks ive tried all of the above previously with her mum and found copra did ****** all, equi jewel is rocket fuel and linseed ive tried and didnt make much difference.

Out of interest Pinky Boots do you feed a general supp to ensure all vits and min?

 

[only_me]

You could try adding more oil to her feed? Then you get some extra calories and will be great for her coat.

If you want more condition you could try adding a handful of maize or boiled barley, we've found it the best way to up the condition & a lot cheaper as well lol.
She sounds in great condition though, maybe it's just been a busy few months showing and if she's on a quieter period now she might build up a bit more

As she's young she could also be going through a growing phase, so just going up rather than out

 

[Diamore]

You could try adding more oil to her feed? Then you get some extra calories and will be great for her coat.

If you want more condition you could try adding a handful of maize or boiled barley, we've found it the best way to up the condition & a lot cheaper as well lol.
She sounds in great condition though, maybe it's just been a busy few months showing and if she's on a quieter period now she might build up a bit more

As she's young she could also be going through a growing phase, so just going up rather than out

Sorry i dont feed cereals.

 

[pennandh]

If she's shown as any sort of hunter at all - be it small, weights, or ladies' - then she should look fit enough that you'd expect to be able to get her hard-fit for hunting come the season without too horrific an amount of effort.

Something along the lines of a little oil or linseed jelly in her feed might not go amiss if you feel she's genuinely thinner than she should be, but please don't be tempted to go overboard with it: a good hunter that looks fit and full of going is such a delight to see in the show ring, and you don't want to go overloading young joints.