Topline - Before and Afters... Show us yours

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Neptune

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So I am fighting (what feels like) a loosing battle with my horses topline and general condition (muscle not fat) over all. So thought it would be good to see others
that have managed to conquer this battle with their horses, hoping it will inspire me to keep at it!

So feel free to show of your now shiney and muscled horses... with the before pics also :)

Would be good for ideas for me also if you add any particular work you did with them to help them build their muscle and any different feeding regime you did? Maybe i am
missing some vital part which is why mine is just not happening.

Ideas and inspirations please :)
 
Not very good quality pics, sorry, but a dramatic difference.
I know this isn't a riding horse (yet) so not exactly what you are looking for, but it does show what a difference time and Dr Green and good nutrition can make!
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee54/kerilli/Screenshot2014-04-03at102724_zps90451eed.png and
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee54/kerilli/Screenshot2014-04-03at102814_zps8fc7153f.png
No work at all, filly too young to be worked. First was taken a few months after she slipped over in the field while playing around on her own, and gave herself severe whiplash (and other injuries).
Second pic is 2 years on. :) Amazing difference I think.
 
cant post pics at work but maybe NMT will chime in and do it for me :)

depends on the horse, but CS was absolutely transformed by Havens Slobbermash-put on fat, muscle and just bloomed. But it does also buzz him up (ok by me as he's idle by nature!)

Soaked rolled oats are none heating and have made a huge diff to Fig, he looks like a solid like block of muscle now and is also gleaming.

Would def think about trying the oats as they made such a quick diff to Fig with no buzziness.
 
This was Freya when I got her.
attachment.php


4 and a half year old ex racehorse, raced 27 times until April 2012 and then been in a field for 6 months doing not much so lost all condition. I got her in November 2012. Her neck was awful, as you can see!

She was on adlib haylage and gradually built up on Allen and Page Calm and Condition and micronised linseed. Her work has been consistent- lots of hacking (we live in a hilly area) and school work. I bought her to bring on to event and she did her first BE80 (unaff at Borde Hill) in August last year, finishing on her dressage score and I've just entered her in her first affiliated event at Chilham at the end of April.

This was her at the end of Feb this year
attachment.php
 
I bought this mare in Oct 2013

She was green , not been ridden long.

This is her the day after I got her





Two weeks later doing intro test





This is 4/5 months later






I think in the short time I've had her there is a definite improvement in her neck, I've also had to have a saddle I got in Jan 2014 , widened yesterday , which I assume is a good sign

Do you guys see a improvement in top line in the 5 months I've had her..??
 
When we first had him in November 2011 (5yo WB stallion)
1323886838.jpg


About 6 months on
1334342577.jpg


Last summer
image_zps3718a217.jpg


image_zpsc0d63204.jpg


He is fed 3 kgs of Pavo Nature's Best and ad-lib hay. He also has magnesium, vitamin E + selenium and brewer's yeast. He is on very limited turnout but a very happy boy. I ride him 6 days of the week and do dressage. My husband jumps with him about 1-2 days weekly and he competes roughly once in every fortnight (doing 130-135 cm now).
 
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I've not got any good before pictures of Doodle when I got her, and to be honest she wasn't in terrible nick but we have now transformed her upside down topline and I think she looks great now.
However it was very hard work and a lot of feeding to get her to the stage she's at now, she's currently fed veteran vitality and rolled oats and she's looking good on it.

In contrast Topaz was very poor when we got her:
9226_129273329924_6350185_n_zps878fec05-1_zps7f7df9f5.jpg

Not much in the way of weight and topline, however all that she needed was Dr. Green and is actually quite a good do'er, so is now just fed a balancer and some oil to help her coat.
Just after a year:
67408_455805659924_6607373_n_zpsb20a7872.jpg

And then after changing to dressage for the winter she has changed again this is 4 and half years after the first pic:
P1010901_zps1277dda6.jpg

Slightly too fat in the one above from last month but is looking good now after trimming down a bit, and its a good excuse to show a pretty matchy matchy pic of both the girls ;):
1499576_10152349729559925_115627727_n_zpsc6f7134e.jpg


x x
 
First pic, very weak 5 year old, an inch higher at croup :p

Second pic, 7 year old year, a hand bigger, fed on alfa, Balanced feeds competition mix, show mix and oil, in medium work 5-6 days a week, mixture of flat, jumping, hill hacking and gallop work.

stand_zps677c3edb.jpg


And depressingly, gone the other way...rising 8 year old, 4 months after cancer diagnosis, a hospital stay, and difficulty eating!

eb728831-2bef-4406-bf24-89e7099b5b3e_zps39e04089.png
 
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My 4yo this time last year
https://plus.google.com/photos/1102...5896043276580162130&oid=110296579904910282101
And the same horse about 6 months later
https://plus.google.com/photos/1102...5969084793575809634&oid=110296579904910282101

She had had a tough winter in the first photo, the main things that made the difference were decent grass and correct work. She was fed Alfa A oil, Micronised linseed, oil and sugarbeet. She was worked lightly but correctly and really improved in condition and topline.
 
A series of photos of a horse I purchased from breeder at 18 months old.

I really wish to this day I took a decent phot of him as a rising 4yo. The truth of the matter was I was so embarassed by how he looked I didn't want the RSPCA on my case!!

Anyway here goes:

Summer of 2yo year


Autumn of 3yo year lightly sat on


Spring of 4yo year - grew 3 inches in 4 months. Was probably a condition score 2/5 and looked shocking in the flesh. Hips jutting out and you could play a tune on his ribs!


Spring of 5yo year
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/eledajack/Kingsman/RoddyFeb09.jpg
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
cant post pics at work but maybe NMT will chime in and do it for me :)

depends on the horse, but CS was absolutely transformed by Havens Slobbermash-put on fat, muscle and just bloomed. But it does also buzz him up (ok by me as he's idle by nature!)

Soaked rolled oats are none heating and have made a huge diff to Fig, he looks like a solid like block of muscle now and is also gleaming.

Would def think about trying the oats as they made such a quick diff to Fig with no buzziness.
Click to expand...

CS:

Screenshot2013-11-30at194924_zps79d4c2b4.png


Pre slobbermash (April 2013):
21223_635066049853651_1207366103_n_zps2090ec08.jpg


Last weekend:
P1310325_zps61e5b955.jpg


Fig:

Screenshot2014-02-02at213454_zps0a7b4300.png


Before oats (November 2013):
Screenshot2013-11-09at104005_zps5dff32e6.png


Last weekend:
P1310505_zpsec70c20b.jpg
 
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Just coming up to 5
P1020355-1.jpg


A few weeks later after lots of Dr green
P1020438.jpg


No good shots in the years between but this was him when i started jumping again after his stifles were injected
DSCN0458.jpg


I think this is the only body shot ive got of him, not long before he was kicked and broke
DSCN7306_zps0942a040.jpg


His topline improved more after that, it was a long slog mainly due to my inexperience but lots of raised poles and correct schooling made a real difference as did know how to actually ride him. I also worked him in an Equi ami once a week, did lots of schooling out hacking and power walks him hills. Its a shame i havent got any good pics as he looked fab.
He was on fibre cubes,alfalfa pellets, non mollased chaff, micronised linseed and brewers yeast in that finaly pic and worked the best for him, lots of hay and good grass as well so didnt need huge amounts of hard feed. He was worked 6 days a week plus competing/lessons and had plenty of energy.
 
Wow. some great transformations happening and happened. Keep them coming the inspiration is working

For the past 3 months my horse has been in ridden work with instructors help to ensure I have him working correctly to build muscle and 2 times a week lunged in the Equiami and I really do not notice any improvement. Even when compared to previous photos! Not even slightly! So am now re-evaluating his feed. He was only on chaff / hay and vits previously so nothing to help build the muscle i guess. So he has been started on Sugar beet with the chaff. Will up the chaff to an oil variety when the bag runs out and will prob add some Micronized linseed and maybe the baileys No.4, see how we get on before I add anything else to his food. I just feel like he is now seriously having tons of food, I can hardly lift his buckets they are so heavy! lol. Guess I was under feeding before. It was enough to keep weight on him but that was about it really.
 
Neptune said:
Wow. some great transformations happening and happened. Keep them coming the inspiration is working

For the past 3 months my horse has been in ridden work with instructors help to ensure I have him working correctly to build muscle and 2 times a week lunged in the Equiami and I really do not notice any improvement. Even when compared to previous photos! Not even slightly! So am now re-evaluating his feed. He was only on chaff / hay and vits previously so nothing to help build the muscle i guess. So he has been started on Sugar beet with the chaff. Will up the chaff to an oil variety when the bag runs out and will prob add some Micronized linseed and maybe the baileys No.4, see how we get on before I add anything else to his food. I just feel like he is now seriously having tons of food, I can hardly lift his buckets they are so heavy! lol. Guess I was under feeding before. It was enough to keep weight on him but that was about it really.
Click to expand...

I add pro balance and lysine to my lads feed as he's a good doer and doesn't really need much in the way of hard feed. I get both from Progressive Earth on eBay and they're both cheap :)
 
Neptune said:
Wow. some great transformations happening and happened. Keep them coming the inspiration is working

For the past 3 months my horse has been in ridden work with instructors help to ensure I have him working correctly to build muscle and 2 times a week lunged in the Equiami and I really do not notice any improvement. Even when compared to previous photos! Not even slightly! So am now re-evaluating his feed. He was only on chaff / hay and vits previously so nothing to help build the muscle i guess. So he has been started on Sugar beet with the chaff. Will up the chaff to an oil variety when the bag runs out and will prob add some Micronized linseed and maybe the baileys No.4, see how we get on before I add anything else to his food. I just feel like he is now seriously having tons of food, I can hardly lift his buckets they are so heavy! lol. Guess I was under feeding before. It was enough to keep weight on him but that was about it really.
Click to expand...

Are you working with a good equine physio to make sure there is no soreness, and that you're on the right track?
 
2012 to now...
In 2012 he was 5yo jumping now 7yo and stressaging! No change in diet can't hard feed as he blows his brains (regardless of type of feed) so just on ad lib haylage and grass turnout.


image_zpse17990a3.jpg

image_zps731c6b4b.jpg
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
cant post pics at work but maybe NMT will chime in and do it for me :)

depends on the horse, but CS was absolutely transformed by Havens Slobbermash-put on fat, muscle and just bloomed. But it does also buzz him up (ok by me as he's idle by nature!)

Soaked rolled oats are none heating and have made a huge diff to Fig, he looks like a solid like block of muscle now and is also gleaming.

Would def think about trying the oats as they made such a quick diff to Fig with no buzziness.
Click to expand...


I'm guessing all these feeds are bf friendly as you're barefoot? Does the slobber mash stack on the lbs? And does soaking oats take the fizziness effect out of them, or is it just they don't affect him? Always interested in trying new feeds that might be good for me :)
 
stencilface said:
I'm guessing all these feeds are bf friendly as you're barefoot? Does the slobber mash stack on the lbs? And does soaking oats take the fizziness effect out of them, or is it just they don't affect him? Always interested in trying new feeds that might be good for me :)
Click to expand...

We strongly believe that the harder the feet work, the more you can 'get away with'... (metabocal issues aside)

Both completely commercial diets.

The Slobbermash is a terrifying 30%+ starch content. But it's processed differently, so a moot point. Doesn't affect CS's ulcers either. Goes very gloopy and seems to line his tum. Has sparked CS up though (have heard same from others too).

Soak the oats as makes them easier to digest. They haven't sparked Fig up and he is the most feed sensitive horse I've come across!!!

Lots of bf people are wary of the starch content even in the winergy. But honestly, if you are able to work the feet hard enough we have found it doesn't affect them.

If looking for non fizzy feeds, have a play with alfalfa. Sends Fig loopy and itchy, but CS loves it.

Micronised linseed is a good port of call too, and good for tums.
 
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My little hairy beast the day he came to me as a 7 year old barely broken.

30690_436503597253_6338034_n.jpg


2 years later.

578081_10150939049872254_1496764012_n.jpg


He's also gone backwards now due to 6 months off work. :( Hopefully starting to come right.


On arrival:

354_48009297253_3073_n.jpg


Post (minor) KS diagnosis, lots of pessoa work, reschooling.

386502_10150469555957254_600452795_n.jpg


And amazing transformations - thank you A&P weight gain.

On arrival:

424150_10150643353772254_1676822191_n.jpg


6 months later.

487330_179929102134779_2119576997_n.jpg


Good consitant work, both on the lunge and ridden, the big hills we have on our hacking and good grazing seems to work
 
nikkimariet said:
We strongly believe that the harder the feet work, the more you can 'get away with'... (metabocal issues aside)

Both completely commercial diets.

The Slobbermash is a terrifying 30%+ starch content. But it's processed differently, so a moot point. Doesn't affect CS's ulcers either. Goes very gloopy and seems to line his tum. Has sparked CS up though (have heard same from others too).

Soak the oats as makes them easier to digest. They haven't sparked Fig up and he is the most feed sensitive horse I've come across!!!

Lots of bf people are wary of the starch content even in the winergy. But honestly, if you are able to work the feet hard enough we have found it doesn't affect them.

If looking for non fizzy feeds, have a play with alfalfa. Sends Fig loopy and itchy, but CS loves it.

Micronised linseed is a good port of call too, and good for tums.
Click to expand...

Thanks, not hard working ATM (tbh, never has in comparison to yours!) as getting used to bf, and can only have really so it's gradual. He's on hifi molasses free (1-2 handfuls) with linseed, probalance and spearmint. The hifi has alfalfa in, and so far hasn't sent him crazy, although he's pretty phlegmatic so spark is encouraged!! I've steered clear of oats since he ate an oat straw bed and went a bit nuts, but am considering them if I need a bit more variety, he's half Iberian and I've heard they can be oat sensitive so I'll see. Think the slobber mash might be not suitable, sounds like it could be weight gaining, and he's a fatty so I need to steer clear of that!!
 
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