too slim now ?

J

JLD

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My 13.2 cob x Welsh A had laminitis last year, he was slim and on restricted grazing and soaked hay. It came on after an infected fly bite caused lymphangitis. I been obsessively watching his weight this spring - my vet just keeps saying he is ok but no fatter. My grass hasn't come through much yet and he is now looking a bit ribby. This is making me feel uncomfortable. He is otherwise well covered and you can only see his ribs when he is moving. Reassure me this is ok !!! He is on metformin to cover the spring flush and looked a bit footy a few weeks ago so I am paranoid both ways now.
 
Sounds spot on especially with grass about to come through. Read up on condition scoring it should put your mind at rest. Well done for the weight loss, mine are ballooning, must crack down on it before it becomes an issue!
 
Thanks. I kind of know he needs to be a bit under but he came to me having been really underweight and looking all head and fur with very little muscle bulk. he balloons really quickly but looks poor quickly too. I suspect he has had low grade on and off laminitis for many years and possibly has some chronic gut damage. He colicked ridiculously easily a few months ago. I feel on a bit of a knife edge !
 
Seeing ribs when moving as you describe suggests pretty much spot on condition. You should be able to see ribs and if you can't your horse is probably overweight.
 
Used to be perfectly normal to see horses ribs ,we have been conditioned over the last twenty years to see horses fatter.
If the vets happy I would be happy well done for getting a pony that slim it's not an easy task .
 
Bear in mind that about 80% of horses are overweight these days and seeing ribs is not a bad thing unless in the extreme. Your horse is probably one of the few that is at a health weight. Give yourself a break and don't compare your horse against a unhealthy norm.
 
As long as it is only his ribs you can see he is probably inperfect condition the worry comes in metabolic horses when you can see spinal processes and hip bones. Deep poverty lines at the rear end are a bit of a worry too
 
Thanks that really reassures me. Definitely no hip bones or spinal processes. He still looks reasonably well shaped especially as he is not really in ridden work as I feel he really feels his feet even though he is in no way lame as a result of long term damage in the past. We do in hand stuff when the ground is ok and in boots. Have to say chopped oat straw and a very lo cal balancer with soaked hay has revolutionized his diet - he can eat loads more and stay slim.
 
My boy (WBx) has been wintered out with no hard feed. If he didn't have the winter coat of a Yeti coming out, his ribs would be slightly visible. Ribs can be easily felt but he has a great topline. Exactly the weight I would want for this time of year for any horse.

With regards to Laminitis concerns, speak to Vet and Farrier to ensure you keep on top of any problems.
 
So would you folks say my 13'3hh Cob is just right? (see pics)

He's been on 3/4acers of grass since 15/3/15 and before that 1 1/2acers since 6/7/14. I'v started to give him give him 2 hard feeds a week from mid November.

Weight tape and Wormer dates:
6/7/14 484-498kg
1/9/14 Panacur granules =600kg
1/11/14 524-532kg
30/11/14 524-532kg
21/12/14 EquestPramox =600kg
28/12/14 524-532kg
25/1/15 538-546kg
28/2/15 490-498kg
21/3/15 470-478kg
27/4/15 455-460kg
17/5/15 451-458kg
17/5/15 Equimax =500kg





 
He looks just about where mine is, although mine has got a fraction more covering this week as the grass had finally come through.
 
Hi Pet pony, your cob is lovely, he looks a real sweetie. I don't know how old he is but I don't think he needs to lose any more weight but he could do with some more muscle, particularly on the hind quarters which will come with the correct work. I can't see his topline but he looks to have a lot of muscle under his neck which probably means it's hard to work him in a correct outline, long and low is the way to go!
 
Thanks for that happyclappy, JLD,

oldie48, He is a nice boy but being a stallion he can be a bit bossy when leading, it will take time but we'll get there where I let him be a bit showy and listen to me at the same time. His passport just says DOB 2009 so can only say he's 6 years old. When I started to see is ribs about 3-4 weeks ago I got worried if there was an underlying issue. But after looking on the forums it seems it's ok, Although it's still good to get other peoples opinions. He was used as a cart horse until I got him but I fully intend to get him carting again soon, hopefully he'll build up some muscle in his hind quarters after doing some carting.

Hears a couple more pics that might help determine the topline.



 
Petpony, your boy looks a perfect weight to me. Lacking topline and a bit of muscle development on his quarters, but other than that he looks good :)
 
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