Signs of Being Overweight.

[ForeverBroke_]

Besides looking like they've swallowed a barrel xD

I know Darcy is a biit over weight as a whole , and he's got a tiny fat pocket on his neck, near his wither (hides in shame) but in my defence, he's ridden every day for at least 45 minutes walk/ trot / canter etc and does sweat a fair amount, and he's only on 3/4 a scoop of happy hoof (i cant remember what weight it works out) with a bit of garlic and some veggies. Surely for now, i'm on the right path to get the rest of that weight off before the grass comes through.

Can't really afford to just veggify him because he has no get up and go which is very hard work! Anyway, what signs would you look for to monitor getting a bit worryingly overweight? Would you look at girth holes too ?

Thanks x

 

[itsme123]

A good way of knowing is to take a photo every week side on and from the back and compare pictures over the weeks, as well as weight monitoring, watching out for a crest... and the girth holes lol.

I do the cuddle test, if I can reach over and touch my fingers round his middle he's not put on weight, but then he;s only tiny so that's easy

 

[Bay_Beasty]

How about sending photos to Dopeesophee YO

!!! Have you got any pics? bit hard to say without looking at whole picture of Darcy, but I doubt he is obese if he is only fed happy hoof and isn't he on starvation paddock. Also don't let that lady at your yard know you think he is over weight, she'll steal your starvation paddock next

 

[RachelB]

I use a weight tape, girth holes, whether her flanks are sunk (when she is lacking condition), and most importantly I condition score and take photos every week. The weight tape is deceptive as it says she is 560kg at the moment, but most of her weight is undoubtedly behind her girth as she has a huge saggy ex-broodmare belly!
Keep the work up, keep him sweating and working properly (not just cantering loads on the forehand and coming home dripping, I mean walk, trot and canter actually using himself properly) and keep an eye on his grass intake as it is definitely coming through where I am and has been for weeks now... just not visibly yet as they are eating it quicker than it is growing!
I wouldn't have thought what you are feeding in his bucket is going to put any weight on him at all.

 

[ForeverBroke_]

[ QUOTE ]
How about sending photos to Dopeesophee YO

!!! Have you got any pics? bit hard to say without looking at whole picture of Darcy, but I doubt he is obese if he is only fed happy hoof and isn't he on starvation paddock. Also don't let that lady at your yard know you think he is over weight, she'll steal your starvation paddock next

[/ QUOTE ]

I know haha ! Let her try |-)

Thanks guys, i'll maybe take a load of him 2moro and you can look

 

[ForeverBroke_]

[ QUOTE ]


I do the cuddle test, if I can reach over and touch my fingers round his middle he's not put on weight, but then he;s only tiny so that's easy

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Sadly Darcys a little big for that , but i could try anyway haha

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I thought you meant in humans - was going to say when you can't do your joddies up....

*makes note to stop eating chocolate when not watching Rollestone foalcam*

 

[ForeverBroke_]

and egg custards

"slides packet under sofa."

 

[Bay_Beasty]

Sorry but whats and egg custard? I mean is it like custard in a glass like a custard shake?

 

[Donkeymad]

Condition score and weigh tape weekly to spot differences that would not be easily visible to the eye.

 

[ForeverBroke_]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry but whats and egg custard? I mean is it like custard in a glass like a custard shake?

[/ QUOTE ]

Lol its like a custard pastry basically .. i think It sort of tastes like bread and butter pudding to me..minus the bread lol, if thats possible xD

 

[Aru]

this is basicly how we were thought to acess in our horse practical.
look at Condition by checking the Neck , Withers,Back & Loin,Ribs, and Hind Quarters
0 Very thin
bone structure easily felt- no muscle shelf where neck meets shoulder
bone structure easily felt
3 points of vertebrae easily felt (see Figure 2)
each rib can be easily felt
tailhead and hip bones projecting
(usually seen in a cruelty case or a very old horse or very ill horse)

1 Thin
can feel bone structure- slight shelf where neck meets shoulder
can feel bone structure
spinous process can be easily felt(the points along the backbone)
- transverse processes have slight fat covering
slight fat covering, but can still be felt
can feel hip bones

2 Fair
fat covering over bone structure
fat deposits over withers - dependent on conformation
fat over spinous processes
can't see ribs, but ribs can still be felt
hip bones covered with fat

3 Good
neck flows smoothly into shoulder
neck rounds out withers
back is level
layer of fat over ribs but are visable
can't feel hip bones

4 Fat
fat deposited along neck
fat padded around withers
positive crease along back
fat spongy over and between ribs
can't feel hip bones

5 Very fat
bulging fat
bulging fat
deep positive crease
pockets of fat
pockets of fat

Sorry so long

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Thanks that was v helpful!

I'd score him between 3, possibly was beginning to push 4 but think i got it in time

 

[ForeverBroke_]

I just realised i have some photos. Not v good ones because they were just of him having a chill about the place. Might be able to get a bit of an idea.
Most recent (about a week ago)

I think he looks fatter in real life that in these photos lol..

 

[dopeesophee]

haha im sure my yo would be pleased to give her opinion

x

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Lol just saw your other post

Dw, someone did the same to me, said she was horrified at what she saw and turfed him into a starvation paddock. He was soon back out , into a field with an equally short amount of grass (has since grown) but with some room to move .

 

[dopeesophee]

hehe bless him

x

 

[HollyP]

he doesnt look over weight at all! dont cut his feed!